Effects of urease inhibitors on nitrification in soils

The effects of 10 urease inhibitors on nitrification in soils were studied by determining the effects of 10 and 50 parts/10⁶ (soil basis) of each inhibitor on the amounts of nitrate and nitrite produced when soils treated with ammonium sulfate (200 μg of ammonium N/g of soil) were incubated (30°C) under aerobic conditions for 14 days. The urease inhibitors used (catechol. hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, 2,3-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone. 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone. 2,5-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,6-dichloro-p-benzoquinone. sodium p-chloromercuribenzoate, and phenylmercuric acetate) were those found most effective in previous work to evaluate more than 130 compounds as soil urease inhibitors. Their effects on nitrification were compared with those of three compounds patented as soil nitrification inhibitors (N-Serve. AM. and ST).Most of the urease inhibitors studied had little effect on nitrification when applied at the rate of 10 μg/g of soil. but had marked inhibitory effects when applied at the rate of 50 μg/g of soil. None inhibited nitrification as effectively as N-Serve. but phenylmercuric acetate inhibited nitrification more effectively than did AM or ST when applied at the rate of 10 μg/g of soil. Phenylmercuric acetate, 2,5-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone, and 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone had very marked effects on nitrification when applied at the rate of 50 μg/g of soil.     

Effects of phosphoroamides on ammonia volatilization and nitrite accumulation in soils treated with urea

Summary We compared the effects of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), N-(diaminophosphinyl)-cyclohexylamine (DPCA), phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD), and hydroquinone on transformations of urea N in soils. The ability of these urease inhibitors to retard urea hydrolysis, ammonia volatilization, and nitrite accumulation in soils treated with urea-decreased in the order NBPT > DPCA PPD > HQ. When five soils were incubated at 30°C for 14 days after treatment with urea (1 mg urea N g^–1 soil), on average, the gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia and the accumulation of urea N as nitrite were decreased from 52 to 5 % and from 11 to 1%, respectively, by addition of NBPT at the rate of 10 g g^–1 soil (0.47 parts of NBPT per 100 parts of urea). The data obtained support previous evidence that NBPT is more effective than PPD for reduction of the problems encountered in using urea as a fertilizer and deserves consideration as a fertilizer amendment for retarding hydrolysis of urea fertilizer in soil.     

Calcium chloride and ammonium thiosulfate as ammonia volatilization inhibitors for urea fertilizers

Abstract

Surface‐applied urea fertilizers are susceptible to hydrolysis and loss of nitrogen (N) through ammonium (NH₃) volatilization when conditions favorable for these processes exist. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) may inhibit urease activity and reduce NH₃ volatilization when mixed with urea fertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CaCl₂ and ATS as urea‐N loss inhibitors for contrasting soil types and varying environmental conditions. The proposed inhibitors were evaluated in the laboratory using a closed, dynamic air flow system to directly measure NH₃ volatilization. The initial effects of CaCl₂ on ammonia volatilization were more accentuated on an acid Lufkin fine sandy loam than a calcareous Ships clay, but during volatilization periods of ≥ 192 h, cumulative N loss was reduced more on the Ships soil than the Lufkin soil. Calcium chloride delayed the commencement of NH₃ volatilization following fertilizer application and reduced the maximum N loss rate. Ammonium thiosulfate was more effective on the Lufkin soil than the Ships soil. For the Lufkin soil, ATS reduced cumulative urea‐N loss by 11% after a volatilization period of 192 h. A 20% (v/v) addition of ATS to urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) was most effective on the coarse textured Lufkin soil whereas a 5% addition was more effective on the fine textured, Ships soil. Rapid soil drying following fertilizer application substantially reduced NH₃ volatilization from both soils and also increased the effectiveness of CaCl₂ but not ATS. Calcium chloride and ATS may function as limited NH₃ volatilization inhibitors, but their effectiveness is dependent on soil properties and environmental conditions.     

Transformations and effects of urea derivatives in soil

The application of urea phosphate, urea nitrate and thoiurea to a silty clay soil from Nile Delta (pH 7.4, 1,9% CaCO₃) inhibited soil urease activity if compared to urea. The nitrification process of ammonia formed from urea hydrolysis was retarded. The use of these urea derivatives eliminated nitrite accumulation and greatly retarded nitrate formation with increased recovery of urea-N throughout the experimental period. Gaseous losses of urea-N as ammonia or by denitrification were reduced. These derivatives may be much more advantageous than urea if fertilizer effeciency is to be increased.     

