Potassium Plus Biopolymer Coating Controls Nitrogen Dynamics of Urea in Soil and Increases Wheat Production

The low nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) of commercial fertilizers is one the main hurdles in higher crop production and reduction fertilizer N losses to environment. However, interactions between most macronutrients could have synergistic outcomes that affect NUE. coating urea with biopolymers may control release synergistically impact its In this study, was coated 3% different polymers, combined 5% potassium iodide (KI) (i) Gum Arabica (GA + KI), (ii) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA (iii) gelatin (Gelatin KI) release, leaching, increase wheat Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed successful all KI biopolymer combinations on granules. All slowed down water reduced leaching from soil, but highest both parameters observed GA treatment, compared uncoated urea. After soil application, decreased by 26% than lysimeter. field, mineral remained significantly high PVA treatments at tillering, booting, grain filling maturity stages, K content only (28%) treatment final harvest. Likewise, microbial biomass (20%) stages (24%) Such synchronized availability led yield (28%), (56%) uptake, apparent recovery (130%) fertilizer. increment NUE be due effect availability; therefore, we treatment. Hence, macronutrient (K) plus recommended improve yield, NUE, for environmental losses.