The effect of dicyandiamide and neem cake on the nitrification of urea-derived ammonium under field conditions

Summary Dicyandiamide (DCD) and neem cake were evaluated for their efficiency in inhibiting nitrification of prilled urea-derived NH ₄ ⁺ –N in a wheat field. Prilled urea was blended with 10% and 20% DCD-N or 10% and 20% neem cake and incorporated into the soil just before the wheat was sown. Both DCD and neem cake partially inhibited nitrification of prilled urea-derived NH ₄ ⁺ ; DCD was better than neem cake. The nitrification-inhibiting effects of DCD lasted for 45 days, while that of neem cake lasted for only 30 days. Blending the prilled urea with DCD (20% on N basis) was most effective in inhibiting the nitrification of urea-derived NH ₄ ⁺ , both in terms of intensity and duration, and maintained substantially more NH ₄ ⁺ –N than the prilled urea alone and 20% neem-cake-blended urea for a period of 60 days.     

Coating of essential oils onto prilled urea retards its nitrification in soil

Increased use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture has led to the increased pollution of ground water and atmosphere. Certain plant products can be used as coating materials onto urea to reduce the N losses. We evaluated the effectiveness of citronella and palmarosa grass oils as nitrification inhibitors in a soil incubation study. The treatments (14) were combinations of 4 N sources (neem, citronella and palmarosa oil coated prilled ureas, and uncoated prilled urea), 2 coating thicknesses of oils (500 and 1000 mg kg^?1) and 2 N levels (75 and 150 kg N ha^?1), replicated thrice in a randomized block design. N levels at 75 and 150 kg ha^?1 were equivalent to 34 and 68 mg N kg^?1 soil, respectively. Results showed that N sources citronella (CCPU₁₀₀₀) and neem oil (NCPU₁₀₀₀) coated prilled ureas at 1000 mg kg^?1 coating thickness with 75 kg ha^?1 released similar amount of ammonical-N to uncoated prilled urea at 150 kg N ha^?1, suggesting the beneficial effect of coated ureas. The highest nitrification inhibition (%) was recorded with NCPU₁₀₀₀, the reference nitrification inhibitor, which was significantly greater to all the other N sources at 7 days after incubation (DAI), and at par to CCPU₁₀₀₀ at 14 and 21 DAI.     

棕壤地区玉米和水稻施用聚合物包膜尿素效应初报

通过一年田间小区试验,研究了棕壤地区施用MEISTER热塑性树脂包膜尿素对玉米和水稻生物性状、产量以及田间土壤NH+4-N和NO-3-N一直保4-N和NO-3-N的影响。结果表明,施用MEISTER包膜尿素能使土壤NH+持在较高水平,并且使玉米和水稻产量分别增加了5.1%和15.1%。当MEISTER包膜尿素施用量减少20%时,玉米和水稻产量与尿素追施处理相当,但玉米根和叶中氮的含量以及水稻秸杆和根中氮含量明显降低。MEISTER包膜尿素配施DCD没有进一步增加玉米和水稻的产量,DCD抑制土壤硝化作用的效果不稳定。     

Effect of nitrogen levels and coated urea on growth,yields and nitrogen use efficiency in aromatic rice

Results from a field experiment conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India showed that coating urea with elemental sulfur or gypsum or phosphogypsum gave higher yields (12.08, 6.78 and 6.14% higher grain yield compared to prilled urea) of high yielding an aromatic rice cultivar ‘Pusa Sugandh 5’ (Pusa 2511) and increased the efficiency of prilled urea. As regards nitrogen use efficiency sulfur coated urea was nearly twice as effective as gypsum or phosphogypsum coated urea; the latter two were equally effective compared to prilled urea alone.     

Dynamics of dry matter and nitrogen distribution in transplanted rice on mollisols

We studied the dynamics of dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) distribution in different plant parts (leaf, stem, and panicle) and grain yield of transplanted rice due to N management practices through neem coated urea (NCU). The results indicated that application of NCU at 125% recommended dose of N (RDN) with 50:25:25 split schedule at basal (B), active tillering (AT), and panicle initiation (PI) stages resulted in higher DM and N distribution to leaf, stem, and panicle at 60 and 90 days after transplanting and harvest than the application of prilled urea at 100% RDN with the same split schedule (existing practice). Further, the increment in grain yield was 10.95% than the existing practice. Hence, we suggest the application of NCU at 125% RDN with 50:25:25 split schedule at B, AT, and PI stages for achieving higher DM and grain yield on Mollisols.     

