Abstract
The aim of this work was to lower ammonia volatilization losses by increasing the rate of nitrification. This was achieved by eliminating the gap in timing between urea hydrolysis and ammonium nitrification. Soils were pretreated with a small amount of ammonium salt which led to the activation of the nitrification process. When nitrification passed its lag period, urea was applied to the soils. Ammonium produced by urea hydrolysis was quickly oxidized into nitrate and did not accumulate in the soil. This resulted in decreased ammonium concentrations in soil, and consequently, in decreased ammonia volatilization losses.
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This report is part of a doctoral thesis by the first author.
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Fleisher, Z., Hagin, J. Lowering ammonia volatilization losses from urea application by activation of nitrification process. Fertilizer Research 2, 101–107 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01080096
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01080096