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Why is urea widely used as a nitrogen fertilizer?

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A labeled diagram of a periodic table entry for nitrogen shows its atomic number 7, symbol N, electron configuration, atomic weight, and name. Symbols indicate nitrogen is a nonmetal gas at room temperature, has a hexagonal crystal structure, and strongly acidic higher-valence oxides. A key explains the diagram's icons and color coding.
nitrogen

Urea is widely used as a nitrogen fertilizer primarily because it possesses a very high nitrogen content and is an inexpensive compound.1

When applied to the soil, urea is readily converted into ammonia, which provides a vital source of nitrogen for plant growth. Nitrogen is a critical macroelement for plants, as it is a major constituent of structural and metabolic compounds and is essential for completing a plant's life cycle.12

Because of its efficiency, urea is frequently incorporated into mixed fertilizers, applied directly to the soil, or sprayed on foliage. Additionally, it can be combined with formaldehyde to create methylene-urea fertilizers, which allow for the slow, continuous, and uniform release of nitrogen over an extended period.1