EC Nebraska | jbgruver - 2/19/2015 22:40
The hydrolysis of urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide is mediated by the enzyme urease produced by soil bacteria... some of which can use the CO2 released during hydrolysis as a C source to build biomass.
It's enzyme mediated, but it doesn't have to happen inside a living cell does it? My understanding is that the reaction happens pretty fast if the urea prill is touching a piece of moist plant residue. I once spread a heavy rate of untreated urea on fresh cut wheat residue and I could smell the ammonia coming off pretty bad after 24 hours.
(I did start the pivot right away after spreading the urea, but it didn't get all the way around in 24 hours)
I think Oliver is comparing urea to ammonium nitrate, and I'm just not really understanding how there's very much difference between them.
Edited by NE Ridger 2/20/2015 07:31
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