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Ammonia Volatilization from Ammonium or Ammonium-Forming Nitrogen Fertilizers

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Advances in Soil Science

Part of the book series: Advances in Soil Science ((SOIL,volume 1))

Abstract

Ammonia (NH3) loss is only one of several ways nitrogen (N) can be lost from the plant environment. Nitrogen can leach below the root zone with water, nitrate can be reduced to gaseous forms in anaerobic environments, and NH3 can be lost to the atmosphere when N fertilizer is applied to the soil surface. The intensity of loss from each mechanism depends on water content, temperature, soil texture, form of nitrogen, and other environmental factors. Fertilizer N use efficiency can vary from one environment to another. An agricultural producer can reasonably expect half of the applied N fertilizer to be recovered by the current crop. It is the portion that is unaccounted for in the crop that is addressed by much of the current research. Effective use of applied N by the crop will reduce input cost per unit of product harvested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, El Paso, Texas, 79927, USA

    L. B. Fenn & L. R. Hossner

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  1. L. B. Fenn
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  1. USDA Conservation & Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, Texas, 79012, USA

    B. A. Stewart

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Fenn, L.B., Hossner, L.R. (1985). Ammonia Volatilization from Ammonium or Ammonium-Forming Nitrogen Fertilizers. In: Stewart, B.A. (eds) Advances in Soil Science. Advances in Soil Science, vol 1. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5046-3_4

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