Effect of water and temperature on ammonia volatilization of maize straw returning

ABSTRACT

Ammonia volatilization is an important nitrogen (N) loss pathway in agricultural production and consequent significant atmospheric pollutant. The primary objective of this study was to (1) examine effects of environmental factors such as temperature and soil water capacity, as well as crop residue (CR) addition as fertilizer, on ammonia (NH₃) volatilization, and (2) search for a comprehensive management strategy to reduce accumulative ammonia volatilization (AAV). A bench-scale cultivated experiment was conducted at two environment temperatures (15 or 25 °C), three forms of soil water capacity (30%, 50%, or 70% soil field moisture capacity), and two treatments of fertilizers (conventional fertilizer urea and straw returning – 10% of total N application arising from maize straw and remainder from conventional urea). Results showed that AAV was markedly decreased by adjusting soil water capacity, temperature, and CR addition. Significant quantified exponential correlation between AAV and soil moisture was observed. More than 70% AAV was reduced in intermediate 50% and high 70% soil moisture compared to low 30%. AAV was less sensitive to temperature than soil moisture using black soils. Only in low soil moisture, AAV rose with increasing of temperature. Straw restoration addition decreased significantly the AAV loss.

KEYWORDS:

• Ammonia
• soil field moisture capacity
• environment temperature
• crop residue
• straw returning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the National Maize (Zea mays L.) Production System in China and Special Fund for Agriculture Profession [grant number 201103003]; the National Key Technology R&D Program [grant number 2011BAD11B05], [grant number 2013BAD07B02], [grant number 2013BAC09B01]; the National Key Project of Water Pollution Control & Management [grant number 2012ZX07201-001]; the project of Twelfth Five-Year Plan in Education Department in Jilin Province [grant number 20130062] for their financial support.