Reducing Ammonia Volatilization from Kentucky Bluegrass Turf by Irrigation

Abstract

Ammonia volatilization from urea-N applied to Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L. ‘Bensun’) was investigated using a chamber trapping procedure. Urea was spray-applied in a 0.2 cm depth at N of 5 g·m −2 with and without additional irrigation of 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 cm. Losses up to 36% of the applied N occurred when urea was applied without irrigation. Supplemental irrigation of as little as 1.0 cm reduced the loss to 3-8%, while a 4.0-cm irrigation further reduced losses to about 1%. Of the ammonia volatilized, most was lost in the first 24 hr. Maximum N loss was associated with the thatch layer, a zone having high urease activity.