Effect of coir dust on mineralisation of urea nitrogen in coconut growing red sandy loam soils (Arenuc Paleustults)
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Date
1985-12
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Abstract
Laboratory incubation studies revealed that blending urea with retted and unretted coir dust resulted in inhibition/immobilization of urea nitrogen. Blending of urea with unretted coir dust in 1: 1 proportions resulted in accumulation of NH4+-N and retted coir dust in the same proportion led to lowest production of NH4+-N. During the incubation period NOj -N appeared to be withdrawn from the system in urea blended with unretted coir dust (1:1) treatment, whereas its production was lower in the case of other combinations of urea with retted (1: 1 and 9 :1) and unretted coir dust (9:1) compared to urea. Production of total mineralised nitrogen was consistently lowest when urea was blended with retted coir dust (1: 1). Unretted coir dust (1:1) produced lower mineralised nitrogen than urea alone and the other blendings with lower proportions of retted and unretted coir dust (9: 1) showed intermediate behaviour. The results indicated the usefulness of blending urea with coir dust for controlled and gradual release of urea nitrogen. It has a bearing in the fertilizer programmes for perennial plantation crops largely grown in soils prone to heavy leaching losses.
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Journal of Plantation Crops 13(2) : 88-95 December, 1985