Ammonia volatilization from urea with natural zeolite

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of zeolite addition to granules of urea and of its particles sizes on the loss of NH3 by volatilization and on the N uptake by sorghum plants. Formulations of urea with addition of zeolites and organic binder, with three-size particles (lower than 2 mm, 2-4 mm, and greater than 4 mm), and ammonium sulfate and urea-NBPT were applied to soil surface on trays in a greenhouse. Natural zeolites addition onto urea granule surface or to granule's composition decreased NH3-N volatilization by 20% and increased the amount of N absorbed by plants. Nitrogen accumulation in the sorghum plants was inversely proportional to N losses by volatilization.