Published January, 1976

Gaseous Loss of Ammonia from Sulfur-coated Urea, Ammonium Sulfate, and Urea Applied to
Calcareous Soil (pH 7.3)1
M. PRASAD 2

ABSTRACT (2) while the effect of moisture in the aerated range on the
Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to study the dissolution of N from SCU has not been reported.
comparative volatilization loss of NH3 in a calcareous soil from sulfur- Information on the effect of addition of organic matter on
coated urea (SCU) with fast (F), medium (M), and slow (S) dissolution NH 3 volatilization from N-sources is also scanty. Some
rates, ammonium sulfate (AS) and urea, at two temperatures 22 and increase in volatilization losses has been reported in the
32C, and at three soil moisture levels 25, 50, and 80% of the water- presence of relatively fresh plant residues (10) while incor-
holding capacity of the soil. The effect of the addition of organic poration of organic matter in soil reduced volatilization
amendment (filter press mud) to soil on NH3 loss from these N-sources (18).
was also studied. Losses were studied up to 21 days. At both tempera- The purpose of this investigation was, therefore, to study
tures increasing soil moisture levels led to reduction of NH, loss re- the effect of temperature, moisture, and organic matter ad-
gardless of the N-source, despite the fact that the soil analysis showed
dition on NH3 volatilization from various N-sources with
higher dissolution of N from SCU at high soil moisture.
Higher temperature increased the NH;> losses from all N-sources. particular emphasis on SCU having varying dissolution
Losses usually followed the order of Urea > AS > SCU(F) > SCU(M) rates, when applied to a calcareous soil.
> SCU(S). At 32C losses from uncoated urea and AS at low, medium,
MATERIALS AND METHODS
and high moisture were 20.6 and 16.7%; 14.5 and 13.1%, and 8.4 and
6.6% of the N application rate, respectively. Losses from SCU(F) and The soil used for this experiment was a surface soil (0-15 cm)
SCU(M) as percentage loss of uncoated urea varied from 34% and 26% belonging to the Princes Town clay, described as Grumosol (1).
at low moisture, 29% and 23% at medium moisture, and 28% and 23% Some of the soil properties are shown in Table 1.
at high moisture, respectively. At 22C losses from uncoated urea and The method used by Bremner and Douglas (3) for studying NH3
AS at low, medium, and high moisture were 11.1 and 10,2%; 7.7 and volatilization was used in this experiment. The equipment con-
8.8%, and 4.2 and 3.5% of the N application rate, respectively. Losses sisted of a 250-ml (8-oz) French square bottle fitted with an aera-
from SCU(F) and SCU(M) at three moisture levels were 26 and 17%, tion device having an acid trap for absorption of NH3. This device
18 and 10%, and 24 and 16%, respectively. permitted incubation for 21 days without significant loss of mois-
Incorporation of filter press mud to the soil resulted in reduction of ture (< 0.15 ml) and its acid trap effected quantitative recovery of
NH3. Bremmer and Douglas showed that the atmosphere over the
volatilization loss of NHs from all N-sources which was partly due to
sample was maintained at 20 to 21% O2 and 0.04 to 0.06% CO2.
exchange reaction and biological immobilization of NHu-N and partly Details of the N-fertilizers used in this investigation are given in
due to reduction of urease activity.
Table 2.
Additional Index Words: dissolution rate, urease activity, filter press Ten grams of soil were placed in the French square bottles and
mud. mixed with 1.0, 2.3, and 4.2 ml of distilled water containing 10
mg N as urea or AS. The rate of N used in this experiment was
high but such concentration may be found for short periods within
URFACE APPLICATION of ammonium sulfate or urea is a
S common practice in ratoon sugar cane (Saccharum of-
ficinarum L.), especially in the rolling topography of south
the immediate environment of the fertilizer granule (8) (Prelimi-
nary investigations also revealed that the rates of 1, 5, and 10 mg
N at 32 C and 50% waterholding capacity of the soil did not signif-
Trinidad. Ammonia volatilization loss from application of icantly affect the volatilization loss when expressed as percentage
of total applied.). The three rates of water brought the soil to 25,
soluble N fertilizer on the alkaline soils in south Trinidad
50, and 80% of the water-holding capacity (WHC).
could be considerable. For the sulfur-coated urea treatments, 2 or 3 granules (10 mg N)
One of the possible agronomic advantages of sulfur- of SCU-F, SCU-M, or SCU-S were mixed with the soil. Due to
coated urea (SCU) is the reduction of volatilization loss of normal variation in the SCU granules it is generally accepted that
NH3 as compared to other conventional nitrogen fertilizers. 30-40 granules are needed to obtain a satisfactory representative
Indirect measurement of losses as measured by crop re- sample. These normal variations including differences in granule
size and imperfections in the coating were, however, reduced by
sponse showed that it is possible to reduce losses by coating
visual and microscopic examinations. Distilled water at a rate of
urea with sulfur (16). A review of literature revealed that no 1.0, 2.3, and 4.2 ml was then added to the soil. In a control treat-
direct measurement of the magnitude of volatilization losses ment only distilled water at the above rates was added to the soil.
of NH3 from SCU and its comparison to urea and ammo- There appears to be an apparent conflict between agricultural
nium sulfate (AS) has been reported. The effect of tempera- practice (surface application) and the laboratory treatment (mixed
ture and moisture on NH3 volatilization from soluble N- application) in the method of application of fertilizer. However, in
fertilizer has been documented (6, 13, 20). Increasing soil preliminary tests it was found that there was no difference in NH3
volatilization loss (up to 21 days) when reagent grade fine crys-
temperature increases volatilization, while increasing soil
talline urea and ammonium sulfate were applied either as a surface
moisture in the aerated range decreases volatilization. The or mixed application into this soil. Although it is well known that
effect of temperature and moisture on NH 3 volatilization
from SCU was thought to be interesting because increasing Table 1—Characteristics of the soil used in the experiment
temperature increases the dissolution rate of N from SCU Soil type pH CaCO3 Organic G Total-N Clay Silt Sand CEC*

