Reduction in Ammonia Loss by Applying Urea in Combination with Phosphate Sources

A laboratory experiment was carried out to study the influence of 100 mg phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) kg^–1 soil from various phosphate sources on ammonia losses from soils amended with urea at 200 mg nitrogen (N) kg^–1 soil. Irrespective of soil type, ammonia (NH₃) loss was significantly greater from untreated soil (control) than from the soil treated with phosphorus (P) sources. A maximum decrease in ammonia loss (56%) was observed by applying phosphoric acid followed by triple and single superphosphate. Ammonia losses were significantly greater from sandy clay loam than from clay. Rate of ammonia volatilization was maximum during the first week of incubation and became undetectable for both soils at 21 days after incubation. The addition of phosphate sources significantly decreased pH in the sandy clay loam, but in the clay a significant decrease was observed only with the phosphoric acid addition. Addition of phosphate fertilizers was beneficial in reducing NH₃ losses from urea.     

Exchangeable ammonium and nitrate from different nitrogen fertilizer preparations in polyacrylamide-treated and untreated agricultural soils

 High molecular weight, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) is currently being used as an irrigation water additive to significantly reduce soil erosion associated with furrow irrigation. PAM contains amide-N, and PAM application to soils has been correlated with increased activity of soil enzymes, such as urease and amidase, involved in N cycling. Therefore we investigated potential impacts of PAM treatment on the rate at which fertilizer N is transformed into NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^– in soil. PAM-treated and untreated soil microcosms were amended with a variety of fertilizers, ranging from common rapid-release forms, such as ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] and urea, to a variety of slow-release formulations, including polymerized urea and polymer-encapsulated urea. Ammonium sulfate was also tested together with the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD). The fertilizers were applied at a concentration of 1.0 mg g^–1, which is comparable to 100 lb acre^–l, or 112 kg ha^–1. Potassium chloride-extractable NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N were quantified periodically during 2–4 week incubations. PAM treatment had no significant effect on NH₄ ⁺ release rates for any of the fertilizers tested and did not alter the efficacy of DCD as a nitrification inhibitor. However, the nitrification rate of urea and encapsulated urea-derived NH₄ ⁺-N was slightly accelerated in the PAM-treated soil. Received: 16 January 1998     

包膜尿素对芹菜产量、品质及氮素平衡的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了包膜尿素(自制)和尿素等肥料在两种质地灰潮土上对芹菜产量、品质、氮素吸收和氮平衡的影响。结果表明,施用包膜尿素较尿素使当季芹菜增产11.5％-15.2％,氮素吸收增加5.9％-9.5％,氨挥发损失N减少14.2％-14.9％,淋失和反硝化氮损失减少25.5％-28.3％,氮素利用率提高19.2％-27.1％,土壤持留氮增加32.0％-37.3％。芹菜植株硝态氮含量降低44.2％-58.9％,维生素C含量显著提高,品质改善;后茬作物生菜增产14.4％-35.2％。     

Nitrogen Release from Environmentally Smart Nitrogen Fertilizer as Influenced by Soil Series,Temperature, Moisture,and Incubation Method

Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN) is a polymer-coated urea fertilizer with potential to increase crop recovery of fertilizer nitrogen (N). Our research objectives were to characterize ESN N retention across time as affected by soil series, temperature, moisture, and incubation method. A rumen bag containing 38 to 44 mg ESN N was placed in 400 g soil, and the amount of ESN N remaining in prills was measured every 5 d for 40 d. Soil was incubated at 25 °C and 250 g H₂O kg^?1 soil, except in experiments where soil temperature or moisture was varied. Nitrogen retention in ESN was linear for three silt and sandy loams and curvilinear in two clayey soils with retention declining more rapidly in clayey soils. Soil temperature had the greatest effect on N retention with the rate of ESN N release increasing as soil temperature increased. Near complete release of ESN N was achieved by 40 d with temperatures ≥ 20 °C.     

