Ammonia volatilization and nitrogen use efficiency in the field of fresh edible maize as affec-ted by different band fertilization depths of controlled-release urea

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.201904.004

Abstract

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of controlled-release urea (CRU) application on ammonia (NH₃) volatilization, nitrogen (N) use efficiency and fresh ear yield of fresh edible maize. The treatments included one control (CK: no N fertilizer application) and four different band fertilization depths (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm). Results showed that NH₃ volatilization from non-fertilization band and planting band mainly occurred in the first two weeks after the fertilization, which lasted for almost a month in the fertilization band. Compared to CK, surface broadcasted CRU (0 cm) significantly increased NH₃ volatilization from wide-row non-fertilization band or planting band in field. Soil NH₃ volatilization amounts ranged from 3.1 to 25.5 kg N·hm^-2 with the different depths of CRU application treatments, accounting for 1.7%-14.2% of total N applied. The cumulative NH₃ volatilizations were comparable among the depths of 10, 15 and 20 cm of CRU fertilization treatments, which were significantly decreased by 85.9%-87.8% and 67.0%-71.6% as compared with surface broadcasted CRU and 5 cm of CRU fertilization, respectively. The increases of CRU application depth within a certain extent could increase fresh ear yield, total nitrogen accumulation of plants during milking stage, partial factor productivity, agronomic efficiency and apparent recovery efficiency of nitrogenous fertilizer, and the maximum values of these indices were recorded for 15 cm depth. We concluded that CRU application at 15 cm depth would be the optimal practice in terms of reducing NH₃ volatilization and improving N use efficiency of fresh edible maize.

Key words: controlled-release urea, ammonia volatilization, fresh edible maize, nitrogen use efficiency, fertilization depth

LIU Wei, ZHOU Jian-xiong, XIE Yuan-yuan, XUE Xin-xin, XIONG Han-feng, XU Fang-sen, YUAN Jia-fu, XIONG You-sheng. Ammonia volatilization and nitrogen use efficiency in the field of fresh edible maize as affec-ted by different band fertilization depths of controlled-release urea[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019, 30(4): 1295-1302.

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