01
Fact Check UREa
Urea – World fertiliser No. 1
with growing intelligence
Facts & Figures
PK
N
U
rea is in the very nature of many organisms
and is widespread in the environment. As
this organic compound is excreted by humans
and mammals as a metabolic end product and
it is once again available to the nutrient cycle.
In the case of humans it is around 30 grams
per day. Therefore something which is inside
us cannot do us
any harm. On the contrary: pure urea is a
white, crystalline, non-toxic and hygienically
safe substance.
%
R
OTHE
R
E
TILIS
N FER
AMMONIUM PH
in
OSPHATE
AM
MO
N
AH
IUM
NIT
RAT
E
L
ON
M
AM
IA
KAS
[Source: International Fertilizer
Industry Association IFA]
NIUM
AMMO
But where does all the urea come from? Don’t
worry, it doesn’t come from our excrement.
Urea is manufactured industrially in large
quantities. Large plants which under increased
pressure and high temperatures from
natural gas, water and air, produce urea via the
intermediate stage ammonia. Urea is then turned into a solution and is finally transformed,
via several process stages, into so-called prills
or granules. The largest plants in the world produce around 4,000 tonnes of urea per day.
57,4
ATE
SULPH
OTHER NP FERTILISER
NK FERTILISER
It also has a significant impact. Due to its high
nitrogen content urea is the most important
nitrogen fertiliser worldwide. In agriculture it
is also used as a feed additive. Furthermore,
urea plays an important role in
the chemical industry. For example, it is used
for the production of resin and melamine. So it
can be found in our everyday life in the form
of adhesives and paint, in furniture chipboard
EA
or in the form of melamine as, among other
things, coating on our banknotes. Each of us
probably have urea in our mouths every day. It
is contained in many hygiene products, for example, in toothpaste and in many skin creams
due to its hygroscopic characteristics. Urea is
also used for the denitrification of waste gas
from power stations and vehicles.
UR
Y
FE
RT
ILI
SE
R
Urea – a natural product.
Nitrogen fertiliser – Worldwide consumption
4
0
[Source: International Fertilizer
Industry Association IFA]
2009
Nitrate
2008
Ammonium sulphate
um
L
AH
AH
L
Am KA
m S
on
i
Am KA
m S
on
iu
m
ni
tra
te
Urea
ni
tra
te
tra
te
ni
m
AH
L
20.000
2
64
.0
0
65
.14
Urea
Urea
40.000
Am KA
m S
on
iu
Kilotons N / Year
60.000
9
67
.76
2
Nitrogen production worldwide
2007
NPK fertiliser
3
Facts & Figures
Facts & Figures
TOP 10 urea producers
worldwide
5.000
78
.0
00
Ki
lo
to
n
s
15
1
Pr
od
uc
t
.0
00
Ki
17
4.
00
0
lo
to
ns
Ki
Pr
od
u
lo
to
ns
ct
Pr
od
u
ct
Development of urea consumption
650
Pusri
Group DF
Agrium
NFL
Kaltim
975
SAFCO
1300
Kilotons Product
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
IFFCO
Development of additional urea capacity 2011
CF Industries
0
China
[Source for 1993: British Sulphur Consultants Outlook Urea 1993-1999]
[Sources for 2010 and 2014: IFA annual conference Paris 2010]
Sinopec
1.250
Europe/Canada/Qatar
2014
Yara
2010
2.500
India/Oman
1993
Kiloton Product / Year
3.750
325
Algeria, Arzew
Sorfert Algerie
Venezuela, Moron
Pequiven
Qatar, Messaieed
QAFCO
Yara
The Netherlands, Sluiskil
4
Engro Chemical
Pakistan, Daharki
0
[Source: IFA Production
and International Trade
Committee - Dec. 2010]
[Source: Fertecon Limited]
5
Facts & Figures
Facts & Figures
YY 85% of the sources of NH3 emissions from agriculture originate from
animal production and just 15% from the use of mineral fertilisers.
YY The comparably high fertiliser N efficiency of the different N forms
(KAS, AHL, urea) is an indication that NH3- emissions from urea cannot be as high as is currently being discussed.
YY The analysis of the DEFRA study (UK; 2005) demonstrates, alongside
technically unexplainable contradictions, that data which shows low
NH3 loss were not taken into account. Consequently, the validity of
the study as part of the NH3 discussion is more than questionable.
6
Eurochem
OPZ
TOAZ
Achema
Grodno
SKW Piesteritz
++ Nitrogen and the environment ++
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ZAP
YY Furthermore, the use of fertiliser in the EU was reduced by 18 percent from 2002 to 2010.