中国洞庭湖区稻田土壤氮素淋溶损失的系统研究

A two-year lysimeter study was conducted to study the effects of different fertilizers and soils on nitrogen leaching loss in a double rice cropping system by considering three major types of paddy soils from the Dongting Lake area. The results showed that N concentration in the leachate did not differ significantly among the treatments of urea, controlled release N fertilizer and pig manure and that all these fertilizers produced higher total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in the leachate compared to the case where no fertilizer was applied. The TN leaching loss following urea treatment accounted for 2.28%, 0.66%, and 1.50% of the amount of N applied in the alluvial sandy loamy paddy soil (ASL), purple calcareous clayey paddy soil (PCC), and reddish-yellow loamy paddy soil (RYL), respectively. Higher TN loss was found to be correlated with the increased leachate volume in ASL compared with RYL, and the lowest TN loss was observed in the PCC, in which the lowest leachate volume and TN concentration were observed. Organic N and NH4+ -N were the major forms of N depleted through leachate, accounting for 56.8% and 39.7% of TN losses, respectively. Accordingly, soil-specific fertilization regimens are recommended; in particular, the maximum amount of fertilizer should be optimized for sandy soils with a high infiltration rate. To avoid a high N leaching loss from rice fields, organic N fertilizers such as urea or coated urea should primarily be used for surface topdressing or shallow-layer application and not for deep-layer application.     

Controlled‐release urea decreased ammonia volatilization and increased nitrogen use efficiency of cotton

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer input leads to higher N loss via ammonia (NH₃) volatilization. Controlled‐release urea (CRU) was expected to reduce emission losses of N. An incubation and a plant growth experiment with Gossypium hirsutum L. were conducted with urea and CRU (a fertilizer mixture of polymer‐coating sulfur‐coated urea and polymer‐coated urea with N ratios of 5 : 5) under six levels of N fertilization rates, which were 0% (0 mg N kg⁻¹ soil), 50% (110 mg N kg⁻¹ soil), 75% (165 mg N kg⁻¹ soil), 100% (220 mg N kg⁻¹ soil), 125% (275 mg N kg⁻¹ soil), and 150% (330 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) of the recommended N fertilizer rate. For each type of N fertilizer, the NH₃ volatilization, cotton yield, and N uptake increased with the rate of N application, while N use efficiency reached a threshold and decreased when N application rates of urea and CRU exceeded 238.7 and 209.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil, respectively. Ammonia volatilization was reduced by 65–105% with CRU in comparison to urea treatments. The N release characteristic of CRU corresponded well to the N requirements of cotton growth. Soil inorganic N contents, leaf SPAD values, and net photosynthetic rates were increased by CRU application, particularly from the full bloom stage to the initial boll‐opening stage. As a result, CRU treatments achieved significantly higher lint yield by 7–30%, and the N use efficiency of CRU treatments was increased by 25–124% relative to that of urea treatments. These results suggest that the application of CRU could be widely used for cotton production with higher N use efficiency and lower NH₃ volatilization.     

Effects of Temperature and Soil Type on Ammonia Volatilization from Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizers

Ammonia (NH₃) volatilization is the major pathway for mineral nitrogen (N) loss from N sources applied to soils. The information on NH₃ volatilization from slow-release N fertilizers is limited. Ammonia volatilization, over a 78-d period, from four slow-release N fertilizers with different proportions of urea and urea polymer [Nitamin 30L (liquid) (L30), Nitamin RUAG 521G30 (liquid) (G30), Nitamin 42G (granular) (N42), and Nitroform (granular) (NF)] applied to a sandy loamy soil was evaluated. An increase in temperature from 20 to 30 °C increased cumulative NH₃ volatilization loss in the sandy soil by 1.4-, 1.7-, and 1.8-fold for N42, L30, and G30, respectively. Increasing the proportion of urea in the slow-release fertilizer increased NH₃ volatilization loss. At 30 °C, the cumulative NH₃ volatilization over 78 d from a sandy soil accounted for 45.6%, 43.9%, 22.4%, and <1% of total N applied as N42, L30, G30, and NF, respectively. The corresponding losses in a loamy soil were 9.2%, 3.1%, and 1.7%. There was a significantly positive correlation between NH₃ volatilization rate and concentration of NH₄-N released from all fertilizers, except for NF (n = 132; r = 0.359, P = 0.017 for N42; r = 0.410, P = 0.006 for L30; and r = 0.377, P < 0.012 for G30). Lower cumulative NH₃ volatilization from a loamy soil as compared to that from a sandy soil appeared to be related to rapid nitrification of NH₄-N in the former soil than that in the latter soil. These results indicate the composition of slow-release fertilizer, soil temperature, and soil type are main factors to dominate NH₃ volatilization from slow- release fertilizers.     

