What Is Urea Nitrogen Fertilizer?

Urea is found in mammalian urine like this human urine sample.

Urea is a compound with the molecular formula CO(NH2)2. In nature, urea is found in the urine of humans and many other animals. Urea enjoys considerable popularity among farmers and gardeners as a nitrogen fertilizer.

Features

Urea is sold as a white crystalline granulated substance. It's typically dissolved in water, then applied as a spray or during irrigation. Since soil bacteria can degrade urea to form ammonia, urea initially makes the soil more alkaline but will eventually make it slightly more acidic.

Function

Urea is produced from ammonia by combining it with carbon dioxide under high temperature and pressure. The resulting two-step reaction forms urea with water as a byproduct.

Benefits

Urea has a high nitrogen content; it's about 46 percent nitrogen, according to the University of Minnesota, so it can help farmers boost nitrogen levels in their soil. Unlike some other fertilizers, it's not flammable and doesn't pose any explosion hazards, so it's safer and easier to store.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Fertilizer Urea
• New Zealand Institute of Chemistry: Ammonia and Urea Production