Effects of nitrification inhibitors on transformations of urea nitrogen in soils

The effects of three patented nitrification inhibitors on transformations of urea N in soils were studied by determining the effects of these compounds (10 μg/g of soil) on urea hydrolysis, ammonia volatilization. and production of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate in soils incubated under aerobic conditions (30°C, 60% WHC) after treatment with urea (400 μg of urea N/g of soil). The inhibitors used (N-Serve, ATC, and CL-1580) had little, if any, effect on urea hydrolysis, but they retarded nitrification of the ammonium formed by urea hydrolysis and increased gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia. They also decreased the amount of (urea + exchangeable ammonium + nitrite + nitrate) — N found in urea-treated soils after various times.Two of the soils used accumulated substantial amounts of nitrite(> 160 μg of nitrite N/g of soil) when incubated under aerobic conditions after treatment with urea. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to these soils eliminated or substantially reduced nitrite accumulation and greatly retarded nitrate formation, but had little, if any, effect on the recovery of urea N as (urea + exchangeable ammonium + nitrite + nitrate + ammonia) — N after various times. This finding and other observations reported indicate that the “nitrogen deficits” observed in studies of urea N transformations in soils may not largely be due to gaseous loss of urea N through chemodenitrification and are at least partly due to volatilization and fixation of the ammonium formed by urea hydrolysis in soils. The work reported also indicates that N-Serve and other nitrification inhibitors may prove useful for reduction of the nitrite toxicity problems associated with the use of urea as a fertilizer but that application of such inhibitors in conjunction with fertilizer urea, when surface applied, may promote gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia.     

Minimizing Ammonia Volatilization from Urea in Waterlogged Condition Using Chicken Litter Biochar

Application of urea in lowland rice fields leads to ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and environmental pollution, and diminishes nitrogen recovery by rice (Oryza sativa L.). Amending urea with biochar could reduce NH₃ loss from urea as well as improve chemical properties of acid soils. An incubation study was conducted using a closed-dynamic air flow system to determine NH₃ volatilization from urea and chemical properties of an acid soil (Typic Paleudults). The soil was mixed with three rates of chicken litter biochar (20, 40, and 60 g pot^?1) and 1.31 g urea. Mixing an acid soil with biochar (60 g pot^?1) in waterlogged to stimulate conditions in paddy condition significantly reduced NH₃ loss and total titratable acidity. Biochar application also increased soil pH, total nitrogen, available nitrate, organic matter, total organic carbon, total carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. Thus, chicken litter biochar can be used to reduce urea-N loss and ameliorate chemical properties of acid soils. This aspect is being embarked on in our on-going field experiments.     

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.     

Ammonia Volatilization from Soil,Dry-Matter Yield,and Nitrogen Levels of Italian Ryegrass

Nitrogen (N) loss by ammonia (NH₃) volatilization is the main factor for poor efficiency of urea fertilizer applied to the soil surface. Losses can be suppressed by addition of zeolite minerals to urea fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate ammonia volatilization from soil and dry-matter yield and nitrogen levels of Italian ryegrass. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with the treatments of urea, urea incorporated into soil, urea + urease inhibitor, urea + zeolite, ammonium nitrate, and unfertilized treatment. Ammonia was captured by a foam absorber with a polytetrafluoroethylene tape. There were few differences between zeolite and urease inhibitor amendments concerning NH₃ volatilization from urea. Results indicate that zeolite minerals have the potential to improve the N-use efficiency and contributed to increasing N uptake. Zeolite and urea mixture reduced 50% the losses by volatilization observed with urea.     