Nitrogen transformations of ammonium sulfate and alanine in submerged Maahas clay

The fate of added nitrogen in submerged soils was studied using ¹⁵N-labelled ammonium sulfate and alanine. After 8 weeks of incubation 25 and 22%, respectively, of nitrogen from ammonium sulfate and alanine were recovered in the soil. Under the experimental conditions used nitrogen added to presubmerged soils was lost rapidly outside of the soil-water system, regardless of whether the nitrogen was organic or inorganic. Fractionation studies revealed that the amount of tagged N incorporated into exchangeable ammonium, residual fractions, volatilized as NH₃ and chemically fixed nitrogen was not enough to account for the nitrogen loss. The nitrogen loss was attributed to nitrification and subsequent denitrification during the incubation period.

The effect of N-Serve [2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyrimidine] on nitrification of ¹⁵N-labelled (NH₄)₂SO₄-in submerged soils was studied. About 15% more nitrogen was recovered from non-presubmerged soils, and less nitrate was accumulated in presubmerged soils where N-Serve coated (NH₄)₂SO₄ was applied, than from soils where (NH₄)₂SO₄ was applied without N-Serve. Presubmerged soils provided a more favorable environment for nitrification than for denitrification under the experimental conditions used.     

Influence of iron pyrites and dicyandiamide on nitrification and ammonia volatilization from urea applied to loess brown earths (luvisols)

Laboratory incubation study showed that iron pyrites retarded nitrification of urea-derived ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), the effect being greatest at the highest level (10000 mg kg^–1 soil). Nitrification inhibition with 10000 mg pyrite kg^–1 soil, at the end of 30 days, was 40.3% compared to 55.9% for dicyandiamide (DCD). The inhibitory effect with lower rates of pyrite (100–500 mg kg^–1) lasted only up to 9 days. Urea+pyrite treatment was also found to have higher exchangeable NH₄ ⁺-N compared to urea alone. DCD-amended soils had the highest NH₄ ⁺-N content throughout. Pyrite-treated soils had about 7–86% lower ammonia volatilization losses than urea alone. Total NH₃ loss was the most with urea+DCD (7.9% of applied N), about 9% more than with urea alone. Received: 11 November 1995     

土壤酸碱性质对尿素转化特征的影响

试验研究了3种酸性土壤和3种碱性土壤施入尿素后,对土壤pH值变化、氨挥发特性、氮素转化及A l元素活性的影响。试验结果表明:土壤酸碱性对尿素水解的影响与尿素浓度有关,在常温25℃下,3种酸性土壤的pH值在短期内都随着加入尿素浓度的增大而急剧上升,而3种碱性土壤的pH值却是随着加入尿素浓度的增加先增加再减少然后又增加,且其变化的幅度较之酸性土壤小;动态试验表明,pH值上升的现象是短期的,6种土壤pH值达到最大值后缓慢下降,2周后3种碱性土壤的pH降到比原来更低的程度。氨挥发强度与土壤pH变化同步;在酸性土壤和碱性土壤中,氨气日挥发量都是先从小到大出现峰值,然后又降低;酸性土壤氨挥发高峰期约在7~9天,碱性土壤的氨挥发高峰期约在第3天左右。各处理NH4+-N含量和NO3--N含量与土壤pH变化趋势相似,在前2~4星期增加到峰值,而后开始下降并保持不变。短期内,交换性A l随着尿素浓度的增大而急剧下降,交换性A l含量与土壤pH变化呈显著负相关,施用尿素短期内能显著降低酸性土壤交换性铝的含量。     

