Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:29:24.930Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Urea as a nitrogen fertilizer for cereals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 1997

A. LLOYD ,
J. WEBB ,
J. R. ARCHER  and
R SYLVESTER-BRADLEY
A. LLOYD
Affiliation:
ADAS Worcester, Whittington Road, Worcester WR5 2LQ, UK
J. WEBB
Affiliation:
ADAS Wolverhampton, Woodthorne, Wergs Road, Wolverhampton WV6 8TQ, UK
J. R. ARCHER
Affiliation:
ADAS Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK
R SYLVESTER-BRADLEY
Affiliation:
ADAS Anstey Hall, Maris Lane, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 2LF, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Twenty-six experiments were carried out in England and Wales from 1983 to 1985 to compare urea and ammonium nitrate (AN) as N top-dressing for cereals over the range 100–300 kg/ha N. Most of the experiments were sited on chalky or other soils of pH>7·0 where the greatest differences in effectiveness were expected.

The results showed that while relative N offtake in grain was 2·5% greater from AN, there was no difference in grain yield. Splitting the main N application increased N offtake from urea but not from AN. Overall, urea effectiveness from a single application at GS 31 increased with increasing rainfall on the day of application, but was not increased by subsequent rainfall. On chalk soils, urea effectiveness increased with increasing cumulative rainfall up to the fifth day after application. There was little effect of rainfall on urea effectiveness when the dressing was split. Although grain yield was unaffected by the type of fertilizer N applied, grain N concentration was usually less from urea.

The fertilizer N requirement for optimum yield (Nopt) wassimilar for both fertilizers. Splitting the main N application had no effect on yield or Nopt. We concludethat urea is a satisfactory source of N for cereals.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 128 , Issue 3 , May 1997 , pp. 263 - 271
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)