0
Russia
YY Alongside the less positive effects of nitrogen on the environment,
this nutrient made an important contribution to the security of the
supply of foodstuffs in Europe and to efficient and productive agriculture.
750
Azot Novomoskovsk
YY While 70 percent of nitrogen emissions can be attributed to traffic
and heating – which cause the highest cost to society – in the period
from 1990 to 2007 greenhouse gas emissions through EU agriculture
were reduced by 20 percent.
Netherlands, Germany, Italy
++ “Nitrogen Report”, 04/2011, Edinburgh ++
1.500
Yara
[Source: agrarzeitung online,
Issue 10 March 2011]
2.250
Ukraine, Estonia
However, nitro-chalk (KAS) did not escape unscathed. Loss of production
in various European factories led, between July and December 2010 of
the current fertiliser financial year 2010/11 (July/June), to a decline in
sales of KAS of around 11 percent to 345,000 t N.
3.000
Group DF
Urea recorded a considerable increase in quantity of around 30 percent
in the period under review.
Kiloton Product / Year
Farmers are once again buying more fertiliser and urea is regaining its
market share. The sale of nitrogen fertiliser in Germany is increasing. As
the Federal Office of Statistics in Wiesbaden reported, around 912,000 t
of nitrogen were sold between July and December 2010, which is around
12 percent more than the previous year.
++ faits ++ faits ++
++ Fertiliser sales in Germany are growing ++
TOP 10 urea producers in
Europe
[Source: Fertecon Limited]
7
Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony
Chamber of Agriculture Schleswig Holstein
There has been no shortage of tests on the effectiveness of various forms
of nitrogen fertiliser in the past. Based on these results, practice and
consultation came to the conclusion that the nitrogen fertilisers urea,
urea-ammonium nitrate solution and nitro chalk, which are widespread in
agricultural practice, can be judged as equal in their effect on yield and
effectiveness on quality during appropriate application for arable crops.
What is the correct form of nitrogen? This discussion is as old as
nitrogen fertiliser itself. When choosing the N-form to be used
first of all the price relations between the N-forms on offer are
often decisive. Many years of test results carried out by Futterkamp with
60 benchmarks, 680 mm annual precipitation and 8.3° C annual average
temperature show that under these cultivation conditions the choice of N
form was irrelevant as far as the yield result was concerned.
[Source: KTBL paper 483 - December 2010: “Efficiency of mineral nitrogen
fertilisation”, Dr. Baumgärtel, Chamber of Agriculture, Lower Saxony]
[Source: Recommendations for nitrogen fertilisation 2011 – Part 1,
Dr. Ulfried Obenauf, Chamber of Agriculture Schleswig-Holstein]
Chamber of Agriculture North-Rhine Westphalia
The Chamber of Agriculture Westfalen-Lippe tested the effectiveness of KAS, AHL
and urea in extensive field trials. The evidence from the 30 wheat and 12 barley
tests is unequivocal: on average the N-forms has the same effect in the tests. There
is also related evidence to support this statement.
Statements of official
consultants
[Source: Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt Westfalen-Lippe 5/2000]
N form trial in winter crops in Westphalia-Lippe
Winter wheat: Average from 30 tests 1988 – 1993; Winter barley: Average from 12 tests 1992 – 1994
60
Technische Universität München,
Chair of Plant Nutrition
40
The results of this 30-year test show no statistical difference in the yield
performance of the different nitrogen forms KAS, ASS and urea and it
seems plausible that there are no essential differences in the effectiveness
of the different N-forms and that the possible differences in the N emissions would be relatively small.
20
8
AHL
Urea
Winter wheat
KAS
0
[Source: KTBL paper 483 - December 2010 “Ammonia emissions from mineral
fertiliser – test results on Central European locations”,
Prof. Dr. Schmidhalter, Chair of Plant Nutrition Weihenstephan]
without N
Grain yield (dt/ha)
80
Winter barley
[Source: Test field guide for 2009 –
Agricultural Centre Haus Düsse]
9
Topic
Reports from farmers
What makes urea even more interesting?
