Urease inhibitors delay the conversion of urea by the enzyme urease and this enables ammonia volatilisation to be limited.
Urease inhibitors delay the conversion of urea by the enzyme urease and this enables ammonia volatilisation to be limited.
Nitrogen volatilisation
Every soil contains the enzyme urease. As soon as urea is applied this enzyme breaks down urea into ammonium and OH-. Because of this process there is a localised increase in the pH to pH 9.5! At this pH level, part of the ammonium formed is converted into ammonia which volatilises. This delivers on average a nitrogen loss of 26%!
How do we prevent volatilisation?
Novurea is urea that has been treated with a urease inhibitor. As soon as Novurea is applied the urease inhibitor lowers the urease activity. This delays the conversion of urea into ammonium. Less OH- is formed, thus limiting the pH increase. The minimal pH rise means that the nitrogen stays in ammonium form which does not volatilise. More nitrogen remains available for the plant which is converted into an optimum crop yield.
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