土壤水分对包膜尿素养分释放特性的影响

试验采用土壤培养的方法,以释放期分别为60 d(肥料A)和90 d(肥料B)的两种肥料作为供试肥料,研究了土壤绝对含水量、干湿交替、相对含水量和水势因素对3种土壤中包膜尿素养分释放特性的影响。结果表明:在3种土壤中,土壤绝对含水量从50 g/kg增到200 g/kg时,包膜尿素养分释放率均随土壤水分含量的增加而显著增加,此时水分因素是控制包膜尿素养分释放的主要因素。在干湿交替条件下,两种供试肥料间释放率的差异变大,其中肥料B在潮土中释放速率较其他两种土壤中下降更多。当相对含水量在0%~50%田间持水量范围内,或水势在60~100k Pa范围内时,供试肥料在红壤中的释放显著低于潮土和水稻土,这与红壤中黏粒含量高有关;当相对含水量大于100%田间持水量时,或水势低于60 k Pa时,土壤水分和土壤类型对包膜尿素养分释放的影响基本不再显著。常用的Sugihara方程可以较好地拟合包膜尿素在试验设定水分条件下的养分释放特性,相关系数r0.95。3种不同土壤水分参数均可以用来预测包膜尿素的释放率和释放期,其中水势(x)与包膜尿素释放期(y)的拟合效果最好,关系式为y=64.79e~(0.0066x),r=0.91。     

Enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers reduce winter losses of nitrous oxide,but not of ammonia,from no-till soil in a subtropical agroecosystem

Nitrogen (N) gas losses can be reduced by using enhanced-efficiency N (EEN) fertilizers such as urease inhibitors and coating technologies. In this work, we assessed the potential of EEN fertilizers to reduce winter losses of nitrous oxide (N₂O-N) and ammonia (NH₃-N) from a subtropical field experiment on a clayey Inceptisol under no-till in Southern Brazil. The EEN sources used included urea containing N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (UR+NBPT), polymer-coated urea (P-CU) and copper-and-boron-coated urea (CuB-CU) in addition to common urea (UR) and a control treatment without N fertilizer application. N₂O-N and NH₃-N losses were assessed by using the static chamber method and semi-open static collectors, respectively. Both N₂O-N and NH₃-N exhibited two large peaks with an intervening period of low soil moisture and air temperature. Although the short-term effect was limited to the first few days after application, UR + NBPT urea decreased soil N₂O-N emissions by 38% relative to UR. In contrast, urease inhibitor technology had no effect on NH₃-N volatilization. Both coating technologies (CuB-CU and P-CU) were ineffective in reducing N losses via N₂O production or NH₃ volatilization. The N₂O emission factor (% N applied released as N₂O) was unaffected by all N sources and amounted to only 0.48% of N applied—roughly one-half the default factor of IPCC Tier 1 (1%). Based on our findings, using NBPT-treated urea in the cold winter season in subtropical agroecosystems provides environmental benefits in the form of reduced soil N₂O emissions; however, fertilizer coating technologies provide no agronomic (NH₃) or environmental (N₂O) advantages.     

磷酸氢钙包膜尿素的研制及其释放特性

以聚乙烯醇水溶液为粘结剂,以肥料级磷酸氢钙为包膜材料,采用喷雾包涂的方法制备一种新的、多营养的、不污染土壤的缓释/控释尿素。用水浸泡法和土壤培养法表征了包膜尿素的释放特性,用扫描电子显微镜研究了包膜尿素的表面和截面形貌。讨论了涂层量对包膜尿素的缓释性能的影响。实验结果表明:涂层量是影响尿素释放的重要因素,磷酸氢钙包膜尿素在水中氮素的释放行为可用一级释放动力学方程来描述;CU-25和CU-30包膜尿素在水中溶出80%的氮素分别需要5.36.d和12.53.d,而在土壤中溶出80%的氮素所需要的时间大于110.d;包膜尿素的扫描电镜照片显示,包膜层中的缝隙小于1μm。     

