| dc.description.abstract | nitrogen (n) is an essential macronutrient that plays a critical role in the cultivation of
spring wheat, affecting several physiological and developmental processes. the widespread
use of n fertilizers can result in environmental contamination, as approximately half of the n
applied as fertilizers is lost through various pathways. urea treated with n stabilizers such as
urease inhibitors and nitrification inhibitors could be an effective way to reduce n losses. i
hypothesized that application of enhanced efficiency n fertilizers such as polymer-coated
urea and urea supplemented with inhibitors of urease and nitrification will improve the
growth, yield, and quality of spring wheat, outperforming the traditional application of
untreated urea. this study tracked the effects of different n sources at two different
application rates (80 kg n ha-1 and 120 kg n ha-1
) on plant growth attributes, field
productivity, soil health metrics, and soil chemical and biological parameters. nitrogen
source had minimal effect on soil health, with only slight changes in microbial composition
and nutrient levels. the use of either traditional urea or enhanced efficiency n fertilizers
corresponded to the development of beneficial microbial communities. plant phenotypic
traits, grain characteristics, soil nitrate levels, and disease occurrence were not significantly
influenced by the choice of n source or application rate, an outcome that can be attributed to
limited rainfall during the growing season of the experiment. grain yields were no higher in
any treated plots compared to the no-n reference plots. plant assimilation of n did occur
compared to reference plots, at three times the concentration during booting and two times
during tillering stages. overall, n management strategies that prioritize optimal nutrient
absorption, improve soil structure, and promote sustainable agricultural practices are
recommended. however, these strategies must be adapted to prevailing environmental
conditions. | en_us |
