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No description available.

Nitrogen (N) loss in the form of volatilized ammonia (NH₃) is a considerable problem when ammonium (NH₄⁺) forming fertilizers are applied to calcareous or alkaline soils. Large areas of agricultural land, contain alkalinity and salinity problems, are potentially suitable for crop production with little alteration. This study was conducted to determine and compare the effectiveness of urea phosphate (UP) in reducing soil alkalinity and NH₃ loss. The volatilization of NH₃ from UP and urea (U) was studied on 3 selected soils (Hayhook SL, Laveen L and Latene L) using an aeration system. Urea phosphate and U were each applied at rates of 0, 50, 100 and 200 ppm-N either to the surface dry or in solution or mixed with the soil. The volatilized NH₃ was trapped in sulfuric acid, sampled periodically and analyzed for N using the semi microkjeldahl distillation apparatus. The effect of UP, Sulfur-Foam (SF), Phosphuric Solution (PHP) and a mixture of SF and UP (Mix) on leaching soil sodium (Na) and salinity was also studies on two soils (Pima L and Crot CL) in columns. Each of these amendments was applied at a rate of one and two equivalent amounts of the exchangeable Naₑₓ. The highest N loss in the form of NH₃ occurred when U was applied to Hayhook soil. However, UP applied to Hayhook soil (neutral to acidic, coarse textured and low CaCO₃ content) resulted in the lowest NH₃-N loss. Less NH₃-N loss was found from U application to Laveen and Latene soils (fine textured with higher CaCO₃ content) than with Hayhook soil. The general trend was higher N loss, in the form of volatilized NH₃, with surface application dry or in solution than when mixed with the soil. This trend showed an increase in the amount of volatilized NH₃ with increasing rate of N application. Urea phosphate was as effective as PHP or Mix (acid containing fertilizers) treatments in reducing soil salinity and alkalinity in Pima and Crot soils. No difference was found between rates of application (1 and 2 equivalent amount of Naₑₓ) except for soil pH. A similar trend in the decrease in soil salinity was found to that of the pH which was in the order PHP, UP, Mix, SF and control treatments. No significant difference was found between SF and control treatments in all parameters. No significant difference was found between treatments for exchangeable Ca. This was affected by the Ca compounds present in the soil. Generally, UP is a potential fertilizer for supplying N and phosphorus (P) as plant nutrients, reducing NH₃ volatilization, and can be used as a soil amendment to control soil salinity and alkalinity.

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The potential shortage of phosphorus (P) fertilizer is a threat to food security and closing the nutrient loop through recycling human excreta, especially urine, has been considered, so as to mitigate this crisis. Struvite (magnesium, ammonium phosphate), a material derived from human urine, is a product which is gaining credence with regards to using urine as a P amendment since more than 90% of P in urine can be captured during struvite production. A study to evaluate the potential of struvite as a P amendment in three contrasting soils was conducted. The soils used were an A horizon of Inanda (Ia), A horizon Sepane (Se) and an E horizon of Cartref (Cf). Phosphate adsorption properties of the soils were studied and the Freundlich model used to derive sorption parameters. From these studies, Pmax was related to the Kf parameter of the Freundlich equation. Two sets of incubation studies were then conducted. The first ran for 122 days and the second for 22 days to examine in closer detail the early stages of dissolution of the struvite as the major P release occurred during this time period of the incubation. A pot experiment was conducted in a controlled environment so as to determine the effect of P released from struvite on maize growth. The Ia, with high content of iron and aluminum oxides, displayed high sorption and affinity for P, whereas soil texture was a principal factor in the sorption properties of the Se (clayey) and Cf (sandy). The Kf decreased in the order Ia > Se > Cf and external P requirements decreased in the order Se > Ia > Cf. In the incubation studies solution P content increased with an increase in application rate of struvite. Struvite dissolution and P release varied between the different soils and the dissolution was found to be related to the P adsorption maximum of each individual soil and soil pH. The magnesium content also increased with time. In the glasshouse study, drymatter yield after six weeks growth was improved by the addition of struvite. There were no benefits achieved by using more than the recommended application rates for each soil. Struvite was as effective as conventional single superphosphate in the Ia and Cf, while superphosphate outperformed struvite on the Se. The findings of this study suggest that struvite has the potential to release P in an available form although its effectiveness and capability to release P could depend on soil pH, exchangeable acidity and initial P levels. Further research needs to focus on the effect of pH on struvite dissolution, the effect of struvite on soil pH, as well as comparison of nutrient release patterns between struvite and rock phosphate. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Urea and triple superphosphate (TSP) are important N and P fertilizers, respectively, but they suffer from inefficiency because of NH$ sb3$ volatilization and phytotoxicity and P fixation. Combinations of urea and TSP or KCl might improve N and P use efficiency primarily through pH changes. Mixtures of urea, TSP and KCl, either compacted or blended, were studied as to NH$ sb3$ volatilization, denitrification and P transformation in soils, and N and P use efficiency in crops. Soils studied included a Ste. Rosalie clay (Humic Gleysol), an Ormstown silty clay loam (Humic Gleysol), a Chicot sandy clay loam (Grey Browm Luvisol), a St. Bernard loam (Melanic Brunisol) and an Upland loamy sand (Humo Ferric Podzol). Triple superphosphate or KCl reduced urease activity and delayed urea hydrolysis primarily through acidification. Ammonia volatilization decreased when urea was surface-applied with TSP or KCl. The depressive effect of TSP on NH$ sb3$ volatilization was reduced and the KCl effect was increased in the soil with high exchangeable acidity. Phytotoxicity from banded urea, NO$ sb2 sp-$ accumulation and denitrification declined with added TSP. Urea hydrolysis caused a rise in pH and dissolution of organic matter in soils, and as a result, Mehlich (3) and water extractable P increased when urea were banded with TSP. Corn yield and N and P use efficiency were improved with application of mixtures of TSP and urea as compared with urea or TSP alone. Compacted mixtures of urea and TSP or KCl were superior to blended mixtures, possible because of the intimate association of fertilizer dissolution products. Compacted mixtures of urea and TSP or KCl hold promise for improved agricultural productions.

Climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable consumption of resources are increasingly putting a strain on the Earth's natural wealth. More sustainable sanitation behaviour such as maximising the use of urine diversion dry toilets (UDDT) can help alleviate the strain on water resources. Urine could be used as a fertiliser as it contains nitrogen and phosphorus, important components required for the soil. Furthermore, with urine as a fertiliser, it would now be free, accessible to all and decrease the need to mine phosphate. This research explores the perceptions and knowledge of farmers in the eThekwini municipality about urine and its use in agriculture. It seeks to understand if this practice is socially acceptable in order to contribute to the debate of food security. To investigate the attitudes towards urine, 12 interviews were conducted with farmers who consult with the Umbumbulu Agri-Hub and at the Newlands Mashu Permaculture Learning Centre (NMPLC). These interviews were done in order to find out their views of urine and its possibility on integrating ecological sanitation, more specifically urine reuse in their programmes. According to Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behaviour as a framework the findings suggest that: individuals' and others self-perception and non-motivational factors such as smell and lack of training remain barriers to usage as well as lack of knowledge about its potential for fertilising capabilities. In Zulu culture urine is utilised in various ways and is deemed acceptable for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Nonetheless, there seems to be a negative perception of urine amongst most respondents. However, many farmers expressed curiosity towards the use of urine in agriculture if not for themselves then for future generations. This would allow an important role for organisations such as the Agri-Hub and NMPLC to aid in disseminating the knowledge concerning urine reuse in agriculture. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-06-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:53:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 arruda_gmmf_me_botfmvz.pdf: 180739 bytes, checksum: 233ecc93b2b3517cd6ef6f82d30f5e62 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Proibida na alimentação de ruminantes, a cama aviária ou cama de frango, pode ser usada como fertilizante orgânico em pastagens e capineiras apenas após incorporação ao solo. No caso de pastagens, o pastejo só é permitido no mínimo 30 dias após a aplicação. Para tanto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o uso da cama de frango em substituição ao adubo químico (uréia) em uma pastagem de Pennisetum purpureum cv. Napier sobre a produtividade de massa seca e proteína bruta desta forragem. O experimento foi realizado em propriedade particular localizada no município de Botucatu/SP. A área utilizada foi uma pastagem de P. purpureum cv Napier plantada em linha em solo arenoso. A área utilizada para as parcelas foi de 800 metros quadrados, subdividida em cinco blocos com três parcelas cada de seis por sete metros. Os cortes foram efetuados a cada 42 dias, sendo avaliada a área durante um ano. Os três tratamentos utilizados foram: T1 - cama de frango na dosagem de 20 toneladas por hectare, aplicada de uma única vez, 30 dias antes do primeiro ciclo de pastejo; T2 – cama de frango na dosagem de 20 toneladas por hectare dividida em cinco aplicações, respectivamente, nos cinco ciclos de pastejo de verão (quatro toneladas por aplicação); T3 – uréia na dosagem de 70 kg de nitrogênio (N) por hectare (150kg de uréia aproximadamente). Foram efetuadas separações morfológicas e por estratos de altura (45-100 e >100 cm) durante o período do experimento. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso (cinco blocos com três parcelas por bloco). Não ocorreram diferenças na produção de massa seca de forragem entre os tratamentos, nas frações resultantes da separação botânica (folha, colmo e material senescente),estratificação e produção de proteina bruta da forragem. Conclui-se que o... / Nowadays the poultry manure and poultry litter were prohibited in ruminant feedings. So its use as organic fertilizer is permitted in pastures and forages only after soil incorporation. In the case of pastures, grazing is only allowed at least 30 days after application. Thus, the aim of this study was evaluated the productivity of dry matter and crude protein in Pennisetum purpureum cv Napier pasture fertilized with poultry litter to replace chemical fertilizeres. The experiment was conducted on private property in Botucatu city, São Paulo. The area used was a grazing Pennisetum purpureum cv Napier planted online in a sandy soil. The area used for the plots is approximately 800 square meters, divided into five blocks with three portions of 6x7 meters. The collects were made every 42 days, during one year. The treatments were: T1 - 20 tonnes of poultry litter, applied only once, 30 days before the first grazing cycle (Instruction No. 15 and No. 8 - MAP), T2 - 20 tonnes of poultry litter per hectare divided into 5 applications, respectively, in five cycles of summer grazing (4 tons per application), T3 - 70 kg nitrogen (N) per hectare (approximately 150 kg of urea). Separations were carried of morphological and strata during the experiment period. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized blocks (5 blocks of 3 plots per block). In conclusion, there were no differences in production between treatments and in parts of the separation provided morphological and strata. The use of poultry litter as organic fertilizer to replace the urea is feasible according to the same productivity and crude protein of elephant grass, and also recommended ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)