'Contribution from the Caroni Research Stn., Carapichaima, Trinidad, Princes

West
2
Indies. Received 9 Sept. 1974. Approved 21 Oct. 1975. Town clay 7.3 0.2 1.9 0.189 77.6 14.2 8.2 41
Soil Chemist. Present address is Consultant, M. J. Woods & Assoc., 13
Kilbarrack Grove, Dublin 5, Ireland. * Cation exchange capacity (meq/100 g of soil).

130
 PRASAD: GASEOUS LOSS OF AMMONIA IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL 131

Table 2—Characteristics of the N-fertilizers used Table 3—Volatilization loss of ammonia from various N-sources
added to Princes Town clay as affected by moisture at 22C
Dissolution in H2O 37C*
Volatilized, % of total applied
N-fertilizer Total-N 1 day 7 days
Days
Treatment 0-3 3-7 7-14 14-21 Total 21
Urea 46.0
Ammonium sulfate 21.0 - 25% water-holding capacity
SCU-Ft 25.0 33.9 44.7
SCU-Mf 37.0 19.4 28.5 Urea 0.0 2.8 7.4 0.9 11.1
30.4 3.9 8.8 Ammonium sulfate 1.6 1.8 3.8 3.0 10.2
SCU-Sf
SCU-F 0.0 0.9 1.6 0.4 2.9
* Two-gram sample in 10 ml water at 37C. Dissolution determined by drying SCU-M 0.0 0.6 1.0 0.3 1.9
and weighing of reclaimed granules (14). L.S.D.,5% 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.9
t SCU = sulfur coated urea, F = fast dissolution rate, M - medium dissolution 50% water -holding capacity
rate, and S = slow dissolution rate. Supplied by the courtsy of Tennessee
Valley Authority. Urea 0.0 2.2 5.1 0.4 7.7
Ammonium sulfate 1.8 2.0 2.8 2.2 8.8
SCU-F 0.0 0.5 0.9 0.2 1.6
SCU-M 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.9
NH 3 losses can be considerably reduced when fertilizer is covered L.S.D., 5% 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.8
by the soil vis-a-vis surface application, the thickness of the soil 80% water-holding capacity
cover is significant. It must be remembered that in this study only
Urea 0.0 1.3 2.1 0.8 4.2
10 g of soil was used in 250 ml bottles. The thickness of the soil Ammonium sulfate 0.7 1.2 1.0 0.6 3.5
would be only a few millimeters (< 5 mm). With this or a lesser SCU-F 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.1 1.0
amount of soil cover (as would be the case when the fertilizers are SCU-M o.o- 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.7
mixed into the soil), the differences between surface and mixed L.S.D., 5% 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.3 0.9

