On Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:09:32 -0500, Frank wrote:
This may help a little:
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publi...ion/AG_283.pdf

Nice find!

The paper purports to answer exactly what I'm asking!
"The purpose of this fact sheet is to briefly describe urea
transformations and to suggest how urea-N may be conserved
with proper management in the field."

It says up to 90% of the nitrogen in urea will turn to ammonia gas "if
not protected within a few hours of application".

Since urea - ammonium bicarbonate (within 48 hours) - ammonia gas, they
say the key to keeping the nitrogen is to "put the urea into the soil and
not merely on the soil" within those first 48 hours.

Ah. That's simple! They say you can do this three ways:
1. Water the soil directly after applying the urea
2. Plow the soil after fertilization
3. Inject the urea into the soil

How did you find this? I had googled for hours before posting my question
because I could not find the answer of how to keep the nitrogen IN the
compost!

In my compost pile, I can keep it wet and I can cover it with soil to
keep the nitrogen in the soil!

thanks!