Wolfgang Vogel, President of the Saxon Farmer’s Association and Managing Director of Bauernland GmbH,
Grimma-Beiersdorf, District of Leipzig, Saxony
I. Observance of the foundations:
Utilising urea in the same amounts and allocation as other N-forms
U
C
OH
CO2
NH3
NH4
n
ta
on
NH2
O
sp
H2O
NH2
eo
us
Thomas Riedl, Fürstenzell, District of Passau, Bavaria
Carbamic Acid
Urea
“… The economic advantage was
decisive for us …
W
2 NH4
Ammonium
3 O2
2 NO2
2 H2O
4H
Nitrite
e cultivate a pig fattening farm with 1,600 fattening units
and 130 ha of farmland. A few years ago we switched to
urea fertiliser. The economic advantage was decisive for us. With a
highly-concentrated fertiliser the effectiveness is greatly increased.
There are also advantages with storage, as more nitrogen can be
stored in the form of urea. Recently we have also been using more
fertiliser specialities such as urea with sulphur and stabilised urea.
This enables us to increase the economic advantage.”
Volker Göschl, Ettling, District of Dingolfing/Landau,
Bavaria
2 NO2
2 NO3
.
sp
Nitrite
O2
s
n
io e r
at ct
id ba
Ox itro
N
N
A
E
UR
“… Effective storage of the fertiliser is
also important for us …
GEN [CARBAMIDE-N]
O
R
IT
Nitrate
W
e cultivate 85 ha of farmland with 600 KW biogas and
100 breeding sows in our business. Urea provides a lot of
advantages for us, in particular the economic advantage is very
important for us. We work with stabilised urea and take full advantage of ammonium nutrition. Effective storage of the fertiliser
is also important for us.”
Weidlich and Partner Agrar GbR, Querfurt, District of
Merseburg-Querfurt, Saxony-Anhalt
Use urea according to good
professional practice:
Conditions for optimal use are:
YY Moist soil with sufficient sorption capacity (BZ > 20)
Carbamide N
CO(NH2)2
“…The plants don’t overreact either …
W
e use a lot of urea fertiliser, as it means we can store and
transport a high amount of nutrients. The plants don’t overreact either, if too much is put on them. In our company we use a
lot of organic mass and are glad to be able to balance the alkaline
soil with acid fertiliser in this way.”
YY pH value under 7.5
Urea
hydrolysis
10
he use of urea with the addition of N stabilisers has been implemented very successfully in my company in the past few years. This means that a very early nitrogen supply of the cultivated
plants is made possible and through the ammonium nutrition an
even supply of nitrogen is guaranteed. The addition of N stabilisers
is advantageous because we only have to fertilise the cultivation
of winter rape, winter barley and winter rye once. This means we
can avoid the spring dryness and save additional application costs.
With stabilised fertilisers mixed with nitrogen/sulphur fertilisers
we can protect the supply of sulphur to the plants.”
.
sp
MO
DE
OF
AC
T
C
T
s
as
n
io on
at m
id so
Ox itro
N
N
IO
O
NH2
is
ys
ol
dr se
Hy rea
U
rea is a quickly available nitrogen form for
practical plant nutrition.
The only difference in urea compared with other
N-forms is the hydrolytic conversion in the ground
through the omnipresent enzyme urease to ammonium (ammonia). This process takes place
within a period of 1 to 4 days.
The ammonium which is formed can either be
directly absorbed by the plants or bonded with
the sorption carriers of the soil. Through exchange
processes this ammonium remains available to
plants, but it is also transformed into nitrate microbially.
In comparison with ammonium, nitrate is not
bonded by the sorption carriers and is therefore
subject to the risk of eluviation. Furthermore, there is also an increased potential of nitrogen monoxide loss as a consequence of denitrification.
Despite an additional stage of decomposition
urea converts to nitrate for practical fertilisation
as quickly as other N-forms. This is why during
urea fertilisation an allocation in several N doses
is necessary as is the case with other conventional N fertilisers.
“… It means we can avoid
the spring dryness …
1 Day (20 °C)
4 Days (2 °C)
Ammonium-N
Nitrification
NH4
1 week (20 °C)
6 week (5 °C)
Nitrate-N
NO3
YY Temperature less than 25 °C
Therefore, conditions which are usual for standard fertilising
deadlines.
11


Topic
II. Solid and liquid urea fertiliser:
What makes urea so interesting?
It has a dependable basis like other N forms but with excellent conditions for a further increase in N efficiency.
Urea in solid form
Tab. 1: Yield results of granulated urea in agricultural crops. Average of the relative yield
[%] from 261 field trials 1995–2010, Agricultural Applied Research Cunnersdorf
U
rea is equal to KAS in the effect of the fertiliser,
but with 46% nitrogen it has a significantly higher nutrient content and therefore offers great advantages during transportation, storage and, above
all, during application. This offers economic advantages and saves space in storage rooms. Urea
granules also offer excellent scattering properties
through the size and grain hardness and can be applied with suitable fertiliser distributors up to 36m
working width. If urea is applied according to good
professional practice, there is no need to fear N
loss through ammonia emissions after fertilisation.
