Urea is an organic compound with the chemical formula (NH2)2CO. Urea is a nitrogen-containing chemical product.

For use in industry, urea is produced from synthetic ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urea can be produced as prills, granules, flakes, pellets, crystals, and solutions. Urea is used as a nitrogen-release fertilizer, as it hydrolyses back to ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid nitrogenous fertilizers in common use (46.7%). Therefore, it has the lowest transportation costs per unit of nitrogen nutrient.

Urea is highly soluble in water and is, therefore, also very suitable for use in fertilizer solutions (in combination with ammonium nitrate: UAN), e.g., in 'foliar feed' fertilizers. In agriculture, more than 90% of world production is destined for use as a nitrogen-release fertilizer. Solid urea is marketed as prills or granules. Urea can be applied in various forms - it can be spread in bulk alone or can also be mixed with other fertilizers before application. However, urea should be preferably spread alone so as to avoid unevenness in the field. In case of preparing blended mixtures with other fertilizers the best ones to suit its density are monoammonium phosphate (11-52-0) or diammonium phosphate (18-46-0). When blended together, these are easily spread uniformly across the cultivated land. The advantage of prills is that, in general, they can be produced more cheaply than granules, which, because of their narrower particle size distribution, have an advantage over prills if applied mechanically to the soil. Properties such as impact strength, crushing strength, and free-flowing behavior are, in particular, important in product handling, storage, and bulk transportation. As urea comprises of 46% N, it can be easily stored, transported and handled safely. Like most nitrogen products, urea absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. Therefore it should be stored either in closed/sealed bags on pallets, or, if stored in bulk, under cover with a tarpaulin. As with most solid fertilizers, it should also be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.

Like most nitrogen products, urea absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. Therefore it should be stored either in closed/sealed bags on pallets, or, if stored in bulk, under cover with a tarpaulin. As with most solid fertilizers, it should also be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.

White, prilled, treated against caking