坡缕石包膜对尿素氮行为的影响

采用静态吸收和土柱淋溶试验方法,分析对比了3种不同用量坡缕石包膜尿素与普通尿素施入土壤后对尿素氮行为的影响,结果表明:在土壤中施用坡缕石包膜尿素较普通尿素减少10.38%～26.24%的氨挥发损失,减少5.88%～27.74%的氮素(NO3--N+NH4+-N)淋溶损失,20%的坡缕石包膜尿素能显著提高土柱土壤NH4+-N含量,3种坡缕石包膜尿素都能极显著提高土柱土壤NO3--N含量.坡缕石包膜后能减少尿素氨的挥发,降低NH4+-N和NO3--N的淋失,提高土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N含量,以20%的坡缕石包膜尿素的综合生态效应最好.     

Calcium chloride and ammonium thiosulfate as ammonia volatilization inhibitors for urea fertilizers

Abstract

Surface‐applied urea fertilizers are susceptible to hydrolysis and loss of nitrogen (N) through ammonium (NH₃) volatilization when conditions favorable for these processes exist. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) may inhibit urease activity and reduce NH₃ volatilization when mixed with urea fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CaCl₂ and ATS as urea‐N loss inhibitors for contrasting soil types and varying environmental conditions. The proposed inhibitors were evaluated in the laboratory using a closed, dynamic air flow system to directly measure NH₃ volatilization. The initial effects of CaCl₂ on ammonia volatilization were more accentuated on an acid Lufkin fine sandy loam than a calcareous Ships clay, but during volatilization periods of ≥ 192 h, cumulative N loss was reduced more on the Ships soil than the Lufkin soil. Calcium chloride delayed the commencement of NH₃ volatilization following fertilizer application and reduced the maximum N loss rate. Ammonium thiosulfate was more effective on the Lufkin soil than the Ships soil. For the Lufkin soil, ATS reduced cumulative urea‐N loss by 11% after a volatilization period of 192 h. A 20% (v/v) addition of ATS to urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) was most effective on the coarse textured Lufkin soil whereas a 5% addition was more effective on the fine textured, Ships soil. Rapid soil drying following fertilizer application substantially reduced NH₃ volatilization from both soils and also increased the effectiveness of CaCl₂ but not ATS. Calcium chloride and ATS may function as limited NH₃ volatilization inhibitors, but their effectiveness is dependent on soil properties and environmental conditions.     

Mineralization of urea,coated urea and nitrification inhibitor treated urea in different rice growing soils

Mineralization of urea, sulphur coated (SCU), neem cake coated urea (NCU) and N-Serve treated urea (NSU) was studied in four important rice growing soils of India, namely, an alluvial soil (Entisol-Fluvent), a black cotton soil (Vertisol-Ustert), two laterite soils (Oxisol-Acrothox) and an acid sulphate soil (Entisol-Sulphaquent) for a period of four weeks at a temperature of 30°C ± 2°C and a water tension of 1/3 bar. Hydrolysis of urea was faster in alkaline alluvial and black cotton soils than in acid laterite and acid sulphate soil. NH₄-N content in soil was the highest with N-Serve during the entire period of study. SCU maintained lower NH₄-N in soil than urea only during the first two weeks of incubation. N-Serve was much more effective in inhibiting nitrification than neem cake in all the soils. Inhibition of nitrification by neem cake was most at the end of first week in alkaline and at the end of second week in all other soils. Coating of urea with neem cake imparted both slow-release and nitrification inhibiting properties.     

灌溉施用氮肥后氮素在土壤中的转化及淋失状况: 土柱模拟研究

A soil column method was used to compare the effect of drip fertigation (the application of fertilizer through drip irrigation systems, DFI) on the leaching loss and transformation of urea-N in soil with that of surface fertilization combined with flood irrigation (SFI), and to study the leaching loss and transformation of three kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate fertilizer, ammonium fertilizer, and urea fertilizer) in two contrasting soils after the fertigation. In comparison to SFI, DFI decreased leaching loss of urea-N from the soil and increased the mineral N (NH₄⁺-N + NO₃^--N) in the soil. The N leached from a clay loam soil ranged from 5.7% to 9.6% of the total N added as fertilizer, whereas for a sandy loam soil they ranged between 16.2% and 30.4%. Leaching losses of mineral N were higher when nitrate fertilizer was used compared to urea or ammonium fertilizer. Compared to the control (without urea addition), on the first day when soils were fertigated with urea, there were increases in NH₄⁺-N in the soils. This confirmed the rapid hydrolysis of urea in soil during fertigation. NH₄⁺-N in soils reached a peak about 5 days after fertigation, and due to nitrification it began to decrease at day 10. After applying NH₄⁺-N fertilizer and urea and during the incubation period, the mineral nitrogen in the soil decreased. This may be related to the occurrence of NH₄⁺-N fixation or volatilization in the soil during the fertigation process.     