Effects of Coated Urea Amended with Biological Inhibitors on Physiological Characteristics,Yield, and Quality of Peanut

Four kinds of new developed urea, some of which were amended with biological inhibitors and coated and some of which were only coated with inorganic materials, were prepared by coating conventional granular urea (nitrogen 46.0%). Using a coated urea [resin-coated urea, 90 day, (RCU)] made in China and a conventional granular urea as check, their effects on physiological characteristics, yield, and quality of peanut were examined in a field experiment. The results indicated that four kinds of urea kept greater ammonium nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺ -N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^?N) contents at flowering stage (FS) and podding stage (PS) compared to conventional urea, and coated urea + dicyandiamide + hydroquinone treatment (CU + DCD + HQ) had the greatest contents, being similar to RCU treatment. At FS and PS, the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were significantly increased upon CU + DCD, CU + HQ, and CU + HQ + DCD treatments. In addition, CU + HQ + DCD treatment produced 27.3% more pod yield, 6.7% more total yield, and 9.17% more protein content and decreased NO₃^?-N content by 46.56% as compared to conventional urea treatment. This product has excellent slow-release capacity, is inexpensive and environmentally friendly, and could be especially useful in agricultural application.     

Effect of levels and sources of nitrogen on concentration and uptake of nitrogen by a high yielding variety and a hybrid of rice

Field experiments were made on a sandy clay loam soil at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of levels and sources of nitrogen on concentration and uptake of nitrogen by a high yielding variety Pusa 834 and a hybrid PRH3 of rice. Nitrogen concentration in hybrid PRH 3 remained lower than in Pusa 834, but N uptake was significantly more in the hybrid PRH 3. Nitrogen fertilization increased N concentration as well as N uptake by rice. At 30 days after transplanting (DAT) N uptake was more in Pusa 834, but at 60 DAT and at harvest hybrid PRH 3 recorded significantly more N uptake than Pusa 834. Use of neem oil blended urea (PNGU) and neem coated urea (NCU) increased N concentration and uptake by rice in both Pusa 834 and hybrid PRH 3. Use of neem coated/blended urea is recommended for rice.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of nitrogen in a puddled rice soil following application of urea-based fertilizers by different methods

Summary Field experiments were conducted on transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L., var. Ratna) in a submerged soil, in order to study the distribution of N applied at 100 kg/ha. N was introduced as prilled urea or neem cake coated urea broadcast on the soil, and as urea supergranules, 1 or 2.5 g in size, point-placed at 5 cm depth. The surface-broadcast N was found mostly in the top 0–5 cm layer of soil and there was only a small vertical movement of applied N to 5–10 cm depth. With point placement of 1-g urea granules, the fertilizer N was found mostly at 5–10 cm depth and within 2.5 cm horizontal distance from the point of placement, compared with 5–10 cm depth and within 5 cm horizontal distance from the point of placement for the 2.5-g granules. With the two broadcast applications, the NH₄ ⁺-N content reached peaks of 40–68 mg/kg soil in the top 0–5 cm of soil within the first 3–6 days, decreased at a faster rate from the 6th to 12th day and then at a slower rate up to the 32nd day. In contrast, the NH₄ ⁺-N content around the points of placement of the urea supergranules reached peaks of 570–900 mg/kg soil during the first 3–12 days after placement, then decreased rapidly during the next 6–9 days, after which the values remained more or less unchanged but were still higher than the untreated control value.     

Rice responses to single application of coated urea on yield,dry matter accumulation,and nitrogen uptake in Southern China

Nitrogen is the most important element for rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth. However, excessive use of conventional urea leads to serious environmental problems in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the release patterns of coated urea and response of rice to coated urea on dry matter accumulation, nitrogen uptake, and nitrogen use efficiencies on a clay soil. A two single-year experiment was carried out in southern China to evaluate two coated urea, polymer-coated urea (PCU) and polymer-sulfur coated urea (PSCU). Nitrogen (N) release patterns of PCU and PSCU were determined in the laboratory and in the field. The release rate of PSCU in the field was much higher than that in the laboratory. And PCU had a similar release pattern both in the field and laboratory. Compared with urea, rice fertilized with PCU and PSCU had similar dry matter accumulation, but higher grain yield and N use efficiencies. Recovery efficiency of PCU treatment reached 50% in 2012 and 60% in 2013, around 40% for PSCU, which was only 16% for single application of urea.     

