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Glossary

Urea nitrogen

Urea nitrogen refers to the nitrogen contained in urea, the most nitrogen-concentrated solid fertiliser (46 % N), widely used in world agriculture.

Urea N · N-ureic · Amide nitrogen · CO(NH₂)₂

The urea nitrogen is the nitrogen found in urea, in amide form (NH₂). It accounts for 46 % of this fertiliser's mass[1][2]. This high concentration lowers transport costs compared with other nitrogen products[2][3].

In the soil, urea nitrogen is hydrolysed by urease into ammonium, then oxidised to nitrate. This conversion carries a risk of losses through ammonia volatilisation, particularly following surface application in warm conditions. Urea makes up 79 % of nitrogen inputs in China and 57 % in India, whereas Western Europe mainly relies on nitrates (41 %) versus 20 % urea[4]. Global urea output reached 195.5 Mt in 2023[2]. Urea nitrogen is also a component of UAN solutions and NPK fertilisers.

Sources

  1. Yara, Fertilizer Industry Handbook 2022, p. 32 · View the source
  2. Yara, Fertilizer Industry Handbook 2025, p. 48 · View the source
  3. Yara, Fertilizer Industry Handbook 2022, p. 46 · View the source
  4. Yara, Fertilizer Industry Handbook 2022, p. 38 · View the source

Original text by fertiliser-market.com. Facts and figures are taken from the documents cited, at the page given; no text, table or chart is reproduced from them.

Updated October 27, 2026

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