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Research on ammonia-N volatilisation
NutriSphere-N® study proves to be effective in Ammonia reduction
Recent research has focused on the development of methods to inhibit ammonia (NH3) volatilisation losses in agriculture in order to reduce environmental impact and potential growth in the fertiliser industry. The environmental impacts of ammonia (NH3) emissions can be seen with impacts such as; air pollution, health risks, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity. This research is more prominent as the European Union plans to regulate ammonia (NH3) emissions from mineral fertilisers, allowing only urea fertilisers with reduced ammonia (NH3) emissions of at least 30% to be used after 2030.
Urea fertiliser has a high potential for ammonia (NH3) loss, especially when surface applied, and various factors such as soil pH, soil type, and climatic conditions can influence ammonia (NH3) volatilisation. To improve fertiliser efficiency, inhibitor products have been developed to reduce nitrogen losses. NutriSphere-N® is one such product marketed as a soil urease inhibitor, which slows down urea hydrolysis and reduces ammonia (NH3) volatilisation.
The results of the experiment compare the volatilisation rates of granular urea treated with NutriSphere-N®, untreated urea, and an unfertilised control. The study was conducted in a controlled environment with controlled light and temperature conditions using a growth chamber.
The results show that the NutriSphere-N® treated urea had significantly lower ammonia (NH3) volatilisation fluxes compared to untreated urea (reduced by 86%) and were not significantly different from the unfertilised control. The experiment ran for three weeks, and the cumulative fluxes over this period showed similar patterns between the two fertiliser treatments, with urea dominating the flux profile.
In summary, the experiment demonstrates that NutriSphere-N® treated urea significantly reduces ammonia (NH3) volatilisation compared to untreated urea. This means that NutriSphere-N® can help mitigate the environmental impact of ammonia emissions, which is crucial for maintaining air quality and minimising health risks. Choosing NutriSphere-N® ensures compliance with future regulations and supports the long-term viability of urea-based fertilisers.
More information on this research can be found through this link to the article: Comparison of ammonia‐N volatilization losses from untreated granular urea and granular urea treated with NutriSphere‐N® - Harty - Soil Use and Management - Wiley Online Library
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