The objective of this work was to measure the N-NH3 volatilization and the response of irrigated rice to the use of urea with urease inhibitor in two cropping systems, no-tillage and conventional. For this, an experiment in field was performed in the crop year 2008/09, at the UFSM in Santa Maria/RS. A random block in factorial scheme (2x5), with the factor A consisting of two nitrogen (N) sources, urea and urea coated with B and Cu (urease inhibitor) and the factor B consisting of different intervals of water intake (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 days) after the application of N sources. The results demonstrated that the urease inhibitor slows and decreases the conversion of N to NH3, reducing the losses by volatilization, comparatively to urea without inhibitor. Between the systems, the losses were increased in the no-tillage system. The urease inhibitor does not add benefits to the productivity in both cropping systems used and the stress caused on the rice plant by the delay of water intake is more harmful than the losses caused by the volatilization of N-NH3.
Urea; nitrogen losses; Oryza sativa
