Summary
Laboratory batch incubation experiments were conducted to determine in fate of urea-15N applied to floodwater of four rice soils with established oxidized and reduced soil layers. Diffusion-dependent urea hydrolysis was rapid in all soils, with rates ranging from 0.0107 to 0.0159 h-1 and a mean rate of 0.0131 h-1. Rapid loss of 53%–65% applied urea-15N occurred during the first 8 days after application, primarily by NH3 volatilization. At the end of 70 days, an additional 20%–30% of applied urea-15N was lost, primarily through nitrification-denitrification processes. The soil types showed significant differences in total applied urea-15 recovery. Conversion of urea-15N to N2-15N provided direct evidence of urea hydrolysis followed by nitrification-denitrification in flooded soils.
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Joint contribution from the University of Florida and Louisiana State University. Florida Experimental Stations Journal Series No R-00501
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Reddy, K.R., D'Angelo, E., Lindau, C. et al. Urea losses in flooded soils with established oxidized and reduced soil layers. Biol Fertil Soils 9, 283–287 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634101
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634101