Split application of liquid urea as a tool to nitrogen loss minimization and NUE improvement of corn - A review

• Published in: Chilean journal of agricultural research Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 645 - 657
• Main Authors: Motasim, Ahmmed, Samsuri, Wahid, Sukor, Arina Shairah Abdul, Amin, Adibah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Chillán Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias 01.10.2022; Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research; Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA
• Subjects: Adsorption; AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; AGRONOMY; Ammonia; Corn; Developing countries; Granulation; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Hydrolysis; Hydroxyl ions; Ions; LDCs; Leaching; Mineralization; Moisture content; Moisture effects; Nitrates; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Optimization; Soil dispersion; Soil moisture; Soil profiles; Soil properties; Substrates; Urea; Vaporization; Volatilization; Water content; Australia; United Kingdom; Zea mays; N2O emission; split application; Corn; NO3- leaching; liquid urea; NH3 volatilization
• ISSN: 0718-5839; 0718-5820; 0718-5839
• DOI: 10.4067/S0718-58392022000400645

Nitrogen loss minimization is the main challenge to sustainable crop production and reducing environmental and economic losses. There is a new approach to urea application in liquid form (LU) so that the [NH.sub.4+] can be evenly distributed throughout the soil profile, soil particles adsorb it and reduce the local substrate concentration inhibiting further transformation. Liquid urea has been hydrolyzed even prior to soil application, whereas the urea in granulated urea (GU) must be hydrolyzed after application before it can be transformed to [NH.sub.4]. Increased urea application frequency with lower doses can lower the [NH.sub.4] concentration in soil compared to a single application. These mechanisms reduce the N loss potential and increase the N crop uptake potential of applied N by conforming to the proper synchronization between N availability and crop N demand as well as reduce N loss potential as NH3 volatilization, [NO.sub.3+] leaching and [N.sub.2]O emission. The inconsistent results and clarifications from various studies highlight the importance and benefits of relating the effect of LU application on N loss minimization, N availability and corn {Zea mays L.) yield. This review summarizes the potential ways of N losses and their management and provides the scientific reference to achieve sustainable corn yield and reduce N losses. Key words: Corn, liquid urea, NH3 volatilization, [NO.sub.3+] leaching, [N.sub.2]O emission, split application, Zea mays.