Gaseous Loss of Nitrogen from Fertilizers Applied to Wheat on a Calcareous Soil in North China Plain

Nitrogen (N) losses from ammonium bicarbonate or urea applied to wheat and then followed immediately by irrigation were investigated. Ammonia volatilization was determined by a micrometeorological method (ammonia sampler), total N loss was estimated by the 15N mass balance method, and denitrification loss was measured by the difference method (calculated from the difference between the total N loss and ammonia loss)and a direct method (measuring the emission of (N2+N2O)-15N ). Total ammonia losses from ammonium bicarbonate and urea in 33 days were 8.7% and 0.9% of the applied nitrogen, respectively. The corresponding total N losses were 21.6% and 29.5%. Apparent denitrification losses (by the difference method) were rather high, being 12.9% from ammonium bicarbonate and 28.6% from urea. However, no emission of (N2+N2O)-15N was detected using the direct method.