Influence of edaphic factors on the mineralization of neem oil coated urea in four Indian soils

The utility of neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss) oil coated urea as a value-added nitrogenous fertilizer has been now widely accepted by Indian farmers and the fertilizer industry. In the present study, the expeller grade (EG) and hexane-extracted (HE) neem oils, the two most common commercial grades, were used to prepare neem oil coated urea (NOCU) of various oil doses, for which mineralization rates were assessed in four soils at three incubation temperatures (20, 27, and 35 degrees C). Neem oil dose-dependent conservation of ammonium N was observed in NOCU treatments in all of the soils. However, a longer incubation period and a higher soil temperature caused depletion of ammonium N. Overall, the nitrification in NOCU treatment averaged 56.6% against 77.3% for prilled urea in four soils. NOCU prepared from EG neem oil was consistently superior to that derived from hexane-extracted oil. The performance of NOCUs was best in coarse-textured soil and poorest in sodic soil. The nitrification rate (NR) of the NOCUs in the soils followed the order sodic > fine-textured > medium-textured > coarse-textured. The influence of edaphic factors on NR of NOCUs has been highlighted. The utility of the present study in predicting the performance of NOCU in diverse Indian soils was highlighted through the use of algorithms for computation of the optimum neem oil dose that would cause maximum inhibition of nitrification in any soil.     

Efficiency of Urea,Nitrification Inhibitor treated Urea and Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizers for Sugarcane

A field experiment conducted for two crop seasons (1976-77 and 1977-78) showed that the treatment of urea with nitrification inhibitor Nitrapyrin (also refered as ‘N-Serve’) or neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) cake increased its efficiency by preventing N losses and produced significantly more cane. In one of the years sulphur coated urea (Gold N) at lower rate (75 kg N/ha) gave higher sucrose content in juice and significantly more commercial cane sugar (CCS) than uncoated urea. Considering both the cane yield and CCS production mixing or coating of urea with neem cake holds considerable promise and needs wider testing along with and in comparison to nitrification inhibitors and sulphur coated urea and other slow release fertilizers for increasing the efficiency of nitrogen applied to sugarcane.     

几种硝化抑制剂和包硫尿素(SCU)对土壤N素形态和小麦产量的影响

采用土壤盆栽法,研究了双氰胺(DCD)、硫脲(THU)和硫脲甲醛树脂(TFR)以及包硫尿素(SCU)对土壤氮素形态和小麦产量的影响。试验共设不施氮(CK)、单施尿素、包硫尿素(SCU)、以及尿素分别与DCD、THA、TUF的3个浓度梯度(分别按尿素用量的0.5%、1%、2%)配合施用共12个处理。结果表明:随添加浓度的增加,硝化抑制作用逐渐增强,高剂量硝化抑制剂显著降低土壤NO-3-N含量,在2%添加浓度下,DCD、THU、TFR的土壤NO-3-N浓度分别比单施尿素降低29%、22%和14%,对土壤表观硝化率的抑制强度也是2%DCD2%THU2%TFR;SCU处理与2%DCD作用强度接近,且在施用早期就体现抑制效果,并在追肥后第74 d土壤表观硝化率显著低于使用硝化抑制剂的处理(P0.05);硝化抑制剂和SCU都可以使土壤NH+4-N含量稳定在较高的水平,抑制剂用量越多,土壤NH+4-N含量越高;与单施尿素相比,尿素+DCD模式,均可提高小麦产量,且在0.5%、1%、2%添加浓度,都达到显著水平(P0.05);THU在1.0%和2.0%添加浓度,小麦产量显著高于单施尿素,但增产效果次于DCD。总体上,包硫尿素(SCU)比硝化抑制剂在控释氮素方面效果更持久,而3种硝化抑制剂中,在控制土壤NH+4-N转化、土壤硝化抑制方面,DCD和THU优于TFR;作为外源添加物的抑制剂长期应用可能对土壤环境造成潜在的危害,不同硝化抑制在土壤中的形态归趋和长期作用还有待进一步研究。     

EFFECT OF NEEM-OIL COATED PRILLED UREA WITH VARYING THICKNESS OF NEEM-OIL COATING AND NITROGEN RATES ON PRODUCTIVITY AND NITROGEN-USE EFFICIENCY OF LOWLAND IRRIGATED RICE UNDER INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

