The first topdressing nitrogen (N) application to flooded rice can be done on dry soil or soil after ponding water, affecting ammonia volatilization rate and, consequently, nitrogen fertilization efficiency. This study was aimed at quantifing N losses by ammonia volatilization after urea application in a wetland soil with different soil water status. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, using 5kg pots with a Albaqualf with following treatments: N0 - control without urea application (wet soil); USSE - urea application on dry soil; USUM - urea application on wet soil; USSA - application on saturated soil; and USLA - urea application on soil after ponding water. The ammonia loss evaluations were made using a semi-open static collector at 10, 24, 34, 48, 72, 96, 144, 192, and 264 hours after urea application. At the end of 264 hours, the ammonia losses were similar for wet, saturated or ponding water soils, and the higher emission peaks were between 34 and 48 hours in wet and saturated soils and 72 hours in soil after ponding water. The N-urea application on ponding water did not avoid the N losses by volatilization.
flooded rice management; N-NH3; Oryza sativa L; and nitrogen fertilization
