Efficiency of conventionally applied nitrogen (N) fertilizers ranges from 35 to 45%. Poor efficiency due to prompt release of
excess nitrogen in the soil also threats environment. The nitrogen fertilizers performance can be enhanced by controlling the
release of nitrogen through encapsulation with polymer and synchronizing the nitrogen release with plant up-take pattern. To
test this hypothesis series of experiments were conducted. Nitro-chalk (calcium ammonium nitrate) as test N fertilizer was
used for polymer coating. Laboratory and pot experiments were conducted to determine the effective polymer thickness coated
on nitro-chalk, and results revealed that two layers of polymer performed the best as consistent release of N significantly
increased growth and yield attributes of wheat. Similarly, coated nitro-chalk also corresponded well to the nitrogen
requirements of wheat plants in field. Consequently, polymer coated treatments significantly improved wheat grain yield by
10 to 17% compared with uncoated fertilizer at the same nitrogen application rate. Reducing the rate of application of polymer
coated nitro-chalk by 25% produced more grain yield as compared with the application of recommended rate of commercial
nitro-chalk. Therefore, the results suggested efficient release of nitrogen from coated nitro-chalk increased production and
nitrogen use efficiency. Furthermore, a 25% less application of nitrogen as polymer coated nitro-chalk than recommended
application rate of nitrogen can be an effective measure to save input cost as well as increase in grain yield.
Muhammad Awais Khalid, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Naveed, Rashid Ahmad. (2018) SYNCHRONIZED NITROGEN RELEASE FROM POLYMER COATED NITROCHALK ENHANCES NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY AND YIELD OF WHEAT, , Volume 55, Issue 2.