application were nonexistent. This result is in agreement with the

findings of Ernest and Massey (6) who found that a soil cover of 6
mm did not lead to any significant decrease in NH3 loss from urea.
Ammonium sulfate and urea were used in solution instead of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
solid or prilled form because in the same preliminary experiment Volatilization losses of NH 3 as a percentage of total
referred to above no differences in NH3 volatilization were found
applied, from the various nitrogen fertilizers at two temper-
between fine crystalline urea and ammonium sulfate mixed into the
soil and solution urea and ammonium sulfate. atures and three soil moisture contents are given in Tables 3
The decision to use these solutions was also influenced by the and 4. The data shows that at both temperatures, increasing
findings of Gasser (7) and Terman et al. (17). Gasser using six moisture levels reduced the amount of NH 3 volatilized re-
soils found that there was no significant difference in NH3 loss gardless of the nitrogen source. Since NH 3 is soluble in
when urea was applied in pelleted, crystalline, or solution form. water, the higher moisture content would provide a larger
Terman et al. compared solid urea and solid ammonium sulfate surface area for NH3 absorption (13, 20) and this would
with solution urea and ammonium sulfate. They found no dif-
ferences in ammonia loss between solution and solid fertilizers. reduce volatilization. In addition, at high moisture level ni-
The samples with the acid traps containing 5 ml of 0. \N HC1 trification proceeded at a faster rate, so that a build up of
were incubated in an air-conditioned room at 22 ± 1C (50-70%
relative humidity) and in an electric oven at 32C (60% relative hu-
midity). There were seven replications for the control, urea and Table 4—Volatilization loss of ammonia from various N-sources
ammonium sulfate, and 13 replications for the SCU treatments. added to Princes Town clay as affected by moisture at 32C
The number of replicates for SCU were greater because of the pos-
sible heterogeneity of the granules. Volatilized N H 3 , '% of total applied

At 3, 7, 14, and 21 days, the ammonium in the acid trap was de- Days
termined using Nessler's reagent. The acid trap was filled with Treatment 0-3 3-7 7-14 14-21 Total 21
fresh acid after each determination. At 14 days whole soil samples 25% water-holding capacity
from half the replicates were extracted with 50 ml of 1M KC1 con-
Urea 2.2 5.9 12.0 5.4 20.6
taining a urease inhibitor (phenylmercuric acetate) and analyzed Ammonium sulfate 3.2 4.2 5.3 4.0 16.7
for urea-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, and NH 4 -N by standard methods of SCU-F 0.0 2.4 3.5 1.2 7.1
analysis (5, 11, 4, 9). (The SCU granules were pulverized before SCU-M 0.0 2.1 2.5 0.8 5.4
the extraction.) On one replicate pH was determined using a SCU-S 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
L.S.D., 5% 0.4 0.9 1.0 0.6 1.2
soil/water ratio of 1:2. The rest of the replicates were incubated for
50% water-holding capacity
an additional 7 days. Whole soil samples were then extracted and
Urea-N, NO3-N, NO 2 -N, and NH 4 -N determined as for 14 days. Urea 2.0 4.4 9.0 1.1 14.5
Ammonium sulfate 3.2 3.1 4.1 2.7 13.1
For the organic matter addition treatment 140 mg of filter press SCU-F 0.0 1.3 2.2 0.8 4.3
mud (FPM), a byproduct of the sugar industry, was incorporated SCU-M 0.0 1.0 1.9 0.5 3.4
to 10 g of soil in French square bottles. The soil was then brought SCU-S 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
L.S.D., 5% 0.3 1.0 1.2 0.4 1.8
to 50% WHC. The following treatments were then superimposed;
control, AS, urea, and SCU-F. The treatments were incubated at 80% water-holding capacity
32C for 21 days. Volatilization measurement for 3, 7, 14, and 21 Urea 0.8 3.4 3.8 0.4 8.4
days and soil analysis at 14 and 21 days were carried out in the Ammonium sulfate 1.8 2.3 2.3 0.2 6.6
SCU-F 0.0 1.1 1.0 0.3 2.4
same manner as described earlier. SCU-M 0.0 0.9 0.8 0.3 2.0
In order to study the effect of FPM on urea hydrolysis, 10 g of SCU-S 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
the soil was treated with 1 ml of toluene and 10 ml of solution con- L.S.D., 5% 0.2 0.7 0.8 0.2 1.0
taining 10 mg Urea-N with and without FPM addition. The two 50% water-holding capacity in presence of FPM
treatments were incubated in triplicates in stoppered French square Urea 1.2 4.0 2.2 1.2 8.6
bottles for 18 hours at 32C. Urea was determined on the soil ex- Ammonium sulfate 2.6 1.8 2.1 0.8 7.3
tracted with \M KC1 containing phenylmercuric acetate by the SCU-M 0.0 1.0 1.8 0.3 2.1
L.S.D., 5% 0.5 0.8 0.6 0.2 1.1
method of Douglas and Bremner (5).
132 SOIL SCI. SOC. AM. J., VOL. 40, 1976

