Efficiency of nitrogen-15-labelled fertilizers for rice and rye-grass cultivated in an Ultisol of Brazilian Amazonia

The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of two N fertilizers, (NH4)(2)SO4 and urea, for rice (Oryza sativa L.) and rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cultivated in an Ultisol of central Amazonia using N-15 as a tracer. Rice was cultivated in the field, while rye-grass was grown in a phytotron. Fertilization with (NH4)(2)SO4 caused a 16% increase in the yield of rice grains and urea a 36% increase. In both crops total N uptake and N use efficiency of the fertilizers were higher for urea than for (NH4)(2)SO4. The low values for N derived from fertilizer showed that the fertilizers contributed little to the total N absorbed by the plants. The "priming effect" or positive added N interaction (ANI) between the fertilizer N and soil organic N was observed, especially with urea. Immobilization by soil microorganisms was greater in the presence of urea, while losses were always higher with the (NH4)(2)SO4 treatments. These losses were significant, and their reduction should allow more efficient use of this N fertilizer. It is possible that the N use efficiency was higher for urea due to a pH increase, caused by urea hydrolysis, which in turn may have favoured the activity of nitrifying bacteria in this extremely acid soil.