Effects of Polymer-coated Urea on Nitrate Leaching and Nitrogen Uptake by Potato.

The article presents a study on the impact of polymer-coated urea (PCU) on the maintenance of groundwater nitrate concentrations in the potato production regions of the U.S. The agricultural products retailer Agrium Inc. had developed a type of PCU called Environmentally Smart Nitrogen, wherein its potential to reduce nitrate leaching has not been scrutinized in a potato. A comparison of four PCUs were studied during the leaching years of 2006 and 2007, and measurements of nitrate leaching, fertilizer nitrogen (N) recovery, N use efficiency (NUE) and residual N soil were determined.