Reducing ammonia loss from urea and improving soil-exchangeable ammonium retention through mixing triple superphosphate, humic acid and zeolite

Ammonia losses from soil following fertilization with urea may be large. This laboratory study compared the effect of four different, urea–triple superphosphate (TSP)–humic acid–zeolite, mixtures on NH₃ loss, and soil ammonium and nitrate contents, with loss from surface‐applied urea without additives. The soil was a sandy clay loam Typic Kandiudult (Bungor Series). The mixtures significantly reduced NH₃ loss by between 32 and 61% compared with straight urea (46% N) with larger reductions with higher rates of humic acid (0.75 and 1 g kg^?1 of soil) and zeolite (0.75 and 1 g kg^?1 of soil). All the mixtures of acidic P fertilizer, humic acid and zeolite with urea significantly increased soil NH₄ and NO₃ contents, increased soil‐exchangeable Ca, K and Mg, and benefited the formation of NH₄ over NH₃ compared with urea without additives. The increase in soil‐exchangeable cations, and temporary reduction of soil pH may have retarded urea hydrolysis in the microsite immediately around the fertilizer. It may be possible to improve the efficiency of urea surface‐applied to high value crops by the addition of TSP, humic acid and zeolite.     

Ammonia volatilization following urea application at maize fields in the East African highlands with different soil properties

Use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is underway to increase in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The effect of increasing N rates on ammonia (NH₃) volatilization—a main pathway of applied-N loss in cropping systems—has not been evaluated in this region. In two soils (Alfisols, ALF; and Andisols, AND) with maize crop in the East African highlands, we measured NH₃ volatilization following urea broadcast at six rates (0–150 kg N ha^?1) for 17 days, using a semi-open static chamber method. Immediate irrigation and urea deep placement were tested as mitigation treatments. The underlying mechanism was assessed by monitoring soil pH and mineral N (NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?) concentrations. More cumulative NH₃-N was volatilized in ALF than in AND at the same urea-N rate. Generally, higher urea-N rates increased proportional NH₃-N loss (percent of applied N loss as NH₃-N). Based on well-fitted sigmoid models, simple surface urea application is not recommended for ALF, while up to 60 kg N ha^?1 could be adopted for AND soils. The susceptibility of ALF to NH₃ loss mainly resulted from its low pH buffering capacity, low cation exchange capacity, and high urease activity. Both mitigation treatments were effective. The inhibited rise of soil pH but not NH₄⁺ concentration was the main reason for the mitigated NH₃-N losses, although nitrification in the irrigation treatment might also have contributed. Our results showed that in acidic soils common to SSA croplands, proportional NH₃-N loss can be substantial even at a low urea-N rate; and that the design of mitigation treatments should consider the soil’s inherent capacity to buffer NH₃ loss.     

猪场肥水施用对玉米-小麦农田氨排放、氮素利用与表观平衡的影响

规模化生猪养殖废弃物已成为当前重要污染来源,为有效解决猪场废水所引发面源污染问题,有必要开展将其替代矿物氮肥(作为肥水)施用于农田的探索。以华北平原高度集约化玉米-小麦一年两熟轮作体系为对象,通过田间小区试验,定量研究猪场肥水施用对作物产量、氮素吸收、氮素利用效率、土壤矿质氮累积、氨挥发损失及轮作体系氮素表观平衡的影响。试验包括7个处理:不施肥对照(CK)、尿素表施(CK1)、尿素注射施用(CK2)、猪场肥水替代25%尿素氮表施(25%WB)、猪场肥水替代50%尿素氮表施(50%WB)、猪场肥水替代25%尿素氮注射施用(25%WI)和猪场肥水替代50%尿素氮注射施用(50%WI)。猪场肥水作为基肥施用。结果表明,与CK相比,施用尿素和猪场肥水均可显著提高玉米、小麦产量和籽粒氮吸收量,其中25%WI最高,50%WI次之。与尿素表施相比,尿素注射施用、猪场肥水表施和注射施用均可明显提高氮肥农学效率、偏生产力和表观利用率,且肥水注射施用最高,肥水表施次之,而25%WI和50%WI之间无显著差异。与不施肥处理相比,施用尿素和猪场肥水0～100cm土体矿质氮残留量显著增加50.8%～87.9%,其中50%WB、25%WI和50%WI无显著差异。与尿素表施相比,尿素注射施用、肥水表施和注射施用均可显著降低玉米和小麦基肥期土壤氨损失总量,降幅分别为26.5%～48.6%和11.4%～29.1%;同时,肥水表施和注射施用下轮作体统氮盈余显著降低7.6%～16.0%,其中25%WI降幅最高,但与50%WI无显著差异。综合考虑作物产量、氮素利用和环境效应,猪场肥水替代25%和50%尿素氮注射施用是该区玉米-小麦轮作农田猪场肥水最佳施用方式。     

