Oil-based polyurethane-coated urea reduces nitrous oxide emissions in a corn field in a Maryland loamy sand soil. (10th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bortoletto-Santos, Ricardo; Cavigelli, Michel A.; Montes, Sheila E.; Schomberg, Harry H.; Le, Anh; Thompson, Alondra I.; Kramer, Matthew; Polito, Wagner L.; Ribeiro, Caue
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 249(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03-10
• Subjects: N2O emission -- Maize -- Polyurethane coated urea -- Castor oil -- Hydrophilic polymers; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119329
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Urea is the most widely used N fertilizer due to its high N concentration (46%), cost effectiveness and ease of handling. However, urea is susceptible to loss as N2 O, a greenhouse gas and catalyst of stratospheric ozone decline. Polymer-coated fertilizers may be effective in reducing such losses but the appropriate coating thickness for effective field performance is unknown. We prepared urea granules with polyurethane coating (PCU) based on castor oil at 2%–8% by weight. We tested the fertilizer value of these materials for maize ( Zea mays L.) and measured field loss of N2 O. Maize grain yield and N uptake were similar in treatments fertilized with urea (uncoated) and each of the coated materials. Cumulative N2 O–N per unit of grain yield, however, was reduced by 80% with PCU8% compared with uncoated urea. Results indicate that polyurethane-coated urea performs similarly to uncoated urea for maize production while reducing soil N2 O emissions up to 60–80%, with an efficiency factor twice as high as that suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for N fertilizers. Our results indicate that urea with a polyurethane coating of 8% (PCU8%) had the best combined agronomic and environmental performance in a field study. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Polyurethane-coated urea reduced soil N2 O emissions up to 60–80%. Control of urea release achieved using polyurethane coating derived from castor oil. Rate of urea release was controlled by the thickness of the coating.