保水剂包膜尿素的特征与性能

保水肥料是缓/控释肥料研究的新方向,本文利用聚合化学反应制备出了一种保水剂包膜尿素肥料,并对该肥料的包膜特征、养分控释性能及其对土壤水分的影响进行了研究。结果表明:保水剂包膜尿素的实际包膜量低于设计包膜量,一般低10%～12%。扫描电镜成像图显示:保水剂包膜尿素包膜上存在纤维网状孔隙,膜厚度为0.15～0.25mm。7d水溶出率的实验结果表明,保水剂包膜尿素养分控释效果低于塑料包膜尿素,保水剂包膜尿素的养分缓释作用主要来自包膜对尿素的吸附作用。保水剂包膜尿素处理土壤的土壤水分脱水曲线测定结果说明,保水剂包膜尿素可提高土壤水分含量,增加土壤水分的有效性,改善土壤的保水、释水性能。因此,保水剂包膜尿素肥料是具有开发应用前景的新型缓/控释肥料。     

氮肥品种和用量对水稻产量和镉吸收的影响研究

采用盆栽试验,研究了Cd污染土壤上,不同氮肥品种和用量对水稻产量和Cd吸收的影响。结果表明,与磷钾配施的4个氮肥处理中,施用尿素处理水稻产量最高,其次为施(NH4)2SO4和NH4Cl处理,施NH4NO3处理水稻产量最低。与施(NH4)2SO4、NH4NO3和尿素处理相比,施NH4Cl处理可显著增加水稻对Cd的吸收,并促进Cd由秸秆向籽粒的转移;而其他3种氮肥对水稻秸秆和籽粒中Cd含量的影响效应相当。适量尿素[0.2g(N)·kg-1]处理能显著降低水稻籽粒Cd含量,而不施尿素和高量尿素处理都显著提高了水稻籽粒中的Cd含量。研究表明,在Cd污染的水稻土上,采用抗Cd污染的水稻品种和优化肥、水管理措施,可使稻米中Cd含量低于国家无公害大米的限量指标。     

Nitrogen Recovery and Transformation from a Surface or Sub-Surface Application of Controlled-Release Fertilizer on a Sandy Soil

ABSTRACT

Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) are used to reduce leaching of nutrients, especially nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃ ^?-N) to groundwater, caused mainly by application of soluble N fertilizers to sandy soils in Florida. A leaching column study was conducted to evaluate N release and transformation from a CRF (CitriBlen) over a 16-week period when it was applied on the soil surface or incorporated into the soil. When one pore volume of water was applied to column weekly or biweekly, the CRF released urea-N slowly over time with three peaks of release on 3–4, 8, and 12 week after application. Both ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N) and NO₃ ^?-N were leached in large amounts on week 2, likely from soluble forms of N. Cumulatively, the most leached N at the end of study was in the NH₄ ⁺ form, followed by the NO₃ ^? form. The sum of all N forms leached and volatilized accounted for 53–69% of total N applied. Total N recovery was 70% and 93% of total N applied for surface and sub-surface application of the fertilizer, respectively. It was indicated that the better recovery rate found with sub-surface application may have been due to minimized N loss by volatilization. Sub-surface application of fertilizer resulted in more than three times NH₄ ⁺-N remained in soil, compared with surface application. On average for both application treatments throughout 16-week period, 5.8 h was required for ammonification and 4.7 d for nitrification to occur after N release from the fertilizer. Characterization of CRFs for specific soil type, leaching volume and cycle, and application manner as well as knowledge of N requirement of the crop will allow for the Best Management Practices of these fertilizers, thus obtaining optimum yields and minimizing nutrient losses from CRFs.     

