Effect of Urea and Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizers on Ethylene Formation under Anaerobic Conditions in Soils of Bangladesh

In an anaerobic incubation experiment carried out in laboratory using urea (U), sulphur-coated urea (SCU) and isobutylidene diurea (IBDU) added to four representative agricultural soils of Bangladesh, the different sources of N markedly enhanced ethxlene formation, With increasing pH of the soils, there was less production of ethylene. Addition of IBDU to brown hill and grey floodplain soils caused the formation of more ethylene than when urea or SCU was used. There was little difference between treatments in the calcareous dark grey floodplain and red-brown terrace soils.