Human health and the use of Urea fertilizers
Contamination with cancerous illnesses: this is because of the use of Urea fertilizer that contain nitrogenous materials, as nitrates in the human gut exchange into nitrite, which causes blood cancers inside the stomach and intestines.
Additionally, the use of Urea fertilizer, which incorporates the poisonous biuret, keeps things lively even as the temperature rises. The decomposition of urea and the volatilization of ammonia from it bring about respiratory infections and infertility in guys.
Low yield: Because of the growth in the vegetative growth of flora on the basis
of the increase in the end result and flora, excessive fertilization with
chemical fertilizers, particularly those rich in nitrates, results in the
vegetation being inflamed with illnesses and insects.
Accumulation of dangerous heavy factors inside the soil: that is because
of the use of phosphate fertilizers, which result in the buildup of cadmium,
which is dangerous to human fitness whether or not it comes from vegetation or
animals.
Benefits of urea fertilizer for plants
The main function of urea is to promote the growth of the green parts of the plant, and it also contributes in some way to the process of photosynthesis.
Urea has the advantage of being the
strongest type of nitrogen fertilizer because it contains 46 percent nitrogen.
Urea is available as a natural fertilizer or it can be manufactured, and if it
is manufactured, its production cost is low.
The manufactured urea fertilizer is easy to store because urea is a
non-flammable substance.
Suitable for different types of crops and soils
Urea has a neutral pH, so it is not very harmful to crops.
Stages of decomposition of urea in the soil
When the soil is fertilized with white urea granules, it is converted, in the presence of water, into ammonium carbonate by the action of the urease enzyme, and this causes the necessary activity of soil bacteria.
This transformation takes place within three days in soils rich in organic matter, while it is delayed to 7-8 days in soils poor in organic matter.
The ammonium carbonate, in turn, decomposes into ammonia and carbon dioxide.
The ammonia then turns into nitrite, which quickly turns into nitrates, and nitrates are the form that plants can use.
The amount of urea used, temperature, and soil type also control the urea decomposition process.
How to use urea correctly
1. Pick a cool day, in the sense that the temperature is not high and that there is no strong wind or air. In high temperatures, urea breaks down faster and loses a lot of ammonia, while it stays longer in the soil when temperatures are low. The ideal temperature for using urea fertilizer is 26–40 degrees.
2. When the soil is fertilized with urea, the final compound that the plant is looking for is nitrates, but if you want to use urea fertilizer before planting, the dissolution of urea and its transformation into nitrates will be so fast that plants will not be able to benefit from it, so it is better to use a urease inhibitor. It is a substance that reduces the speed of urea dissolution into nitrate, which helps the soil retain urea for a longer period.
3. When you use urea at the time of planting, it is best to place it next to the roots of the plant or close to the places where the seeds are placed to make the best use of it.
4. Use urea on wet soil, because urea turns into ammonia. Ammonia is a gaseous substance that can escape quickly if the soil is dry, but much of it can be trapped when the soil is wet.
5. Tilling the top layer of soil is a great way to incorporate urea fertilizer into the top layer of soil.
6. Know the appropriate amount of urea fertilizer for each type of crop and plant that you will grow. Some plants need more nitrogen than others, while others are harmed by a high amount of nitrogen.
7. Increasing the concentration of ammonia gas due to the decomposition of urea will lead to a temporary rise in the degree of soil reaction around the location of the urea granules, forming a toxic area that can affect the seeds during germination and the roots of young seedlings, but this effect rarely occurs if the urea granules are distributed over the entire soil area. It is well buried, and the soil conditions were good in terms of ventilation, temperature, and humidity.
Damages from urea as a soil fertilizer
- Impurities and improper use of urea fertilizers can damage plants. A common impurity in urea fertilizers is biuret, which can decompose in the soil, but this takes a long time and is toxic to plants.
- As with any nitrogen source, urea itself can damage plants; nitrogen impairs or completely inhibits seed germination; and too much nitrogen can "burn" some crops, but not all crops are the same. So you have to know the right amount for each crop.
- The use of urea fertilizer increases the acidity of the soil. As we mentioned before, the process of urea decomposition inside the soil goes through different stages. In these stages, a lot of hydrogen ions are released; therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to this point and use calcium carbonate to neutralize this acidity.
Precautions to be taken when storing urea
Urea is a highly hygroscopic material, so it should be stored in airtight bags.
Avoid direct contact with urea fertilizer because it has been shown to be dangerous to the skin and, when inhaled, may cause severe allergic reactions.