Table 5—Nitrogen recovered in the soil at 14 and 21 days as percentage of total applied (22C)
14 days_____ 21 days
Treatment Urea-N NH 4 -N NO 3 -N NO 2 -N pH Urea-N NH 4 -N NO 3 -N NO r N
25% water-holding capacity
Control f 0.0 0.0 14.0 0.0 - 7.30 0.0 0.0 17.0 0.0
Urea 6.0 75.1 2.5 0.7 94.5 7.65 2.0 70.3 3.5 0.4 87.3
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 82.3 2.0 0.6 92.1 7.30 0.0 77.5 3.1 0.2 99.1
SCU-F 58.1 33.6 3.0 0.5 97.7 7.65 52.5 35.6 4.0 95.1
SCU-M 64.7 21.2 3.3 0.5 91.3 7.60 56.8 28.3 3.1 90.1
50% water-holding capacity
Controlf 0.0 0.0 45.0 0.0 7.30 0.0 0.0 55.0 0.0
Urea 1.0 74.9 5.1 0.7 89.0 7.60 1.2 75.3 5.8 2.0 92.0
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 82.1 3.6 0.3 92.6 7.30 0.0 73.5 4.0 0.8 87.1
SCU-F 54.5 33.3 10.6 0.2 100.0 7.65 46.6 32.7 17.2 0.2 98.3
SCU-M 49.5 42.0 9.8 0.3 102.3 7.65 39.5 36.0 18.7 0.3 95.4
p water-holding capacity
Controlf 0.0 0.0 87.0 0.0 7.30 0.0 0.0 90.0 0.0
Urea 0.6 52.4 17.5 18.3 92.2 7.60 0.0 41.9 43.2 8.0 87.3
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 68.4 12.0 11.1 94.4 7.30 0.0 46.1 37.8 3.3 90.7
SCU-F 44.1 24.7 17.1 12.0 98.8 7.55 40.4 30.1 21.3 5.1 97.9
SCU-M 46.6 19.8 20.3 14.7 102.0 7.60 38.7 33.2 23.0 2.4 98.0

* T = total recovery including volatilization values.

t Control values in ppm; no correction made for control values in recovery data.

Table 6—Nitrogen recovered in the soil at 14 and 21 days as percentage of total applied (32C)

14 days 21 days

Treatment Urea-N NH 4 -N NO3-N NO 2 -N T* pH Urea-N NH4-N NO3-N NO 2 -N T«

25% water-holding capacity

Controlf 0.0 0.0 20.0 0.0 -- 7.30 0.0 0.0 31.0 0.0
Urea 1.5 70.3 4.5 1.0 92.4 7.65 0.0 62.5 6.5 <0.1 89.7
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 74.7 4.0 <0.1 91.5 7.30 0.0 78.6 4.9 0.0 90.2
SCU-F 51.7 26.7 5.8 0.4 90.5 7.85 48.4 28.5 6.9 <0.1 91.0
SCU-M 61.3 31.9 4.3 0.5 102.6 7.80 54.7 30.9 8.1 <io.i 99.2
SCU-S 90.4 1.0 2.5 0.2 94.1 7.80 86.3 2.0 4.4 <0.1 92.8
50% water-holding capacity

