Value of Functionalized Charcoal for Increasing the Efficiency of Urea N Uptake: Insights into the Functionalization Process and the Physicochemical Characteristics of Charcoal

Diogo Mendes De Paiva,Reinaldo Bertola Cantarutti,Breno Cardoso Teixeira,Gelton Geraldo Fernandes Guimarães

doi:10.1590/18069657rbcs20180200

Abstract

ABSTRACT Functionalized charcoal (CHox) incorporated into urea is known for its ability to reduce NH3 volatilization and increase agronomic efficiency. However, it is important to optimize the functionalization process and to elucidate its relationship with the physicochemical properties of CHox for N supply. Thus, charcoal obtained from eucalyptus wood was functionalized with different HNO3 concentrations and reaction times. Ammonia adsorption by CHox was evaluated in chambers with high NH3 concentrations. Dry matter yield, N uptake, and apparent N recovery efficiency [...]

Highlights

Urea is the main nitrogen (N) fertilizer used in crop fertilization in Brazil
N uptake, and apparent N recovery efficiency of corn plants were evaluated after the application of the urea-CHox mixture to soil in a greenhouse experiment
The small differences observed in dry matter yield, N accumulation, and apparent N recovery efficiency among the corn plants from urea mixed with CHox or humic acids derived from charcoal (AHCH) are not sufficient to determine the higher efficiency of these sources

Summary

Introduction

Urea is the main nitrogen (N) fertilizer used in crop fertilization in Brazil. the agronomic efficiency of urea is low due to N losses via NH3 volatilization. There are major research efforts to develop new technologies for the production of more sustainable fertilizers (Lahr et al, 2016; He et al, 2017). In this context, urea mixed with substances with high acid buffer capacity, such as functionalized charcoal, has shown potential for decreasing ammonia volatilization (Paiva et al, 2012; Guimarães et al, 2015). This facilitates the production of a material that behaves as a base or acid and has ion exchange properties, increasing its potential as adsorbent of heavy metals, organic molecules, and gases (Liu et al, 2007; Shafeeyan et al, 2010; Troca-Torrado et al, 2011)

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