灌溉施用氮肥后氮素在土壤中的转化及淋失状况: 土柱模拟研究

A soil column method was used to compare the effect of drip fertigation (the application of fertilizer through drip irrigation systems, DFI) on the leaching loss and transformation of urea-N in soil with that of surface fertilization combined with flood irrigation (SFI), and to study the leaching loss and transformation of three kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (nitrate fertilizer, ammonium fertilizer, and urea fertilizer) in two contrasting soils after the fertigation. In comparison to SFI, DFI decreased leaching loss of urea-N from the soil and increased the mineral N (NH₄⁺-N + NO₃^--N) in the soil. The N leached from a clay loam soil ranged from 5.7% to 9.6% of the total N added as fertilizer, whereas for a sandy loam soil they ranged between 16.2% and 30.4%. Leaching losses of mineral N were higher when nitrate fertilizer was used compared to urea or ammonium fertilizer. Compared to the control (without urea addition), on the first day when soils were fertigated with urea, there were increases in NH₄⁺-N in the soils. This confirmed the rapid hydrolysis of urea in soil during fertigation. NH₄⁺-N in soils reached a peak about 5 days after fertigation, and due to nitrification it began to decrease at day 10. After applying NH₄⁺-N fertilizer and urea and during the incubation period, the mineral nitrogen in the soil decreased. This may be related to the occurrence of NH₄⁺-N fixation or volatilization in the soil during the fertigation process.     

Ammonia Volatilization from Soil,Dry-Matter Yield,and Nitrogen Levels of Italian Ryegrass

Nitrogen (N) loss by ammonia (NH₃) volatilization is the main factor for poor efficiency of urea fertilizer applied to the soil surface. Losses can be suppressed by addition of zeolite minerals to urea fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate ammonia volatilization from soil and dry-matter yield and nitrogen levels of Italian ryegrass. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with the treatments of urea, urea incorporated into soil, urea + urease inhibitor, urea + zeolite, ammonium nitrate, and unfertilized treatment. Ammonia was captured by a foam absorber with a polytetrafluoroethylene tape. There were few differences between zeolite and urease inhibitor amendments concerning NH₃ volatilization from urea. Results indicate that zeolite minerals have the potential to improve the N-use efficiency and contributed to increasing N uptake. Zeolite and urea mixture reduced 50% the losses by volatilization observed with urea.     

脲酶/硝化抑制剂在土壤N转化过程中的作用

综述了脲酶抑制剂/硝化抑制剂对土壤氮的转化过程:尿素水解过程、硝化过程、硝酸盐淋溶过程、反硝化过程、微生物固持过程、N矿化过程及气体挥发过程的影响和抑制剂的作用机理,并提出今后研究的发展方向,为今后如何施用抑制剂来提高土壤中氮素利用率和减少环境污染提供一定的参考价值。     

Ammonia volatilization from nitrogen fertilizers with and without gypsum

Abstract. Ammonia volatilization with and without gypsum incorporation was measured in Gujranwala soil (Udic Haplustalf) in an incubation study using different nitrogen fertilizers e.g. urea, ammonium sulphate (AS), calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), and urea nitrophos (UNP). Nitrogen from different fertilizers was applied at the rate of 200 mg N kg⁻¹ to two sets of soils in plastic bags (1.0 kg soil) and plastic jars (0.5 kg soil). Soil moisture was maintained at field capacity. Application of urea increased soil pH to 9, three hours after its addition. Ammonium sulphate and calcium ammonium nitrate had little effect on soil pH. Ammonium volatilization losses from fertilizers were related to the increase in soil pH caused by the fertilizers. Consequently maximum losses were recorded due to application of urea. Losses through ammonia volatilization were significantly lower with AS, CAN and UNP in descending order. Gypsum incorporation significantly reduced the losses. Therefore, application of gypsum to soil before urea may substantially improve N use efficiency for crop production by reducing N losses.     

Ammonia loss from soil during incubation and drying

Abstract

The loss of ammonia by volatilization during incubation and soil drying and contamination of soil samples during drying were studied in the laboratory. Aqua ammonia placement treatments produced a range of soil nitrate and ammonium levels, which produced different amounts of ammonia upon incubation and drying. Recovery of applied N as mineral N and volatilized N in acid traps was virtually complete, indicating that ammonia volatilization was the only significant N loss process. When aqua ammonia was applied to the surface, 57% was volatilized, compared with only 2% when the fertilizer was deep placed. Ammonia volatilization decreased with time; most of the loss occurred during the first day after fertilizer application and ammonia loss was virtually complete within 8 days of incubation. Regression analysis indicated loss of ammonia on soil drying could be explained by the initial ammonia concentration and the time from fertilizer application; approximately 40 days from fertilizer application were required for complete chemical adsorption of ammonia (i.e. no ammonia loss on drying).

