Losses of nitrogen from fertlisers applied to rice. (1984)

Humphreys, E Muirhead, W,  Melhuish, F,  White, R,  Lockhart, J, Chalk, P, & Douglas, L.

1984

This IREC Farmers Newsletter article presents the information results and recommendations from research undertaken into the relationship between the time of application of N fertilizer and subsequent losses from the soil plant system. The aim of the investigation was to measure the efficiency of the nitrogen practices at the time and alternatives. It was also to investigate what changes occur in the fertiliser N in the soil and when do they happen. From this the author aimed to predict ways of improving the efficiency of N fertilisation. 
The results from the trial indicated that N should not be applied at sowing unless the soil has a deficient in N and applying N fertilization soon after permanent water halves the efficiency of grain production compared to the applied before permanent water. The study concluded that soil types may be important in predicting the best fertilization strategies. Further studies are required an a better understanding of fate of fertilizer N in the soil is required to determine if the prediction of fertilisation efficiency can be improved an how.