A field-based comparison of ammonia emissions from six irish soil types following urea fertiliser application

Ammonia (NH₃) emissions from a range of soil types have been found to differ under laboratory conditions. However, there is lack of studies comparing NH₃ emissions from different soil types under field conditions. The objective was to compare NH₃ emissions from six different soil types under similar environmental conditions in the field following urea fertiliser application. The study was conducted on a lysimeter unit and NH₃ emissions were measured, using wind tunnels, from six different soil types with varying soil characteristics following urea fertiliser application (80 kg N/ha). On average, 17.6% (% total N applied) was volatilised, and there was no significant difference in NH₃ emissions across all soil types. Soil variables, including pH, cation exchange capacity and volumetric moisture, were not able to account for the variation in emissions. Further field studies are required to improve the urea-NH₃ emission factor used for Ireland’s NH₃ inventory.