Unfertilized soils absorbed up to 66 mg N/kg of the ammonia volatilized from fertilized soils when dried together in the same oven. We conclude that where accurate ammonium analysis is required on recently fertilized soil, undried soil should be used. This eliminates ammonia loss during drying and cross‐contamination of samples. Drying of soil did not affect the recovery of nitrate N, as nitrate was not volatilized or denitrified.     

改性尿素硝酸铵溶液调控氮素挥发和淋溶的研究

为了提高肥料的利用率,以尿素硝酸铵溶液为原料、聚氨酸为保护剂,复合抑制剂NBPT(N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺)和DMPP(3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐)为材料,开发出改性尿素硝酸铵溶液(YUL1和YUL2),研究其对华北平原夏玉米追肥过程中的氨挥发和淋溶损失的调控效果。田间试验设置6个处理:不施氮肥(CK)、农民习惯追施尿素(CN)、优化追施尿素(CNU)、优化追施尿素硝酸铵溶液(UAN)、优化追施改性尿素硝酸铵溶液(YUL1)和优化追施改性尿素硝酸铵溶液(YUL2)。采用扫描电镜和能谱仪分析相关指标变化,在夏玉米喇叭口期追施氮肥后15d内进行田间原位连续动态观测氨挥发和土壤铵态氮和硝态氮变化,并在玉米成熟期测定产量,计算经济效益。结果表明,改性尿素硝酸铵溶液清澈无杂质,流延后成膜表面光滑、致密,抑制剂在膜表面分布均匀;能谱测试膜层表面磷硫含量增高,证明复合抑制剂与尿素硝酸铵溶液达到有效融合。在同等优化施氮量下:与CNU相比, YUL1氨挥发总量显著降低19.3%, YUL2增加9.6%;与UAN相比, YUL1、YUL2分别显著降低57.3%和42.0%。与其他施氮处理相比, YUL1和YUL2夏玉米季生长中后期0～20 cm土层依然保持相对较高的氮素含量水平,夏玉米收获后土壤硝态氮含量分别比CNU高46.0%和43.4%,比UAN高45.6%和44.7%;180～200cm土层硝态氮含量显著低于其他处理。在保证产量和净收益的同时,改性尿素硝酸铵肥料显著降低了氮素的氨挥发和淋溶损失浓度,尿酶抑制剂含量相对较高的YUL1抑制氨挥发的效果更好,硝化抑制剂含量相对高的YUL2硝态氮向下淋失的风险更小。     

Factors Affecting Nitrification in Soils

Abstract

Nitrification in soil converts relatively immobile ammonium‐nitrogen (N) to highly mobile nitrate‐N (via nitrite), and this has implications for N‐use efficiency by agricultural systems as well as for environmental quality, especially in situations where the potential for loss of soil or added N is high following nitrate formation. The literature on various physical, environmental, and chemical factors and their interactions on nitrification in soil is reviewed and discussed with examples from natural and agro‐ecosystems. Among the various factors, soil matrix, water status, aeration, temperature, and pH have strong influence on nitrification. The information on factors that influence nitrification is useful when developing strategies for regulating nitrification in soils by employing chemical or biological nitrification inhibitors.     

不同氮肥形态的氨挥发损失比较

利用从德国引进的农田土壤氨挥发风洞法测定系统,对不同N肥形态的肥料进行对比实验。结果表明,在相同施N量条件下,硝酸铵、硝酸铵钙、硫硝酸铵的氨挥发损失分别比尿素减少22.5%、3.2%和8.3%,不同N肥的氨挥发损失差异很大。相同条件下,尿素的氨挥发损失为25.7%,添加DMPP后氨挥发损失为27.6%;硫硝酸铵的氨挥发损失为18.6%,添加DMPP后为20.6%;添加DMPP对尿素和硫硝酸铵的氨挥发影响不显著。     

Effects of potassium azide on transformations of urea nitrogen in soils

Comparison of the effects of potassium azide (KN₃) and 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (N-Serve) on transformations of urea N in soils showed that, unlike N-Serve, KN₃ retards urea hydrolysis in soils, but does not prevent NO^?₂ accumulation or appreciably retard nitrification of urea-N in soils that accumulate substantial amounts of NO^?₂ when treated with urea. It is deduced that KN₃ added with urea to soils that accumulate NO^?₂ on treatment with urea is decomposed by reaction with NO^?₂.The work reported, together with previous work, indicates that KN₃ has limited value compared with N-Serve as an inhibitor of nitrification in soils and that its effectiveness as a nitrification inhibitor depends to a large extent on the soil and the form of nitrifiable N applied.     

