biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)Ma ZExcess nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied to crops, which discharges to the environment, principally through denitrification, runoff, leaching, and volatilization, results in a waste of resources and pollution. Here, a high-performance loss control urea (LCU) was prepared by adding a loss control agent (LCA) with high thermal stability, large specific surface area, and good water retention capacity complex (6%) to traditional urea (94%). The existence of hydrogen bonds between LCA and N source for LCU in the presence of water enhanced N source adsorption capacity, where adsorption between LCA and NH₄⁺-N was strongest, for urea and NO₃^--N was weakest. In a laboratory experiment, cumulative losses of NH₃ volatilization from soils treated with N application rates of 80, 160 and 240 kg N ha^-1 were 14.8, 18.1, and 24.2% for urea, respectively, and 10.1, 12.7, and 17.5% for LCU. Simulated rapid and long-term leaching experiments showed that, compared with urea, LCU reduced N leaching loss within 30 d, and delayed long-term N leaching loss. Hydrogen bonds in LCU effectively controlled NH₃ volatilization and N leaching loss. This type of LCU may optimize supply of N in soils and increase adsorption and utilization of N in crops.Scientific reports15140https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6805906biostudies-literatureMitigation of ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching via loss control urea triggered H-bond forces.PMC6805906Li YFeng MWang SMa XMa ZYue YZhao XfalseMitigation of ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching via loss control urea triggered H-bond forces.Excess nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied to crops, which discharges to the environment, principally through denitrification, runoff, leaching, and volatilization, results in a waste of resources and pollution. Here, a high-performance loss control urea (LCU) was prepared by adding a loss control agent (LCA) with high thermal stability, large specific surface area, and good water retention capacity complex (6%) to traditional urea (94%). The existence of hydrogen bonds between LCA and N source for LCU in the presence of water enhanced N source adsorption capacity, where adsorption between LCA and NH₄⁺-N was strongest, for urea and NO₃^--N was weakest. In a laboratory experiment, cumulative losses of NH₃ volatilization from soils treated with N application rates of 80, 160 and 240 kg N ha^-1 were 14.8, 18.1, and 24.2% for urea, respectively, and 10.1, 12.7, and 17.5% for LCU. Simulated rapid and long-term leaching experiments showed that, compared with urea, LCU reduced N leaching loss within 30 d, and delayed long-term N leaching loss. Hydrogen bonds in LCU effectively controlled NH₃ volatilization and N leaching loss. This type of LCU may optimize supply of N in soils and increase adsorption and utilization of N in crops.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Oct2026-05-07T03:48:54.472Z2019-11-05T08:10:00ZS-EPMC68059063164117810.1038/s41598-019-51566-2