This is proven by same performance in many tests
(see table 1) or direct measurement in plant stand.
Grain
Rape
Maize
Potato
Sugar Beet
Total /
average
Number of
tests
154
37
28
23
19
261
without N
68
71
85
77
94
75
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98
99
101
Urea
KAS
[89,9 dt/ha]
Grain yield
[46,9 dt/ha]
Seed yield
[104,8 dt/ha]
Grain yield
[424 dt/ha]
Bulb yield
[689 dt/ha]
Turnip yield
100
100
The high N utilisation of granulated urea in important agricultural crops highlight the yield results
achieved in 261 tests carried out at various locations between 1995 and 2010 (loamy sand to sandy
loam, BZ 25 ... 56).
AHL
Urea can be employed superbly as urea
solution with nitric acid and ammonia for
liquid fertilisers such as ammonium nitrate
urea solution (AHL).
Urea with sulphur in an
ideal combination
Reasons for the increasing interest in the application of AHL are, alongside the excellent fertiliser
effect, also the economic advantages, such as
lower application costs compared with solid fertilisers, combination possibilities with pesticides,
growth regulators and trace nutrients as well as
efficient transport and transfer possibilities. As
an unpressurised water-clear solution AHL can be
dosed exactly
and as required and be applied precisely on large areas with usual pesticide techniques. Varied
application technology is offered for the use of
liquid fertilisers, which work in a plant protecting
manner and also enable use at later development
state of the grain. An important prerequisite for
plant protecting application is, alongside suitable application technology, the use of qualitative
high-quality AHL (brand-name articles with guaranteed quality parameters). It is particularly
during years with dry spring and early summer
weather that AHL also offers advantages due to
the additional effect on leave. Many years of tests
in the industry and also official test results illustrate these advantages, but in particular an identical
fertilisation effect of AHL compared with other N
fertilisers when used correctly (Tab. 2).
Tab. 2: N form comparison in agricultural main crops average of the relative yield [%] from
210 field trials 1993–2010, Agricultural Applied Research Cunnersdorf
Grain
Maize
Potato
Sugar Beet
Total /
average
Number of
tests
132
15
21
25
17
210
without N
68
73
90
82
94
74
100
100
100
100
100
100
101
102
101
102
KAS
AHL
12
Rape
[89,0 dt/ha]
Grain yield
[40,8 dt/ha]
Seed yield
[93,5 dt/ha]
Grain yield
[419 dt/ha]
Bulb yield
[622 dt/ha]
Turnip yield
100
100
Therefore, solid and liquid urea fertilisers represent an excellent basis without
flaws compared with other N-forms, in order to continue to increase N efficiency,
in particular in combination with sulphur and N stabilisers.
Securing N efficiency through a supply of
nitrogen and sulphur which fulfils plant
requirements.
As sulphur has become almost completely insignificant as an air pollutant, it is gaining importance as a fertilising nutrient element due to the
lack of input in arable land.
Water-soluble sulphate is the only form in which
the plants can absorb sulphur from the soil solution. The close relationship between nitrogen and
sulphur in plant nutrition and in the soil-biological
processes arises from the structure and composition of the organic compounds, such as from protein. As soon as the plants do not have enough
sulphur this leads to deficiency symptoms and
metabolic disorders in the plant. If a kilogram of
sulphur is missing, around 15 kg of nitrogen cannot be utilised. So in order to be able to guarantee
efficient nitrogen fertilisation, it seems obvious to
connect this with sulphur fertilisation suited to requirements. In doing so it depends on the correct
N/S ratio in the fertiliser. This means that on the
one hand high N efficiency is guaranteed and on
the other hand eluviation and the loss of sulphur are reduced. The combination fertiliser made
from urea with ammonium sulphate enables an
optimal adaptation of the ratios of nitrogen to
sulphur in the fertiliser to the requirements of
the plants with granulated and liquid fertilisers.
Therefore N efficiency is guaranteed for the plant
through a nitrogen and sulphur supply which fulfils requirements.
The size of the crop yield and the quality of the harvest
products is largely dependent on the major nutrient nitrogen. For effective management the best possible use of the
nutrients employed is aspired to in order to achieve high
economic efficiency and at the same time avoid the risk of
environmental pollution.