A model of ammonia volatilization from applied urea. III. Sensitivity analysis, mechanisms, and applications

A sensitivity analysis of the model described in Part I showed that the proportion of N lost as ammonia from surface applied urea is very sensitive to the initial pH of the soil, its pH buffer capacity, the rate of urea application, and the soil urease activity. Under the conditions tested, the diffusion of bicarbonate ion to the soil surface, to neutralize the acid generated when NH₄⁺ is volatilized as NH₃, appeared to be the main process controlling the rate of ammonia volatilization. The amount of ammonia volatilized was not very sensitive to the value of the transfer coefficient between the soil surface and the atmosphere, nor to the soil moisture status if this was around field capacity. Adsorption of ammoniacal-nitrogen was less important than the soil pH buffer capacity in influencing the ammonia volatilization. Further applications and extensions of the model are discussed.     

Effect of hydroquinone, dicyandiamide and encapsulated calcium carbide on urea N uptake by spring wheat, soil mineral N content and N2O emission

Abstract. At present about half of the N fertilizer used in China is as urea. However, recovery of urea N in crops is often limited to 30–40%. Application of urea in combination with hydroquinone plus dicyandiamide (U-HQ-DCD) gave an improved urea-N recovery and grain yield by spring wheat in a pot experiment. The apparent total urea-N recovery was 69% and 73% of this recovered N was found in the grain. The grain yield was 32% higher than in the treatment where urea was applied without inhibitors. The application of hydroquinone and dicyandiamide also resulted in a smaller soil nitrate content, which might restrict post-harvest leaching of N. Another beneficial effect of these inhibitors was that the N₂O emission from the soil—plant system was reduced by 35% compared to the treatment where only urea was applied. The use of urea in combination with hydroquinone plus encapsulated calcium carbide gave smaller beneficial effects.     

Effect of Rate of Urea Application and Soil Moisture on the Behaviour of Urea in Soil

A sandy clay loam soil was used to study the effect of (a) urea application at rates equivalent to 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm-N, at moisture content level of 100 % WHC, and (b) soil moisture levels of 30, 60 and 100 % of the WHC in addition to water-logging conditions, when urea was applied at the rate of 500 ppm-N, on urea-N transformations. In both cases, the incubation took place at 30°C and lasted for 6 weeks. The experiments were carried out in a closed system daily aerated. Complete hydrolysis of the added urea was attained after 1, 2 and 3 weeks for 250, 500 and 1000 ppm urea-N, respectively. Six weeks incubation period was not enough for full hydrolysis of the 2000 ppm urea-N. The rate of urea hydrolysis increased linearly for urea concentration up to 1000 ppm N. This concentration must have been sufficient to saturate the urease present in the soil used. The peak of NON was higher the higher the rate of urea applied. Delay of the nitrate formation was always accompanied by the accumulation of nitrites. At the end of the experiment, the nitrate-N formed represented 93,90,77 and only 20 % of the initially applied nitrogen for 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm-urea-N, respectively. The rate as well as the total ammonia loss increased with increasing the rate of urea application. No appreciable differences were observed in urea hydrolysis due to the variations in moisture levels within the range of WHC. Under water-logging conditions, urea hydrolysis was slower and extended to the 6th week, also the rate of urea hydrolysis was no more than 50 % of the rate produced in moisture treatments within WHC. NON accumulation persisted for one week in the moisture levels within the range of WHC, while it continued in the water-logged treatment till the end of the experiment. Nitrate formation was slightly favoured at 100 % WHC and decreased somewhat with lowering the soil moisture levels. However, it was completely inhibited under water-logging conditions. Ammonia volatilization was not markedly affected by moisture levels within WHC, however, the water-logged treatment showed the highest total loss.     

