Use of ammonium sulphate as a sulphur fertilizer: Implications for ammonia volatilization.

ABSTRACT: Ammonium sulphate is widely used as a sulphur (S) fertilizer, constituting about 50% of global S use. Within nitrogen (N) management, it is well known that ammonium-based fertilizers are subject to ammonia (NH₃) volatilization in soils with pH > 7, but this has been overlooked in decision making on S fertilization. We reviewed 41 publications reporting measurements of NH₃ loss from ammonium sulphate in 16 countries covering a wide range of soil types and climates. In field experiments, loss was mostly <5% of applied N in soils with pH (in water) <7.0. In soils with pH > 7.0, there was a wide range of losses (0%-66%), with many in the 20%-40% range and some indication of increased loss (ca. 5%-15%) in soils with pH 6.5-7.0. We estimate that replacing ammonium sulphate

SUBMITTER: Powlson DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9290479 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature