Urea is a white crystalline substance with the chemical formula CO(NH2)2; it is highly water soluble and contains 46% nitrogen. Urea is considered an organic compound because it contains carbon. It was the first organic compound every synthesized by chemists; this was accomplished in the early 1800s by German chemists.

How is urea made?

Urea is made by reacting carbon dioxide (CO2) with anhydrous ammonia (NH3) under 3,000 psi pressure and at 350 degrees F.

CO2 + 2NH3 - CO(NH2)2 + H2O

The removal of water that occurs during the reaction is referred to as "dehydration." The resulting molten mixture is further processed

into either prills or granules.

What role does urea play in world commerce?

Urea is the major fertilizer traded in international commerce. In the very near future urea is expected to account for more than 50% of the nitrogen fertilizer in world trade. When compared to other dry fertilizers, urea has captured more than 65% of the world trade.

Why is there such a shift to urea in world trade?

Urea has a number of advantages over other nitrogen fertilizers. Urea is safe to ship and handle, it is less corrosive to equipment, it has a higher analysis than any other dry nitrogen fertilizer and it can be used on virtually all crops. Urea can be stored and distributed through conventional systems. It can be applied in many different ways from sophisticated aerial application equipment to a farm spreading urea by hand. Urea is also highly water soluble so it moves readily into the soil. The high analysis means a reduced transportation and application cost per pound of nitrogen.

How much nitrogen does urea contain?

Urea is 46% nitrogen. This is the highest concentration dry nitrogen fertilizer available.

How much nitrogen does urea supply?

Urea supplies more nitrogen per ton of product than any other dry fertilizer. It contains 46% nitrogen; this means that each ton of urea supplies 920 lbs. Of nitrogen. For comparison, a ton of ammonium sulfate supplies only 420 lbs. of nitrogen and a ton of ammonium nitrate supplies only 670 lbs. of nitrogen. The higher nitrogen content means lower transportation and application costs per pound of nitrogen.

How fast does urea convert to nitrate-nitrogen?

It depends on the environmental conditions. When soil conditions are favorable for microbial activity, in other words, warm, moist, proper pH and so forth, the conversion is quiet rapid. The process will begin within a few days under favorable conditions. In a band application the process may continue for a month or more.

How does urea compare with ammonium nitrate?

Urea contains about one-third more nitrogen, is less corrosive than ammonium nitrate and is less prone to caking. In addition, all the nitrogen is in the ammoniac form and, until nitrification occurs, it is less subject to leaching or denitrifiction than the nitrate portion of the ammonium nitrate.

Is the nitrogen in urea different from nitrogen in "organic fertilizers" in terms of plant nutrition?

No; the ammoniac nitrogen or nitrate nitrogen taken up by plants is chemically identical regardless of the source. Nitrate or ammonium that results from urea application is indistinguishable from the nitrate or ammonium that results from manure application. A plant utilizes inorganic ions, and the source of these nutrients is irrelevant to either the yield or quality of the fruit, grain, or vegetative matter produced by the plant.

INFORMATION

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urea@alliedworldresources.com