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Nitrogen efficiency of urea and calcium ammonium nitrate for maize (Zea mays) in humid and subhumid regions of Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Y. Arora ,
L. A. Nnadi  and
A. S. R. Juo
Y. Arora
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria
L. A. Nnadi
Affiliation:
Soil Science Department, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria
A. S. R. Juo
Affiliation:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P. M. B. 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Summary

Field experiments on efficiency of fertilizer N applied as calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and urea to no-tillage maize (Zea mays) were conducted under humid (Onne) and subhumid (Mokwa) conditions. At both the locations the rate of N was 150 kg/ha.

A comparison of apparent crop recovery of applied N indicated that CAN was a more effective N source than urea under subhumid conditions (Mokwa) but that urea was more effective under humid conditions (Onne). In 1981, percentages of applied N recovered by the maize crop at Onne were 28 and 50% from CAN and urea, respectively, whereas the recovery at Mokwa was 46 and 34%, respectively. Total recovery by crop and soil (0–120cm) of CAN at Onne with divided application was equivalent to that at Mokwa with single application at planting (54%). However, the total recovery of urea was much lower at Mokwa (40%) than at Onne (60%). The results in 1982 followed similar trends. Excessive N leaching loss from CAN under humid conditions and volatilization loss from urea under subhumid conditions are considered to be the reasons for poor efficiency of fertilizer N.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 109 , Issue 1 , August 1987 , pp. 47 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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