Ammonia volatilization with swine slurry injection and use of nitrification inhibitor

Abstract

ABSTRACT The injection of nitrogen sources into the soil and use of nitrification inhibitor can improve the efficiency of applied nitrogen and minimize losses to the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of swine slurry (SS) and urea in two modes of application in the soil (injected and surface), and the use of nitrification inhibitor on NH3 volatilization in a controlled environment, upon varying soil texture and soil pH conditions. The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions, or a Rhodic Kandiudox and Typic Hapludult soil in a completely randomized design in a 4 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design with three replications. The study evaluated four fertilizers (urea, SS, SS +nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide-DCD) and control), two pH conditions (natural and limed) and two forms of fertilizer application (injected and surface), and two soils. The SS rate used was 21 m3 ha-1, and the rate of the inhibitor was 10 kg ha-1. The evaluations consisted in daily accumulated ammonia volatilization up to 14 days, and the percentage of soil nitrogen loss. The injection of fertilizers reduced emissions of ammonia in both soils and, limed soil had higher N losses by volatilization. The inhibitor did not increase the emission of ammonia in both soils.