Effect of methods of application on the efficiency of urea broadcast onto lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary We evaluated the effect of different methods of application on the efficiency of urea broadcast at a rate of 100 kg N ha^-1 onto lowland rice (Oryza sativa L. var. SPR 60) in a field experiment conducted on a Phimai soil (Fluvic Tropaquepts) during the dry season of 1989. Analysis of the floodwater on the first day after the fertilizer application showed a high initial concentration of urea-N. Addition of the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT), broadcast with the urea into the floodwater, caused an apparent reduction in the rate of urea disappearance and a subsequent accumulation of NH₃–N in the floodwater; this ureas inhibitor also suppressed the rise in floodwater pH, with a resultant reduction in the partial pressure of ammonia (pNH₃) compared with the unamended urea application. The use of nBTPT did not decrease the N loss from broadcast urea not did it increase the grain yield. Among the different methods of applying broadcast urea that we tested, the broadcast application of granular urea onto drained soil shortly after removing floodwater followed by flooding 2 days later appeared to be a good N management practice, offering considerable potential for improving the efficiency of urea applied to lowland rice crops.     

Urea transformation in some tropical soils

The effects of incubation at 20°, 30° and 40°C and urea concentrations of 0, 50, 100 and 200 μg N/g soil on urea hydrolysis and nitrification were investigated in three Nigerian soils. At constant temperature urea hydrolysis and rate of NO₃^? accumulation increased with increasing rate of urea addition. Urea was rapidly hydrolyzed within 1 week of incubation. Nitrification in Apomu soil increased with increasing incubation temperature. Nitrification was slow in acid Nkpologu soil (pH 4.7). Texture, cation exchange capacity and C:N ratios of the soils were not related to urea hydrolysis or nitrification. Nitrite accumulation in these soils was insignificant. Soil pH was decreased by nitrification of hydrolyzed urea-N.     

控释复合肥对冷季型草坪氨挥发和硝态氮淋洗的影响

通过田间试验,研究了控释复合肥、常规施肥、市售草坪专用肥对冷季型草坪氨挥发和硝态氮淋洗的影响。氨挥发采用通气密闭法收集测定,硝态氮利用土壤溶液提取器收集淋洗液然后进行测定。结果表明,常规施肥处理的氨挥发量为47.7 kg/hm2(占年施氮量的18.3%),显著高于控释复合肥处理(氨挥发损失为2.9 kg/hm2,占年施氮量的1.1%)和市售草坪专用肥处理(氨挥发损失为4.1 kg/hm2,占年施氮量的1.6%)。施氮不同程度增加了淋洗液中硝态氮的浓度,3种氮肥的硝态氮淋洗程度不同。0—50 cm土层,淋洗液的硝态氮浓度范围分别是:控释复合肥处理1.16~.7 mg/L,常规施肥处理1.21~0.1 mg/L,市售草坪专用肥处理1.51~6.7 mg/L;0—100 cm土层,淋洗液的硝态氮浓度范围分别是:控释复合肥处理1.15~.7 mg/L,常规施肥处理1.11~2.5 mg/L,市售草坪专用肥处理1.16~.2 mg/L。综上所述,控释复合肥降低了冷季型草坪氨挥发损失和硝态氮的淋洗,表现出明显的环境效益,是一种有应用前景的新型肥料。     

