Urea fertilizer is made industrially from ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure and heat, then turned into granules or prills for farm use. In practice, the ammonia usually comes from natural gas-based production in many regions, so urea is often linked to petrochemical or gas-processing plants rather than being “dug up” from the ground.

Quick Scoop

Here’s the simple version:

  • Raw inputs: ammonia + carbon dioxide.
  • Main source of ammonia: commonly natural gas, through industrial ammonia production.
  • End product: solid urea fertilizer, often formed into granules or prills.

How it’s made

  1. Ammonia and carbon dioxide are combined in a reactor.
  1. The reaction forms intermediate compounds and then urea.
  1. The molten urea is processed into the familiar fertilizer form farmers buy.

Bottom line

So, urea fertilizer comes from industrial chemical plants , not directly from a natural mineral source. Its ingredients are commonly derived from natural gas, ammonia production, and captured carbon dioxide.