09 April 2024

Protected Urea delivers both cost savings and reduces greenhouse gasses

Alan Nolan, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe, focuses on how protected urea is instrumental in achieving a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while enhancing nitrogen efficiency and reducing costs.

Protected urea is a key technology for the agriculture sector in meeting its 25% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. It is seldom that a new technology costs less and delivers major environment benefits in reducing nitrogen (N) losses. Nitrogen fertilisers release nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is one of the main GHGs we are concerned about. 

In the last two years, more farmers locally are starting to use protected urea as more products containing protected urea become available. As more farmers in a locality use a product and can see that it works, confidence among other farmers increases and more farmers are now willing to use protected urea as they can see that it works.

Extensive research in Teagasc and on-farm use has shown the reliability of protected urea as a very effective N fertiliser source for Irish farming conditions. It delivers consistently on yield compared to nitrate-based fertilisers (CAN 27% N), while significantly reducing nitrous oxide (N₂O) and ammonia (NH₃) emissions, thus improving the efficiency of applied fertiliser N.  

The big advantage with protected urea is that you can use from spring to September. It will work as effectively as normal urea in the spring in damp conditions and due to the inclusion of the urease inhibitor, it releases N slower and more effectively than CAN in the summer.

Urea fertiliser is the most widely used N source in the world and protecting it with a urease inhibitor firstly reduces ammonia N (NH₃) losses by up to 78%, thus retaining more N to better match crop N demands during the growing season. Secondly, by replacing nitrate-based fertilisers (e.g. CAN) with protected urea, we reduce N₂O losses by 71%.  This is a major ready-to-go technology in meeting our 2030 target, delivering a 3% to 8% reduction in GHG emissions on livestock farms.

Cost savings

Over the last three years, we have seen major fluctuations in fertiliser N prices due to global unrest. At times, this has resulted in a large price differential between protected urea and CAN, with urea generally significantly better value due to large volumes traded globally. Average fertiliser prices to date in 2024 (table 1) show that protected urea offers a 25% lower cost per kilo compared to CAN (27% N).   

Retaining more effective N and reducing N rates

Protected urea reduces N loss from 15% for standard urea to 3%, thus retaining 12% more effective N. With reduced and more regulated chemical fertiliser N use, retaining more effective N in the soil allows adjustments to N rates while still maintaining yield compared to standard urea. Moving from standard urea to protected urea offers the opportunity to reduce fertiliser N rates by up to 10%.

In summary, making the switch to protected urea can reduce your overall fertiliser costs and reduce N₂O and NH₃ emissions by 71% and 78%, respectively.  When buying fertiliser this spring, make sure to enquire about protected urea. Even if you start with a small amount in 2024 and gain confidence, you can switch to 100% N products containing protected urea in future years.