改性尿素硝酸铵溶液调控氮素挥发和淋溶的研究

为了提高肥料的利用率,以尿素硝酸铵溶液为原料、聚氨酸为保护剂,复合抑制剂NBPT(N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺)和DMPP(3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐)为材料,开发出改性尿素硝酸铵溶液(YUL1和YUL2),研究其对华北平原夏玉米追肥过程中的氨挥发和淋溶损失的调控效果。田间试验设置6个处理:不施氮肥(CK)、农民习惯追施尿素(CN)、优化追施尿素(CNU)、优化追施尿素硝酸铵溶液(UAN)、优化追施改性尿素硝酸铵溶液(YUL1)和优化追施改性尿素硝酸铵溶液(YUL2)。采用扫描电镜和能谱仪分析相关指标变化,在夏玉米喇叭口期追施氮肥后15d内进行田间原位连续动态观测氨挥发和土壤铵态氮和硝态氮变化,并在玉米成熟期测定产量,计算经济效益。结果表明,改性尿素硝酸铵溶液清澈无杂质,流延后成膜表面光滑、致密,抑制剂在膜表面分布均匀;能谱测试膜层表面磷硫含量增高,证明复合抑制剂与尿素硝酸铵溶液达到有效融合。在同等优化施氮量下:与CNU相比, YUL1氨挥发总量显著降低19.3%, YUL2增加9.6%;与UAN相比, YUL1、YUL2分别显著降低57.3%和42.0%。与其他施氮处理相比, YUL1和YUL2夏玉米季生长中后期0～20 cm土层依然保持相对较高的氮素含量水平,夏玉米收获后土壤硝态氮含量分别比CNU高46.0%和43.4%,比UAN高45.6%和44.7%;180～200cm土层硝态氮含量显著低于其他处理。在保证产量和净收益的同时,改性尿素硝酸铵肥料显著降低了氮素的氨挥发和淋溶损失浓度,尿酶抑制剂含量相对较高的YUL1抑制氨挥发的效果更好,硝化抑制剂含量相对高的YUL2硝态氮向下淋失的风险更小。     

不同氮肥形态的氨挥发损失比较

利用从德国引进的农田土壤氨挥发风洞法测定系统,对不同N肥形态的肥料进行对比实验。结果表明,在相同施N量条件下,硝酸铵、硝酸铵钙、硫硝酸铵的氨挥发损失分别比尿素减少22.5%、3.2%和8.3%,不同N肥的氨挥发损失差异很大。相同条件下,尿素的氨挥发损失为25.7%,添加DMPP后氨挥发损失为27.6%;硫硝酸铵的氨挥发损失为18.6%,添加DMPP后为20.6%;添加DMPP对尿素和硫硝酸铵的氨挥发影响不显著。     

High Water Regime Can Reduce Ammonia Volatilization from Soils under Potato Production

Abstract

This research was conducted with Biscayne marl soil and Krome gravelly loam from Florida and Quincy fine sand and Warden silt loam from Washington to determine ammonia (NH₃) volatilization at various temperature and soil water regimes. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃), ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄], or urea were applied to the soil at a rate of 75 kg N ha^?1. Soil water regime was maintained at either 20% or 80% of field capacity (FC) and incubated at 11, 20, or 29°C, which represented the minimum, average, and maximum temperatures, respectively, during the potato growing season in Washington. Results indicated that the ammonia volatilization rate at 20% FC soil water regime was two‐ to three‐fold greater than that at 80% FC. The cumulative volatilization loss over 28 days was up to 25.7%. Results of this study demonstrated that ammonia volatilization was accelerated at low soil water regimes.     

Effect of partial urea application on nutrient absorption by hydroponically grown spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv. Okame) was grown in hydroponic pot culture with an Enshi nutrient solution amended with 0, 20, or 50% urea with or without nickel addition (Ni; 0.05 mg L^-1), while the total concentration of N (17.33 mmol L^-1) remained constant in all the cases to evaluate the effect of partial urea application, with or without the addition of Ni, on the absorption of NO³-N, urea-N, NH₄-N, minerals (e.g. Ca, K, Mg, P) by plants. Fresh and dry weight of the shoots was highest when a 20% urea solution with Ni addition was used. The variation in spinach yield was related to the absorption of total-N by the plants. The absorption of total-N, attributed mainly to NO₃-N and urea-N, differed between the treatments. In the case of short-term absorption, determination by using ¹⁵N-urea and ¹⁵N-KNO₃ showed that, the urea-N absorption significantly increased with the increase in the urea concentration in the nutrient solution. When the urea solutions were used, regardless of Ni addition, the absorption of NO₃-N was more than four times higher than that of urea-No The addition of Ni in the urea solutions stimulated and increased both urea-N and NO₃-N absorption. In the case of long-term absorption, the NO₃-N absorption decreased with the decrease of the NO₃-N concentration when NO₃-N was partially replaced with urea in the nutrient solution. The addition of Ni in the urea solutions resulted in the increase of the absorption of both urea-N and NO₃-N, but the NO₃-N absorption remained lower in all the treatments compared to the control. In the urea solutions, the absorption of urea-N with or without the addition of Ni increased at a lower rate over time (sampling stages). Application of urea, with or without the addition of Ni in the nutrient solution, increased Ca absorption but decreased K and Mg absorption, whereas, P absorption was unaffected. It is suggested that spinach could grow adequately in an Enshi nutrient solution modified with 20% urea with the addition of 0.05 mg Ni L^-1, when urea totally replaced NH₄-N and partially replaced NO₃-N.     

