Which nutrient can experience significant loss due to volatilization?

Volatilization refers to the process where certain nutrients in fertilizers can be lost to the atmosphere, typically as gases, especially under certain environmental conditions such as high temperature and low humidity. Nitrogen, in particular, is highly susceptible to volatilization primarily in its ammonia form.

When nitrogen is applied to soils—especially in the form of urea or animal manures—certain conditions can lead to the conversion of nitrogen compounds to ammonia gas, which can then easily evaporate into the atmosphere if not incorporated into the soil. This loss can significantly diminish the availability of nitrogen for plant uptake, ultimately affecting crop yields and nutrient management strategies.

On the other hand, nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and calcium do not exhibit significant volatilization losses. Phosphorus tends to bind tightly to soil particles, reducing the likelihood of loss through volatilization. Potassium and calcium primarily remain in their ionic forms within the soil solution, making them less prone to atmospheric loss as well. Thus, nitrogen's susceptibility to volatilization under certain conditions makes it the nutrient most significantly affected by this process.