Leaching of nitrogen forms from controlled‐release nitrogen fertilizers

Abstract

Application of soluble forms of nitrogen (N) fertilizers to sandy soils may cause leaching of nitrate N (NO₃‐N) resulting in contamination of groundwater. The leaching loss of N may be reduced to a certain extent by the use of controlled‐release N formulations. A leaching column study was conducted to evaluate the leaching of urea, ammonium N (NH₄‐N), and NO₃‐N forms from selected urea‐based controlled‐release formulations (Meister, Osmocote, and Poly‐S) and uncoated urea under eight cycles of intermittent leaching and dry conditions. Following leaching of 1,760 mL of water (equivalent to 40 cm rainfall) through the soil columns, the recovery of total N (sum of all forms) in the leachate accounted for 28, 12, 6, or 5% of the total N applied as urea, Poly‐S, Meister, and Osmocote, respectively. Loss of urea‐N from all fertilizer sources was pronounced during the initial leaching events (with the exception of Meister). Cumulative leaching of urea‐N was 10% for uncoated urea while <1.7% for the controlled‐release formulations. Cumulative leaching of NH₄‐N was 6.2% for uncoated urea while <0.5% for the controlled‐release formulations. Cumulative leaching loss of NO₃‐N was 3.78% for Osmocote, 4.6% for Meister, 10.4% for urea, and 10.5% for Poly‐S. This study demonstrates a significant reduction in leaching of N forms from controlled‐release formulations as compared to that from the soluble form.     

Efficiency of nitrogen-15-labelled fertilizers for rice and rye-grass cultivated in an Ultisol of Brazilian Amazonia

 The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of two N fertilizers, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and urea, for rice (Oryza sativa L.) and rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cultivated in an Ultisol of central Amazonia using ¹⁵N as a tracer. Rice was cultivated in the field, while rye-grass was grown in a phytotron. Fertilization with (NH₄)₂SO₄ caused a 16% increase in the yield of rice grains and urea a 36% increase. In both crops total N uptake and N use efficiency of the fertilizers were higher for urea than for (NH₄)₂SO₄. The low values for N derived from fertilizer showed that the fertilizers contributed little to the total N absorbed by the plants. The "priming effect" or positive added N interaction (ANI) between the fertilizer N and soil organic N was observed, especially with urea. Immobilization by soil microorganisms was greater in the presence of urea, while losses were always higher with the (NH₄)₂SO₄ treatments. These losses were significant, and their reduction should allow more efficient use of this N fertilizer. It is possible that the N use efficiency was higher for urea due to a pH increase, caused by urea hydrolysis, which in turn may have favoured the activity of nitrifying bacteria in this extremely acid soil. Received: 6 April 1999     

EFFECTIVENESS OF SEEDROW-PLACED N WITH POLYMER-COATED AND NBPT-TREATED UREA FOR CANOLA AND WHEAT

Seedrow-placed urea minimizes soil disturbance in reduced tillage systems, but it generally decreases seedling emergence (or stand density) at nitrogen (N) rates adequate for optimum crop yield. Two three-year field experiments were conducted on canola (Brassica napus L.) and spring wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) at Melfort Research Farm, Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the influence of N rate (40, 80 and 120 kg N ha^?1), N source [untreated urea (urea), polymer-coated urea (ESN), and urea treated with Dicyandiamide (DCD) and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT or Agrotain^TM) (SuperU) in 2007, or NBPT only (AgrotainU) in 2008 and 2009], and placement (side-banded N and seedrow-placed N, using knives to create 2 cm wide band), plus a zero-N control, on seedling emergence, seed and straw yield, protein concentration (PC) in seed, and N uptake in seed and straw. For both crops, side-banded N had no detrimental effect on seedling emergence compared to the zero-N control for all rates and sources. Seedrow-placed ESN had little or no effect on seedling emergence of wheat or canola. Conversely, seedrow-placed urea, SuperU or AgrotainU reduced seedling emergence for wheat at the 80 and 120 kg N ha^?1 rates and reduced canola seedling emergence substantially at all rates, but particularly at the 80 and 120 kg N ha^?1. Seed yield and N uptake were generally greater with ESN than urea and also SuperU or AgrotainU, when the fertilizers were seedrow-placed at high N rates. The findings suggest the effectiveness of ESN in providing greater seedrow-placed N application options for producers.