The nitrogen (N) fertilizer-use efficiency (20–50%) is low in rice fields in India. The neem-oil coated urea can increase N-use efficiency in lowland rice, but the desirable thickness of neem-oil coating onto urea is not known yet. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy) season years 2004 and 2005 at the Research Farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to know the suitable thickness of neem-oil coating on prilled urea (PU) for increased N-use efficiency and yield. The treatments comprised of twelve combinations of four N sources (PU coated with neem-oil thickness of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg^?1 PU) and three N levels (50, 100, and 150 kg N ha^?1) plus a no-N control. Prilled urea (PU) refers to the common urea available commercially in prills, which is different from urea super granules. Application of urea coated with neem-oil thickness of 1000 mg kg^?1 PU resulted in significantly higher growth, yield parameters, grain yield, N uptake, and efficiency of aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) over uncoated PU. Nitrogen application at 122 kg ha^?1 was optimum for increased yield of rice. Nitrogen-use efficiency decreased significantly and substantially with each successive increase in levels of N from 50 to 150 kg ha^?1.     

Dicyandiamide (DCD) as a nitrification inhibitor for rice culture in the United States

Abstract

Efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer management for paddy rice production is difficult because of potentially high N losses from denitrification, NH₃ volatilization, and leaching. The use of a nitrification inhibitor, by slowing the rate of nitrification of NH₄ ⁺‐N sources prior to flooding, offers the potential to reduce denitrification losses that occur after flooding. Dicyandiamide (DCD) is one such nitrification inhibitor. The objective of this series of studies was to evaluate DCD for its effectiveness as a nitrification inhibitor in paddy rice production across an array of soils, management systems, and climate conditions.

Studies were conducted on fine‐ and medium‐textured soils in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Dicyandiamide was coated onto or formulated with urea (7 or 10% of total N as DCD‐N) and applied either broadcast pre‐plant incorporated or broadcast as a topdress application prior to flooding at the 4‐ to 5‐leaf development stage of the rice plant. These treatments were compared with urea applied either pre‐plant incorporated or in multiple applications timed to the peak N demand periods of rice. An array of N rates were used to model the yield response to levels of N. Similar studies utilizing ¹⁵N‐enriched urea were also conducted.

The studies indicated that use of DCD delayed nitrification and tended to result in rice grain yield increases as compared with urea applied pre‐plant without DCD in drill‐seeded rice; however, proper application of urea in split applications gave more consistent results. In water‐seeded continuously flooded rice culture, use of DCD was advantageous only if the flood was delayed for more than 14 days after urea application. The ¹⁵N‐enriched studies indicated that highest N fertilizer recovery was associated with split topdress urea applications; however, addition of DCD resulted in increased immobilization of fertilizer N and release of soil N.     

Effect of green manuring,blue-green algae and neem-cake-coated urea on wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary A field trial was set up to examine the effect of green manuring, blue-green algae, and neem-cake-coated urea on a rice crop. Summer green manuring using Sesbania aculeata increased the crop yield. Inoculation of blue-green algae increased the rice grain yield when 60 kg N ha^-1 was applied as prilled urea, but the increase in grain yield was greater when 60 kg N ha^-1 was applied as neem-cake-coated urea. The results of the present study show that applications of green manure, neem-cake-coated urea, and blue-green algae are complementary and that the three treatments can be used together in the rice ecosystem. The green manure and the fertilizer treatments had no effect on the algal flora of the soil.     

无机包膜肥料在提高小麦氮素利用率和产量效应的研究

A field experiment with winter wheat （Triticum aestivurn L.） was conducted on a silt loam calcaric endorusti-ustic Cambosols derived from the Yellow River alluvial deposits in Henan, China, from 2001 to 2002 to evaluate N recovery and agronomic performance of different mineral coated fertilizers （MiCFs） compared to normal urea used in wheat cropping systems under field conditions. Five treatments, including CK （check, no N fertilizer）, urea and three different MiCFs at an equivalent N application rate were established in a randomized complete block design. N release from MiCFs in soil was more synchronous with the N requirement of wheat throughout the growth stages than that from urea, with grain yield of the MiCF treatments significantly higher （P 〈 0.05） than that of the treatment urea. Correspondingly, the N recovery rate was greater for all MiCFs compared to urea, increasing from 32.8% up to 50.1%. Due to its high recovery and low cost, use of the mineral coated N fertilizers was recommended instead of the polymer coated N fertilizers.     

