Effects of controlled release compound fertilizer on ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching in cool-season turfgrass system

Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of different N types (including controlled release compound fertilizer (PCF), urea (U) and special turfgrass fertilizer (SF)) on ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching in a cool-season turfgrass system. Ammonia volatilization was measured by using the enclosure method, and nitrate leaching was measured by using the soil solution extractor method. Results showed that ammonia volatilization amount of the U treatment was 47.7 kilogram per hectare (18.3% of the applied N), which was significantly higher than those of the PCF (2.9 kilogram per hectare, 1.1 % of the applied N) and SF treatments (4.1 kilogram per hectare, 1.6% of the applied N). N application increased the concentration of nitrate in the soil solution. In 0-50 cm soil depth, NO-3-N concentration of the PCF, U and SF treatments were 1.1-6.7 mg/L, 1.2-10.1 mg/L and 1.5-16.7 mg/L, respectively, while in 0-100 cm soil depth, the corresponding values were 1.1-5.7 mg/L, 1.1-12.5 mg/L and 1.1-6.2 mg/L, respectively. In conclusion, in comparison to urea and special turfgrass fertilizer, controlled release compound fertilizer can effectively reduce ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching, showing an enormous ecological and environmental benefit. Thus, it is a new potential fertilizer which will bring prospects of application.