The numerous N-form tests of the official bodies as well
as decades of practical experience confirm that there are
no practical differences between the N-forms KAS, urea
and AHL with regard to the effectiveness of fertiliser yield
and the quality parameter. In nutrient efficiency and
environmental behaviour urea and AHL are equal to other
N-forms. Further economical advantages also make urea
and AHL very interesting fertilisers with a very good priceperformance ratio.
he N efficiency of nitrogen can also been seen in concert
with the other nutrients. Sulphur plays a decisive role here.
A further important element for effective nitrogen fertilisation are nitrogen stabilisers, which as nitrification inhibitors
reduce nitrogen loss as nitrate and also reduce climate-relevant nitrogen monoxide and through ammonium-emphasised nutrition harmonise the nitrogen requirement and the
supply for the plants by saving work. Furthermore, as urease
inhibitors they prevent large loss of ammonia emissions
under these conditions, for example in the tropics.
Urea is a solid basis for the combination with sulphur and
nitrogen stabilisers. Not only due to its high nutrient concentration for fertiliser from an economic point of view and to
stabilise.
Wirtschaftsbetriebe Ippen, Norden, East Friesland, Lower
Saxony, Wilhelm de Beer
“…It means we can add even larger
amounts of nitrogen at the same time …
N
itrogen fertiliser containing urea has been used in the
farming regions of the East Frisian marsh for some time
now. We have been using urea for many years. The company is
spread over four small towns and therefore the logistical advantages which are offered by urea with its high nutrient content
are very important for us. Our experiences and tests here in the
marsh show that urea does not fertilise better or worse than,
for example, KAS. For some years we have been using stabilised
liquid fertiliser for the first dose. This means we can add even
larger amounts of nitrogen at the same time and the plants
absorb it as they need it. Economic advantages are offered by
saving a fertiliser dose and also the temporal flexibility.”
Progranus GbR, Ditterke, Region Hannover, Lower Saxony, Steffen Mogwitz
O
“…Urea is also good
for our environment …
ur company has always used urea as a fertiliser, as this
form of fertiliser is the best use of our storage space. No
other fertiliser offers me this high nutrient concentration.
Urea is also good for our environment, because as AD BLUE
the nitrogen oxide separates from the waste gas. Recently we
have been experimenting with stabilised fertilisers containing
urea in order to save on transit and to manage our affairs more
efficiently.”
Agricultural Farm Kuhlmann, Bergen, Lower Saxony,
Hans-Dietrich Kuhlmann
This makes urea the worldwide No. 1 fertiliser
with a rising trend.
U
“…25 % more nitrogen in the
fertiliser spreader …
rea has been used in my company for some years now,
because it fits in with our company concept which is based
on effectiveness. Urea offers me the best utilization with
limited storage space. These logistical advantages also apply
to application, as there isaround 25 % more nitrogen in the
fertiliser spreader than with KAS. The lasting effect and the
acidifying effects are particularly advantageous for our potato
production. In our experience wheat reacts with the improved
protein content of urea fertiliser.“
Georg Janssen, Neuharlingersiel, Lower Saxony
“…we have introduced the liquid variation with sulphur …
I
n the past I used to mainly fertilise with KAS. My trading
partner has been selling stabilised urea fertiliser for a few
years now. Last year I decided to give it a try. We had problems
with the storage of stock fertilised with KAS when stored in
large quantities, while there were no problems with those
fertilised with stabilised fertiliser. This year we have used the
liquid variation with sulphur. With stabilised fertilisation I can
add large quantities at the same time and the plants absorb it
when and however they need it and not when I have time to
spread fertiliser. I no longer have to think too much about the
best fertilising deadline and no longer have the problem that
fertiliser grain just lies in the dust and doesn’t have any effect
during the spring dryness.”
13


Topic
III. Top fertiliser with future potential
Landwirtschaft Golzow GmbH & Co. Vermögens – KG,
District of Märkisch-Oderland, Brandenburg, Dr. Manfred
Großkopf
“… high yield with very good quality …
W
e are the largest agricultural business in East Brandenburg
with around 7,000 hectares. The largest share of our crops
is over 3,000 hectares of winter wheat, followed by maize,
oil seed and leguminous plants. We have been fertilising with
urea for years in order to guarantee high yields with very good
quality.“
Urea with nitrification inhibitors
The advantages of ammonium-emphasised nutrition such as less work, more yield while at the same time protecting the environment
U
rea is immediately turned into ammonium. In the soil, ammonium is the
target location for nitrification inhibitors. These inhibitors then control the
further transformation of the stable ammonium form, which is not in danger
of eluviation, into the very flexible nitrate form. Therefore, fertilisers containing urea (granulated urea, urea with sulphur and AHL with and without
sulphur) are an excellent basis for stabilised nitrogen fertiliser in order to
increase N efficiency.
