A slow release nitrogen fertiliser produced by simultaneous granulation and superheated steam drying of urea with brown coal

Michael T. Rose1,2, Emily L. Perkins1,3, Biplob K. Saha1, Evone C. W. Tang3, Timothy R. Cavagnaro4, W. Roy Jackson1, Karen P. Hapgood3, Andrew F. A. Hoadley3, Antonio F. Patti1
1School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
2NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar, Australia
3Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
4Waite Research Institute and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

Tóm tắt

The inefficient use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser as a consequence of N losses from soil is a pressing issue in broad-acre agricultural systems. The research reported here tested the hypothesis that granulation of synthetic N fertiliser (urea) with a natural organic C resource (brown coal) would reduce fertiliser N loss from the soil system. Urea-enriched brown coal granules were simultaneously formed and dried within a pilot-scale superheated steam dryer. After application to unplanted soil columns, the urea-brown coal granules reduced nitrous oxide emission by up to 40 %, reduced mineral nitrogen leaching and maintained higher levels of N in topsoil when compared to conventional urea alone. Reduced gaseous N losses without a reduction in plant N uptake were also observed in planted soil columns treated with urea-brown coal granules. Brown coal-urea blended fertiliser showed potential for more efficient use of N in the long term and has environmental benefits in retaining more N in the soil.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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