Controlf 0.0 0.0 55.0 ,2.0 - 7.30 0.0 0.0 57.0 0.0
Urea 0.4 64.4 16.0 1.8 96.0 7.60 0.0 49.5 26.5 0.3 89.7
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 68.7 14.4 <0.1 92.6 7.30 0.0 56.2 21.4 <0.1 90.1
SCU-F 43.5 32.3 14.7 0.2 94.2 7.80 38.5 30.6 21.4 ^0.1 94.1
SCU-M 46.1 28.9 16.4 0.3 94.6 7.80 40.0 23.8 26.1 <0.1 92.9
SCU-S 86.4 3.0 2.5 0.0 91.9 7.80 70.5 14.2 4.0 0.0 89.7
80% water-holding capacity
Control! 0.0 0.0 87.0 0.0 - 7.30 0.0 0.0 104.0 0.0
Urea 0.0 51.1 29.8 6.5 95.4 7.65 0.0 37^0 41.8 0.5 87.3
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 70.5 15.5 0.6 93.0 7.30 0.0 48.5 41.4 0.0 96.3
SCU-F 36.8 13.0 46.5 2.3 100.7 7.70 32.3 5.5 51.6 0.5 92.0
SCU-M 38.2 18.3 43.6 2.6 100.4 7.65 36.1 4.5 49.5 0.5 92.3
SCU-S 74.0 14.5 4.5 0.3 93.3 7.75 65.4 16.0 10.0 0.0 91.4
50% water-holding capacity in presence of FPM
Controlf 0.0 95.0 187.0 0.0 - 7.35 0.0 68.0 192.0 <Co.l
Urea 0.0 58.7 21.5 0.5 88.1 7.65 0.0 55.0 32.4 <Co.i 96.0
Ammonium sulfate 0.0 73.8 14.5 0.4 96.2 7.35 0.0 53.2 • 32.2 <0.1 92.7
SCU-F 41.4 33.3 19.0 0.2 96.7 7.75 36.1 25.2 26.5 <0.1 90.2

* T = total recovery including volatilization values.

t Control values in ppm; no correction made for control values in recovery data.

high ammonium concentration was prevented (Tables 5 and been released from the granule. The greater dissolution of
6). (Nitrite tended to accumulate more at lower temperature nitrogen from SCU at high moisture content did not lead to
especially at the highest moisture content and was most evi- higher volatilization relative to lower moisture contents.
dent at 14 days.) On the other hand, the reaction responsible Apparently factors like solubility of NH3 in water, increased
for urea hydrolysis was only slightly retarded due to lower nitrification, etc., at high moisture content more than com-
moisture content even at low temperature; this slight retar- pensated for the greater dissolution of N from SCU at high
dation apparently did not reduce the volatilization appre- moisture content of the soil. The amount of NH3 being
ciably. The low moisture content retarded the dissolution of volatilized from the three types of SCU was dependent on
N from SCU as evidenced by higher content of urea in the the dissolution rate of the material. NH3 volatilization loss
soil at 14 and 21 days because, as mentioned, the hydrolysis from SCU-S occurred only at low moisture at 32C. No
of uncoated urea at low moisture content was apparently not volatilization occurred with SCU-S at 22C at all the mois-
a limiting factor. Therefore, the urea found in the soil with ture levels tested (data not presented here). At 32C, SCU-F
the SCU treatments would be mostly urea which had not and SCU-M showed a peak of volatilization at 7-14 days
 PRASAD: GASEOUS LOSS OF AMMONIA IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL 133

