Polymer Coated Urea in Turfgrass Maintains Vigor and Mitigates Nitrogen's Environmental Impacts
Date
2016-01-14
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLOS)
Abstract
Polymer coated urea (PCU) is a N fertilizer which, when added to moist soil, uses temperature-
controlled diffusion to regulate N release in matching plant demand and mitigate environmental
losses. Uncoated urea and PCU were compared for their effects on gaseous
(N2O and NH3) and aqueous (NO3
-) N environmental losses in cool season turfgrass over
the entire PCU N-release period. Field studies were conducted on established turfgrass
sites with mixtures of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and perennial ryegrass
(Lolium perenne L.) in sand and loam soils. Each study compared 0 kg N ha-1 (control) to
200 kg N ha-1 applied as either urea or PCU (Duration 45CR1). Application of urea resulted
in 127–476% more evolution of measured N2O into the atmosphere, whereas PCU was
similar to background emission levels from the control. Compared to urea, PCU reduced
NH3 emissions by 41–49% and N2O emissions by 45–73%, while improving growth and verdure
compared to the control. Differences in leachate NO3
- among urea, PCU and control
were inconclusive. This improvement in N management to ameliorate atmospheric losses
of N using PCU will contribute to conserving natural resources and mitigating environmental
impacts of N fertilization in turfgrass.
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Citation
LeMonte JJ, Jolley VD, Summerhays JS, Terry RE, Hopkins BG (2016) Polymer Coated Urea in Turfgrass Maintains Vigor and Mitigates Nitrogen's Environmental Impacts. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0146761. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146761