Urea mixed zeolite: A new approach for reducing Nitrogen loss from soil

Ammonia volatilization from nitrogenous fertilizers, such as urea, presents a significant challenge in agricultural systems. The use of zeolites in agricultural practices offers numerous benefits that could enhance these systems. A field experiment was conducted using a lysimeter to examine the effects of zeolite on reducing nitrogen loss from soil, particularly under clay soil conditions. This research compared the impacts of urea combined with zeolite (UMZ) against varying application rates of urea on the agronomic parameters of wheat and maize, along with the soil's exchangeable NH4 and available NO3 levels in an alkaline soil context. Additionally, the presence of heavy metals in the soil was evaluated. The results showed that the morphological traits (such as plant height, crop yield, and grain weight) and physiological features (including chlorophyll content and protein concentrations) of wheat and maize were largely unaffected by the reduction of urea to 50% when supplemented with zeolite. Moreover, the application of zeolite improved the exchangeable ammonia content in the soil while simultaneously lowering the soluble NO3 levels within the soil solution. The findings suggest that zeolites effectively mitigate nitrogen loss from soil and also aid in retaining heavy metals. Zeolites' high surface area and cation exchange capacity make them efficient in adsorbing cations. The combination of urea and zeolite significantly enhances the growth, productivity, and quality of cereal crops, while minimizing nitrogen loss from the soil.