Ammonia volatilisation losses from nitrogen fertilisers surface-applied to Vertosols

Abstract

Key findings • Volatilisation of nitrogen (N) fertilisers applied to the soil surface can result in significant losses of N. • In medium to heavy clay soils of northwest NSW, N losses were less than 20% of the applied N in bare-fallows, except when ammonium sulphate was applied on soils with naturally-occurring lime. • N volatilisation losses from topdressing wheat were less than 10% of applied N in all products used.