Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer Technologies to Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cropped Soils in Prairie Canada

Activities in 2014 included the development of a plot-scale anhydrous ammonia applicator to be used in the project. An old anhydrous ammonia applicator tank was re-fitted and a plot seeder was modified to pull the applicator cart and accept hosing and mounting of the flow controller. The whole system was safety checked and approved for use by Transport Canada was obtained. Personnel completed NH₃ safety training and obtained applicator certification. All this was completed by October 2014.
The operation of the applicator was tested to deliver ammonia at required depths with good band closure, calibration of delivery rates, and ability to meter and mix nitrification inhibitors into the ammonia injection stream. In October 2014, the applicator was repeatedly tested for safe operation and calibration of flow meters and proper mixing of nitrification inhibitors. Closure and depth placement were perfected.

Proper delivery of nitrification inhibitors to the anhydrous ammonia stream was verified. The anhydrous ammonia system was used to put in fall treatments for the project at two sites in Manitoba the first week of November. Each site had treatments of various formulations of urea and anhydrous ammonia with and without nitrification inhibitors in a random complete block design.