Evaluation of 3-methylpyrazole-1-carboxamide as a soil nitrification inhibitor

Summary Laboratory studies to evaluate 3-methylpyrazole-1-carboxamide (MPC) as a soil nitrification inhibitor showed that it was comparable to nitrapyrin (N-Serve) for inhibiting nitrification of ammonium in soil, but was not as effective as etridiazole (Dwell) or 2-ethynylpyridine. They also showed that the effectiveness of MPC as a soil nitrification inhibitor is markedly affected by soil type and soil temperature, that MPC is more effective for inhibiting nitrification of ammonium-N than of urea-N, and that MPC has little, if any, effect on hydrolysis of urea or denitrification of nitrate in soil. These observations and other work discussed indicate that MPC is one of the most promising compounds so far proposed for inhibition of nitrification in soil.     

Ammonia toxicity in aerobic rice: use of soil properties to predict ammonia volatilization following urea application and the adverse effects on germination

Recent studies indicate that aerobic rice can suffer injury from ammonia toxicity when urea is applied at seeding. Urea application rate and soil properties influence the accumulation of ammonia in the vicinity of recently sown seeds and hence influence the risk of ammonia toxicity. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of urea rate on ammonia volatilization and subsequent seed germination for a range of soils, (ii) establish a critical level for ammonia toxicity in germinating rice seeds and (iii) assess how variation in soil properties influences ammonia accumulation. Volatilized ammonia and seed germination were measured in two micro‐diffusion incubations using 15 soils to which urea was applied at five rates (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 g N kg^?1 soil). Progressively larger urea rates increased volatilization, decreased germination and indicated a critical level for ammonia toxicity of approximately 7 mg N kg^?1. Stepwise regression of the first three principal components indicated that the initial pH and soil texture components influenced ammonia volatilization when no N was added. At the intermediate N rate all three components (initial pH, soil texture and pH buffering) affected ammonia volatilization. At the largest N rate, ammonia volatilization was driven by soil texture and pH buffering while the role of initial pH was insignificant. For soils with an initial pH > 6.0 the risk of excessive volatilization increased dramatically when clay content was <150 mg kg^?1, cation exchange capacity (CEC) was <10 cmol_c kg^?1 and the buffer capacity (BC) was <2.5 cmol_c kg^?1 pH^?1. These findings suggest that initial pH, CEC, soil texture and BC should all be used to assess the site‐specific risks of urea‐induced ammonia toxicity in aerobic rice.     

An innovative method for the treatment of rice straw to improve nitrogen uptake efficiency

An innovative method was used to treat rice straw based on a mixed dilute acid treatment followed by neutralization with ammonia water. This treatment decreased the Si content of the rice straw, thus improving its degradation by soil microorganisms. The plant-available N of soil was greatly improved after the application of the treated rice straw with urea. Soil microbial biomass N was about 50 mg kg^–1 in the soil amended with the treated rice straw and urea but only 40 mg kg^–1 in the soil amended with untreated rice straw and urea. Better synchronization of N supply with the plant requirement for N uptake was obtained when treated rice straw was applied with urea. Recovery of urea-N was 61% when soil was amended with treated rice straw and urea, whereas it was only 46% in soil amended with untreated rice straw and urea, and only 30% in soil treated with urea alone.