Nitrogen availability of soluble and slow reléase nitrogen fertilizers as assessed by electroultrafiltration

Abstract

The efficiency of different nitrogenous fertilizers under forced leaching conditions was determinad in pot experiments using ryegrass as an indicator plant in a sandy loam soil. Treatments were: ON (unfertilized), AN (ammonium nitrate), U (urea), DAP (diammonium phosphate), T (Triabon), FK (Floranid Komplett) and CDU (crotonylidendiurea). N source effects on N uptake, and N leached (as % of N applied) were evaluated. Results show that the fertilizers which behaved best with regard to N uptake were FK followed by Triabon and AN. The most soluble fertilizers, AN and urea, gave the highest N leaching losses. Significant correlations between EUF-NI (rapidly soluble fraction) and leaching, as well as between EUF-N (I + II) and N uptake by the plant (where EUF-N II relates to the slowly soluble fraction) were obtained.