N stabilisation with nitrification inhibitors has already achieved wide usage
in agricultural practice. Furthermore, it has made a major contribution to the
development of new, more efficient and cost-effective nitrogen stabilisers.
olled nitrate release
r
t
n
co
N2
NO
N2O
Dénitrification
is
W
e have an agricultural business with dairy cattle and have
been using mineral fertiliser containing urea for three
years. We used to fertilise with KAS, now we use a stabilised
NPK mixed fertiliser and a stabilised nitrogen fertiliser containing urea. The decisive factor for us was that we were able to
combine doses and therefore have less work peaks. Through the
higher N efficiency of the products we save on the amount of
fertiliser while helping the environment.”
Marktfrucht GbR Glowe, Island of Rügen, MecklenburgWest Pomerania, Thomas Mielke
“…applied early
without leaching loss …
Agricultural Committee Schwiesau GmbH, Altmarkkreis
Salzwedel, Saxony-Anhalt, Jürgen Beneke
rig
ht
nitro
gen
Effect of
Storage
th e
sta
bil
Nitrate
NO3
e right pla
ce a
t
e
Ammonium-N Nitrification
NH4
–
n
o
ati
n at th
e
g
o
nitr
tim
Ammonium-em
pha
si
“…We used to fertilise with KAS …
use urea because I can achieve a high acreage output through
the high concentration of nutrients. I can apply the first N
dose early in appropriate weather conditions without leaching
loss. In most cases I can use the price advantage of urea when
I buy nitrogen.”
Gaseous N loss
N-Stabiliser
controls
nitrification
I
“…Urea currently has
an attractive price …
am predominantly a long-term user of urea, although I also
use KAS and SSA. Urea currently has an attractive price,
but I imagine it also has the highest nutrient content. I have
not noticed any yield differences compared with the other
fertilisers, but urea scores points due to the logistic advantages
during transport and application. I have been using a stabilised
urea fertiliser for two years and want to use it to utilise the N
efficiency of urea even more.”
Agricultural business Nutmann, Pinnow bei Neubrandenburg, District Demmin, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
w
ou
tn
“…milder for the plants than nitrate …
Fertili
ser wi
th nit
ith
itr
og
en
st
ab
ili
14
Farming specialist Schesslitz near Bamberg, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Helmut Schrenker
I
sed
nu
t
r
ith
w
n
itio
In case of spring dryness it is already found in the root zone due to the earlier
fertilisation deadline. Furthermore, thanks to the improved root formation
the plants can better absorb water and nutrients and deal with such stress
situations. Together with the targeted nitrate delivery from the ammonium
depot, harmonious plant nutrition with higher yields and better quality can
be achieved.
Stabilised fertilisers also lead to lower nitrate content in the soil. Loss of nitrogen, which proceeds from nitrate, can also be significantly reduced. Compared with conventional fertilisation systems the discharge of nitrate from
the top-soil and gaseous N emissions are reduced due to denitrification. A
reduction in the loss of nitrogen monoxide by at least 50% is important for
the climate and environment.
With stabilised N fertilisers a very good congruence between the provision
of N and the N requirement of the plants is achieved. N efficiency is further
improved by the reduction of N loss in the water and in the air. The result
is economically surplus yields with higher effectiveness while at the same
time protecting the environment.
Nitrification inhibitors mean that we can take full advantage of the ammonium form. Ammonium nitrogen is stabilised, its microbial transformation to
nitrate is significantly delayed and a supply of ammonium protected from
displacement is laid in the soil. As plants are able to absorb ammonium
equally as well as nitrate, it results in ammonium-emphasised nutrition guided by plant growth as required. Larger amounts of N can be added in one
dose without the risk of luxury consumption and therefore partial doses can
be avoided. Fertilisation is simplified and can also be carried out variably.
This is because stabilised nitrogen is effective and independent of the weather. In case of high rainfall after fertilisation it is protected from eluviation.
se
r
rogen
stabili
se
I
r
have never been disappointed by urea in the past three
years. The high nutrient concentration in urea means higher
effectiveness for me. For me urea as an organic compound is
milder for plants than nitrate. I can use urea early in spring and
apply it more variably and at the same time take advantage of
its practicability in case of frost.”
