Gaseous Loss of Nitrogen from Fertilizers Applied to a Paddy Soil in Southeastern China

<正> Total nitrogen (N) loss and ammonia volatilization from urea applied to flooded rice grown on a paddy soil in Zhejiang Province were measured by 15N balance and micro-meteorological methods, respectively. Floodwater properties and ammonia loss from the circular plot were compared with those from the microplots. And the effectiveness of urease inhibitor, NBPT [N-(n-butyl) thiophosphonc triamide], was also tested Results showed that the total losses from urea broadcast and incorporated at transplanting (basal dressing) were similar with those from urea broadcast 12 days after transplanting (top-dressing) (51.5% and 48%, respectively, of applied N), and ammonia losses were low, the corresponding figures were 10.8% and 7.0% of applied N, respectively. Thus, denitrification was a much more important pathway of nitrogen loss than ammonia volatilization under the particular conditions. Addition of NBPT retarded urea hydrolysis, reduced pHs and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations of floodwater for either the app