Evaluation of 3-methylpyrazole-1-carboxamide as a soil nitrification inhibitor

Summary Laboratory studies to evaluate 3-methylpyrazole-1-carboxamide (MPC) as a soil nitrification inhibitor showed that it was comparable to nitrapyrin (N-Serve) for inhibiting nitrification of ammonium in soil, but was not as effective as etridiazole (Dwell) or 2-ethynylpyridine. They also showed that the effectiveness of MPC as a soil nitrification inhibitor is markedly affected by soil type and soil temperature, that MPC is more effective for inhibiting nitrification of ammonium-N than of urea-N, and that MPC has little, if any, effect on hydrolysis of urea or denitrification of nitrate in soil. These observations and other work discussed indicate that MPC is one of the most promising compounds so far proposed for inhibition of nitrification in soil.     

Problems in the use of urea as a nitrogen fertilizer

Abstract. N -( n -butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) is the most effective compound currently available for retarding hydrolysis of urea fertilizer in soil and for decreasing ammonia volatilization and nitrite e accumulation in soils treated with urea. It is a poor inhibitor of plant or microbial urease, but decomposes quite rapidly in soil with formation of N -( n -butyl) phosphoric triamide, which is a potent inhibitor of urease activity.
The adverse effects of urea fertilizers on seed germination and seedling growth in soil are due to ammonia produced through hydrolysis of urea by soil urease. They can be eliminated by addition of a urease inhibitor to these fertilizers.
The leaf-burn commonly observed after foliar fertilization of soybeans with urea results from accumulation of toxic amounts of urea in the soybean leaves rather than formation of toxic amounts of ammonia through urea hydrolysis by leaf urease. Leaf-burn is accordingly increased rather than decreased by addition of a urease inhibitor to the urea fertilizer applied.     

含DMPP抑制剂尿素的氨挥发特性及阻控对策研究

采用原状土柱模拟方法,探讨了施肥水平、添加不同碳氮比（C／N）有机物、不同类型土壤、土壤水分含量及温度对含3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐（3,4－dimethyl pyrazole phosphate,DMPP）硝化抑制剂的尿素（DMPP尿素）氨挥发损失的影响。结果表明,施肥水平对DMPP尿素的氨挥发损失有显著影响,随着DMPP尿素施用量的增加,土壤氨挥发损失量呈显著上升的趋势;DMPP尿素配施低C／N比的有机物鸡粪,氨挥发损失增加6．0％;而配施高C／N比的生物秸秆,则表现为可抑制78．2％的氨挥发损失;DMPP尿素的氨挥发损失受土壤理化性质影响很大,在肥力高的碱性土壤中氨挥发损失严重,而在酸性红壤和阳离子交换量高的青紫泥中挥发损失量较低;在土壤含水量为田间饱和持水量时,氨挥发损失表现为急剧增加;随着土壤温度的升高,氨挥发损失的量快速递增。合理控制施肥量、选择配施高C／N比的生物秸秆和适宜的水分管理方式是减少农田氨挥发损失的重要对策。     

种稻下氮肥的氨挥发及其在氮素损失中的重要性的研究

在特制密闭盆钵甲,研究了¹⁵N标记氮肥作水稻基肥混施时,氨的挥发及其在氮素损失中的重要性,随着通气速率的增高,氨的挥发及其在氮素损失中的重要性也增大,至换气频率达15-20次/分时即接近或达到最大值.在酸性水稻土上,硫铵的氮素损失的主要途径是反硝化作用,特别是气温较低的月份;尿素的氮素损失途径,在气温较低的月份中以反硝化作用为主,在温度较高的月份中,则氨的挥发与反硝化作用都是重要的;对碳铵来说,氨的挥发和反硝化作用都是氮素损失的重要途径.在石灰性土壤上,碳铵的氮素损失的主要途径是氨的挥发,而在硫铵和尿素的氮素损失中,氨的挥发和反硝化作用则都是重要的.