Nitrogen distribution in soil under urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) and urea application in drip fertigated cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata)

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is essential for plants. It involves in a number of important functions, including growth, leaf area development, and crop production. Optimum availability of nitrogen to the plants is vital to achieve higher production. Liquid fertilizer urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) is advantageous to Urea because it contains all three N forms viz., NO (nitrate), NH (ammonium), and Urea (amide). In this context, present 3 4 study was taken to understand nitrogen (N) distribution in the soil under varying levels of UAN and Urea fertilizers in drip fertigated cabbage crop. Treatments included four different doses (0 kg N ha-1, 40 kg N ha-1, 80 kg N ha-1, and 120 kg N ha-1) with three split applications at 15 days intervals after transplanting under three replications. Results revealed that mineral N content decreased with increase in depth at emitter and 22.5 cm away from the emitter. The horizontal distribution also decreased with increase in distance from the emitter but vertical distribution at 45 cm from the emitter, the N concentration increases with increase in depth. The availability of the mineral nitrogen in UAN applied plots found to be significantly higher than the urea applied plots that resulted in higher uptake and higher yield under UAN applied plots. Results also showed that the nitrogen fertilizer can be saved up to 30-35% using UAN over urea as nitrogen fertilizer source. The findings of present investigation would be helpful in applying optimum nitrogen fertilizer dosage at the right place to achieve higher nitrogen efficiency in cabbage crop.