| Summary: | The use of urea as N fertilizer has increased globally but lack of efficiency due to loss through ammonia
volatilization has become a subject of considerable recent attention. In line with this, a pot experiment
was conducted to determine the effect of mixing urea with zeolite and peat soil water on: (1) uptake and
use efficiency of N, P and K in maize cultivation, and (2) soil exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate,
pH, exchangeable K, and available P contents. The treatments evaluated were: No fertilizer (T0), 2.02 g
urea (T1), 2.02 g urea + 30 g zeolite + 7 L peat soil water (T2), 2.02 g urea + 40 g zeolite + 7 L peat soil
water (T3), and 2.02 g urea + 7 L peat soil water (T4). The fertilizers of TSP and MOP were applied twice
that is 10 and 28 days after planting for all the treatments except T0. The application of peat soil water,
and zeolite with urea had significant effect on dry matter, N, P, K uptake and N, P, K use efficiency
compared with urea without additives. The soil exchangeable ammonium, K, Ca, Mg, available P, and
nitrate contents were significantly increased compared with urea without additives. Formation of
ammonium and nitrate over ammonia were reflected by the mixtures of peat soil water, and zeolite, with
urea. Amending urea with zeolite and peat soil water can reduce ammonia loss by encouraging
formation of ammonium and nitrate over ammonia. In addition, the mixtures ensure N, P, K uptake and
their use efficiency while at the same time rendering soil ammonium, K, Ca, Mg, P, and nitrate available
for plant use.
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