Authors : M. Zaman, M.L. Nguyen and J.D. Blennerhassett
Abstract: The application of urea fertilizer has always been associated with heavy N losses therefore, improving its efficiency is critical to minimize economic and environmental losses associated with its application. A field experiment was conducted on an arable site using Mayfield silt loam soil near Methven Canterbury, New Zealand to investigate the effect of different rates of granular urea applied with or without urease inhibitors, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) or Agrotain on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), grain yield and protein contents. About 21 field plots each plot of 3x7 m, separated by a 2 m buffer zone were set up on April 20, 2005. Three replicates of 6 fertilizer treatments (urea alone; urea + Agrotain each applied at 120, 200 and 300 kg N ha-1 in 3 split applications at Growth Stage (GS) (GS32, GS39 and GS59) were randomly applied to those plots in a randomized block design. The control plots receive no Nitrogen (N). Urea applied with Agrotain at different rates performed better and produced more grain yield compared to their corresponding urea treatments. Agrotain treated urea applied at 300 kg N ha-1 produced 11% more grain yield than that of urea alone. Protein contents of wheat grain significantly increased with N application rates and were optimum (15.7%) at the high rate of Agrotain treated urea. These results showed that applying urea with Agrotain has the potential to improve efficiency of urea by increasing productivity as well as improving quality and can thus results in a greater economic return.
M. Zaman, M.L. Nguyen and J.D. Blennerhassett, 2010. The Effect of Different Rates of Urea with or without Urease Inhibitor (NBPT) on Wheat Yield and Quality. Agricultural Journal, 5: 309-312.