15

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Urea with urease
inhibitors
Avoidance of ammonia loss outside the
favourable location of Central Europe:
If urea is applied according to good professional
practice under the climate conditions of Central
Europe, there are no practical differences regarding yield and N efficiency compared with other
N forms. Nitrogen loss after fertilisation with urea,
also in the form of Ammonia, is therefore negligibly small when observing application recommendations. In Germany and Central Europe we
are in a “favourable location” due to the soil and
climate conditions.
Urea is used as the world’s No. 1 fertiliser in
many regions of the world, where its undisputed potential for ammonia emissions pays off. This
is because under the conditions of a quick and
intensive urea reaction, in cases of high urease
activity, such as in tropical and subtropical regions with damp heat conditions or under dry and
hot conditions, such as in Southern Europe, or on
soil with a high pH value, these ammonia emissions can be very high. Under such conditions, the
combination of urea with a urease inhibitor can
achieve a clear reduction in loss. Through the use
of urease inhibitors the activity of the enzyme
urease is temporarily reduced and therefore the
process of urea hydrolysis is extended from what
is usually a few days to a period of around one
to two weeks. As a result, in this period constant
smaller amounts of ammonia (NH3) are formed
which are mainly completely absorbed as ammonium (NH4+) in the soil or directly absorbed by the
plants. The reduction of the ammonia emissions
can be measured with costly technology directly
in the land. Indirect proof for significantly reduced
N loss is the increase in yield and an increased N
extraction by the plants. In this way, the positive
effect of an urease inhibitor has been recorded,
for example, in field trials in Greece and Spain.
Under extreme conditions of loss for urea, such as
in Southern Europe, N fertiliser efficiency can be
improved by up to 32% by the use of an urease
inhibitor.
Farmer’s Cooperative Naandorf-Niedergoseln e.G., District of Northern Saxony, Saxony, Frank Hennig
T
“… an important part of our
fertilisation strategy …
he use of urea is an important part of our fertilisation
strategy. We appreciate the high quality and the cost-effectiveness of this fertiliser. With urea it is possible to cover the N
requirement of the crops with a reduced movement of goods.
Generally, our stock is kept ammonium-emphasised, in order to
fulfil the high demands of sustainable environmentally-friendly
production and still achieve good yields and quality.”
Hinrich Tamm, Sulsdorf, District Ostholstein,
Schleswig-Holstein
I
“…Here in the North you have to do
things properly from the word go …
use urea in order to bring large amounts of nutrients to the
plants early on and safely. Here in the North you have to do
things properly from the word go before the dryness sets in. I
have been using stabilised liquid fertiliser containing urea more
and more in my company in order to avoid work peaks."
Milcherzeugergenossenschaft Klötze e.G., District of
Salzwedel, Saxony-Anhalt, Raimund Punke
“…improved nutrient efficiency coupled with higher nutrient density …
W
e use around 70% ammonium content N fertiliser or mixtures with sulphur fertiliser in our company, because we
had successful trials with this six years ago. For us the improved
nutrient efficiency coupled with higher nutrient density and the
opportunity to combine it with the ever more important nutrient sulphur played an important role. Furthermore, we use the
advantages of N stabilisation in our fermentation substrates.
We have become a consultation company in this respect.“
Biogas Plant Fuchsstadt, Lower Franconia, Würzburg,
Bavaria, Bernd Güther
“…End of the trip for a second N dose
in grain …
I
operate a biogas plant. Alongside our main crop maize silage
we also cultivate grain and sugar beet. In the second year I
used a stabilised urea sulphur fertiliser. The main reason for the
new fertilisation strategy was the end of the trip for a second N
dose in grain and the associated staggering of work peaks, particularly when sowing maize. A further advantage during the
increasing dry periods is in the form of ammonium-emphasised
plant nutrition.” 16
17
Thinking outside the box:
bread or petrol?
T
here has always been a lot of energy in agriculture. But with the increase
in the world’s population the demand for energy, food and mobility is
growing.The problems of nutrition and energy are inseparable. Food, water,
soil, oil and forests will not be available to us forever. The oil reserves are
also approaching an end in the foreseeable future. This is why more and
more countries are choosing bio energy and alternative fuels.
