Assessing the effects of urea and nano-nitrogen chelate fertilizers on sugarcane yield and dynamic of nitrate in soil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of urea and Nano-Nitrogen Chelate (NNC) fertilizers on yield of sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum) and nitrate leaching from soil. The treatments included urea (U) and NNC at five levels of nitrogen (0, 80, 112, 137 and 161 kg N ha(-1)). This experiment was carried out during 2017 and 2018 in Khuzestan province, Iran. The results showed that the average of soil nitrate concentration during the sugarcane growth period in urea and NNC treatments were 10.2 and 12.8 mg kg(-1) respectively. The highest and lowest nitrate leaching (699.0 mg l(-1) and 183.0 mg l(-1)) belongs to the highest level of urea fertilizer and the lowest level of NNC. In urea treatments, the lowest amount of nitrate was observed in the topsoil (0-30 cm depth) whereas in NNC fertilizer maximum value was achieved in topsoil. The height of sugarcane stem in both fertilizers increased with increasing rate of fertilizer, but there was no significant difference between two types of fertilizer. Yield of sugarcane (fresh weight of stem) increased significantly by increasing of fertilizer application, but there was no significant difference between two types of fertilizer. In terms of sugar content, there was a significant difference between treatments. The order of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for stems and sugar yield from high to low was as NUE (fresh stem): U-1 > N-1 > N-3 >= U-3 U-2 > N-4 U-4 > N-2 and for NUE (sugar): N-1 > U-1 > N-3 >= N-2 > U-2 N-4 >= U-3 > U-4. This study showed that application of nano nitrogen fertilizer (NNC) had significant effects on reducing nitrate leaching and increasing sugar production in sugarcane. However, when nitrate leaching and its effects on human health and the environment are in view, nano fertilizers are valuable.