Table?—Effect of N-sources and FPM on exchangeable NH4-N and tional soil analysis carried out at 3 and 7 days showed that
water soluble NH4-N of the soil* although there was no reduction in exchangeable NH 4 -N,
3days 7days there was a reduction in water soluble NH 4 -N (Table 7). In
Water Water view of the colloidal nature and easily decomposable
Exchangeable soluble Exchangeable soluble organic matter in FPM (15) it is likely that a NH4+ ion was
Treatroent
_______NH4-Nt NH.-N NH 4 -Nt NH4-N removed frorn the soil solution due to exchange reaction and
ppm
————————— —————————— biological immobolization.
Ammonium suifate 9,510 600 9,210 200 Another cause for the reduction of volatilization with the
FPM + ammonium ' ' addition of FPM could be a reduction of urease activity in
the SOU !t W2S fOUnd mat SOJ1 trCated W th FPM OIlly
FPM+'urea 4500 250 8MO ITo ' °" '
*————————'-—————————————'•———————— 17% of the added urea was hydrolyzed in 18 hours, while in
* incubation carried out at 32C and 50% water-holding capacity. nontreated soil 29% of the added urea was hydrolyzed. J
t Extracted with IM KC1.
While the conditions in the laboratory incubation of this
for low and medium moisture, this peak occurred earlier at type may not be directly comparable to field conditions
high moisture. At 22C, the peak of volatilization for the these results do provide comparative values of NH 3 volatil-
SCU-F and SCU-M occurred at 7-14 days regardless of izationfrom AS, urea, and SCU (having varying dissolution
moisture content. rates) under varying moisture and temperature conditions.
Losses of NH3 by volatilization for 21 days were gener- These data on volatilization rates for up to 21 days should
ally higher for urea than AS at the temperatures and mois- be a valid comparison of nitrogen fertilizer effects on NH3
ture contents tested. However, the nature of losses over volatilization in view of the fact that the peak of volatiliza-
time were different; AS showing moderate losses at O-3, tion occurred at or before 14 days. After 14 days the roots of
3-7, 7-14, and 14-21 days, with urea showing high losses the plants (e.g., ratoon sugar cane) would start to actively
at 3-7 and 7-14 days and little or no loss at O-3 and 14-21 utilize fertilizer N. Also, the soil colloids are capable of re-
days. These results suggest that if volatilization was mea- taining ammonia formed upon hydrolysis of urea containing
sured over a longer period, the total volatilization loss from materials. These results showed clearly that NH 3 volatiliza-
AS could exceed that from urea. The difference between tion can be considerably reduced by the use of SCU, the
urea and ammonium suifate as regards total ammonia loss degree of reduction depending on the dissolution rate of the
over 21 days was less at 22C than at 32C. It appears that the material. Even a relatively fast release sulfur-coated urea
low temperature inhibits the urease activity and this ex- (SCU-F) reduced the volatilization by about one-third of
plains also the time lag in the build up of volatilization from that of uncoated urea under conditions favorable for NH3
urea (8, 19). volatilization, i.e., high temperature and low moisture
At 32C, losses of NH3 from uncoated urea and AS at low, levels of the soil. Under conditions not so favorable to NH3
medium, and high moisture were 20.6 and 16.7%, 14.5 and volatilization, i.e., lower temperature and higher moisture,
13.1%, and 8.4 and 6.6% of the N-application rates, re- SCU-F reduced the volatilization by about 25%. The addi-
spectively. Losses from SCU-F and SCU-M as percentage tion of FPM to the soil (which is a common cultural practice
loss of uncoated urea were, respectively, 34 and 26% at low on plant cane) can be equally effective in reducing volatil-
moisture, 29 and 23% at medium moisture, and 28 and 23% ization of NH 3 . However, there are practical problems in-
at high moisture. At 22C, losses of NH3 from uncoated urea volved in applying it to ratoon cane and to the hilly terrain
and ammonium suifate under low, medium, and high soil common in south Trinidad,
moisture were 11.1 and 10.2%, 7.7 and 8.8%, and 4.2 and
3.5%of theN-applicationrate respectively. Corresponding ACKNOWLEDGMENT
losses tor SCU-F and SCU-M at three moisture levels, as
percentage
&
loss of uncoated urea, were 26 and 17 %, 18 and Appreciation is expressed to Kenny Mohammed for his assistance in the
*;__ ,„. , ,,„ . , experimental work.
10%, and 24 and 16%, respectively.
The increased temperature resulted in losses more than
double for SCU, about double for urea, and less than twice
as much for AS. This indicates that NH3 loss from SCU is
more affected by increasing temperature which is probably
due to the higher dissolution rate of urea from SCU as is ev-
ident from soil analysis data (Tables 5 and 6). Increase of
dissolution of N with increasing temperature has been found
by Alien et al. (2).
Studies of the reaction (pH) of the soil treated with
various N-fertilizers at 14 days showed that all urea based
fertilizers increased the soil pH, resulting from hydrolysis
of urea in the soil (Tables 5 and 6). Ammonium suifate had
no effect on soil pH.
Organic Matter Addition
The addition of FPM to the soil reduced the volatilization
loss of NH3 with all the fertilizers tested (Table 4). Addi-
134 SOIL sci. soc. AM. j., VOL. 40, 1976