However, a fundamental conflict has been provoked by the boom in bio fuel: bread or petrol,
tank or plate? For agriculture the “tank or plate” dilemma offers alternative new, more
attractive sources of income and an additional market to tap into. But is the conversion of agricultural products into fuel
efficient? Hardly, as “DIE ZEIT” newspaper
illustrated very graphically in an article on
10 March 2011: A hundredweight sack of
grain is full of energy. A human could feed themselves for two and a half months on it, including 400 working hours and a few hundred jogging kilometres after work. But
if it was used to produce ethanol in order to fill a tank, it wouldn’t even be
enough to travel by car from Hamburg to Hannover. Even if Germany were to
use all areas for the cultivation of energy crops for the tank, it still wouldn’t
satisfy the thirst of our vehicles. Furthermore, using 4,500 litres of water
for the manufacture of a few litres of bioethanol is
irresponsible when there is such a shortage of water
worldwide.
Agriculture can and should contribute to energy production,
but there are much more efficient ways to do it. If the harvest of a hectare was used in a biogas plant instead of an
ethanol refinery, a car would be able to travel three
and a half times further with the methane gained.
An electric car could travel another 50 percent
further, as the electricity requirement could
be covered by burning the same amount
of the harvest in a biomass power plant.
However the central task of agriculture is and remains the feeding of
the world’s population. For the
worldwide constantly growing
demand for foodstuff and renewable raw materials for a world
population which will grown to 9
billion by 2050 there needs to be
intelligent strategies for the increase in efficiency of agricultural uses while
at the same time minimising possible effects on the environment. Strong
agricultural research is imperative for this.
Spezial
The prospects are
looking grim: water is
running out all over the
world. The World Water Day
on 22.3.2011 the UN reminded
people of the fact that there is now
a shortage of water in 80 countries.
But while the water shortage in
Western states is a troublesome
matter which is becoming more
expensive, in other parts of the
world it is life threatening. In
particular, agriculture uses the
lion’s share of fresh water
totalling 70%. If a country
cultivates tomatoes,
paprika, and cucumbers
intensively it can only be
achieved through a huge
irrigation system. But there
are a variety of solutions.
4l
22 %
120 l
penurie d’eau
Special
A cup of coffee contains 120 litres of socalled “virtual water” - water which is required for production.
2.400 l
A hamburger contains 2400 litres of “virtual
water”.
1.000 l
Anyone who eats a kilo of grain uses
a total of 1000 litres of water, which is
required to wash the grain.
13.000 l
When eating a kilo of beef 13,000 litres of virtual
water is required.
2.000 – 5.000 l
On average the production of daily food of a human
being uses 2000 to 5000 litres of water- …
… while the elementary needs such as drinking only
require 4 litres of water.
A study for the International Water Institute in Stockholm (SIWI) found that
the water shortage will limit the further expansion of the production of
foodstuff if the manufacture and consumption of foodstuff is not changed
substantially. Industry also uses a lot of water and is responsible for around
22 % of the worldwide use of fresh water.
4oo.000 l
The production of a car uses an average of about 400,000 litres of “virtual water”.
2.o00 l
The production of a t-shirt requires up to 2,000 litres of water.
5.000.000.000.000 m3
18
In the last century alone, the worldwide use of water increased by a factor of ten from 500 to
5,000 billion cubic metres per year (≈ 100 times the water contained in Lake Constance) and
is continuing to increase.
19
The food crisis is becoming increasingly dangerous for the West
Yesterday Tunisia and Egypt, today Libya and tomorrow other Arab states, emirates and sultanates. Bread plays a decisive role in all of
these insurrections. In Arabic "Aysh" means bread, but it also means life. Bread has become more and more expensive due to the price
of wheat rising globally, making it unaffordable for many people. Angry citizens also marched through the streets of New Delhi. They
demonstrated against the rising cost of rice, wheat and onions. According to a survey, the biggest worry for people in China today is
not the lack of political freedom, but rather the lack of low-priced foodstuffs. But the demand is continuing to grow because more and
more people are living in the world – by 2050 there will be around 2 billion more. At the same time, the supply is stagnating because
land and water is limited around the globe. The ground-water level in China and India is sinking, important rivers are drying out and the
formation of steppes is continuing all over the world. Climate change is also destroying increasing numbers of harvests. This is why the
prices for almost all agricultural commodities are continuing to rise. In the 1960s it was possible to drastically increase food production
in Asia through the use of fertiliser and pest control. Now a “second green revolution” is required to come to the rescue with innovative
products and technology.
[Source: www.manager-magazin.de from 28.04.2011]
Contact
SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH
Möllensdorfer Strasse 13
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg
www.skwp.de
www.industriekulturstadt-wittenberg.de
Design & Layout
triplex GmbH München
www.triplex.de
Fact check Urea 01
Urea – World fertiliser Nr. 1 with growing intelligence