春玉米田施用双氰胺和硫包衣尿素的节本减排效果分析

氧化亚氮（N2O）是一种重要的温室气体,农田土壤是其重要的排放源.本研究利用温室气体自动测定系统,对华北平原春玉米农田尿素（U）、尿素添加10％双氰胺（DCD1）、尿素添加5％双氰胺（DCD2）、硫包衣尿素（SCU）和不施肥（CK）5个不同施肥处理土壤进行N2O测定,以分析双氰胺和硫包衣尿素对土壤N2O排放的影响.结果表明,（1）各处理N2O排放总量顺序为U＞SCU＞ DCD2＞DCD1＞CK,各处理的排放系数在0.20％ ～0.71％,与单施尿素相比,DCD1、DCD2分别减少N2O排放59.5％、47.1％,硫包衣处理的N2O排放与尿素处理差异不显著,但两者的N2O排放均极显著高于添加DCD的处理（P＜0.01）.（2）排放高峰是伴随土壤孔隙含水量（WFPS）明显上升而发生的,各施肥处理N2O的排放通量与土壤WFPS呈极显著相关关系（P＜0.01）.（3） DCD2施肥方案每减排1tCO2-eq的同时可减少支出约178元,表明此方案可作为减少春玉米农田N2O排放的技术措施.     

Nitrification Inhibitor Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emission,Nitrogen Transformation,and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield in Loamy Sand Soil in Thailand

The nitrification inhibitors (NIs) effects on soil nitrogen (N) fates and maize yields were investigated in a loamy-sand soil in Thailand. The treatments were chemical fertilizer (CF) and CF with dicyandiamide (DCD) or neem oil at two rates of 5% and 10%. Compared to the CF plot, DCD and neem oil reduced the cumulative nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission by the equivalent of 26% and 10%, respectively (P < 0.05). DCD and neem oil had a positive effect in slowing ammonium (NH₄⁺)-conversion and prolonging NH₄⁺-N in the soil with a maximum efficiency of 45% and 30%, respectively. NO₃^–N was higher in the NI plots (P < 0.05), but the effect was less pronounced later in the growing season. Adding the NIs increased maize yields and N uptake, but was only significant (P < 0.10) for neem oil. Results indicate that applying NIs is an effective method to mitigate soil N losses and enhancing N use efficiency in a tropical, agricultural field.     

施用包膜尿素对水稻生长和氮磷流失的影响

施用新型肥料是减少养分径流损失的重要途径。采用田间试验研究了施用包膜尿素对水稻生长和径流氮磷损失的影响,试验设置CK(习惯施肥)、PU1(减磷41%、减氮20%、施普通尿素)、PU2(PU1基础上减氮13%)、UR1(PU2基础上施包膜尿素)和UR2(UR1基础上减氮13%)5个处理。结果表明:PU1和UR1处理水稻氮磷含量与CK处理相近,PU1成熟期氮、磷总积累量比CK增加11.21,2.69kg/hm~2。PU1和UR1处理成熟期地上部生物量和籽粒产量高于CK处理,籽粒产量分别提高7.68%,5.77%。PU1、PU2、UR1和UR2处理径流总磷含量和累积流失量比CK处理低,减少13.18%~21.51%。施用包膜尿素(PU1、PU2)处理径流总氮、铵氮和硝氮含量低于施用普通尿素(CK、UR1、UR2)处理;稻田径流总氮、铵氮和硝氮累积流失量分别减少12.90%~26.91%,54.52%~49.38%和4.03%~15.95%,其中包膜尿素处理铵氮累积流失量显著(P0.05)小于普通尿素处理。施用包膜尿素和优化施肥能促进水稻对氮磷养分的吸收,提高水稻籽粒产量,显著减少稻田氮磷流失量,值得在水稻生产中推广应用。     

Nitrification Inhibitor,Fertilizer Rate,and Temperature Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emission and Nitrogen Transformation in Loamy Sand Soil

An incubation study investigated the effects of nitrification inhibitors (NIs), dicyandiamide (DCD), and neem oil on the nitrification process in loamy sand soil under different temperatures and fertilizer rates. Results showed that NIs decreased soil nitrification by slowing the conversion of soil ammonium (NH₄⁺)-nitrogen (N) and maintaining soil NH₄⁺-N and nitrate (NO₃^?)-N throughout the incubation time. DCD and neem oil decreased soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission by up to 30.9 and 18.8%, respectively. The effectiveness of DCD on reducing cumulative soil N₂O emission and retaining soil NH₄⁺-N was inconsistently greater than that of neem oil, but the NI rate was less obvious than temperature. Fertilizer rate had a stronger positive effect on soil nitrification than temperature, indicating that adding N into low-fertility soil had a greater influence on soil nitrification. DCD and neem oil would be a potential tool for slowing N fertilizer loss in a low-fertility soil under warm to hot climatic conditions.