土壤温度和含水量互作对抑制剂抑制氮素转化效果的影响

为比较生化抑制剂组合对土壤氮素转化的抑制效果,揭示不同土壤温度和含水量互作对尿素水解抑制效应的影响。该文采用室内模拟培养方法,研究土壤含水量(60%和80%田间最大持水量,water holding capacity,WHC)和土壤温度(15、25和35℃)互作对生化抑制组合[N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide,NBPT)、N-丙基硫代磷酰三胺(N-(n-propyl)thiophosphoric triamide,NPPT)和2-氯-6(三氯甲基)吡啶(2-chloro-6(trichloromethyl)pyridine,CP)在黄泥田土壤中抑制氮素转化效果的影响。结果表明:土壤温度和含水量对生化抑制组合在黄泥田土壤中抑制尿素水解效应显著,以土壤温度影响更大。随着土壤温度增加,尿素水解转化增强,有效作用时间降低,硝化作用增强,脲酶和硝化抑制效应减弱;随着土壤含水量降低,尿素水解转化缓慢,有效作用时间延长,硝化作用减弱,脲酶和硝化抑制效应增强。不同土壤温度和含水量条件下,NBPT/NPPT或配施CP处理有效抑制黄泥田土壤脲酶活性,延缓尿素水解;CP或配施NBPT/NPPT处理有效抑制NH4+-N向NO_3~--N转化,保持土壤中较高NH_4~+-N含量长时间存在。新型脲酶抑制剂NPPT单独施用及与CP配施的土壤尿素水解抑制效果与NBPT相似。黄泥田土壤中生化抑制组合应用最佳的土壤温度和含水量分别为25℃和60%WHC。总之,针对不同土壤温度和含水量条件,在黄泥田土壤中应采用脲酶抑制剂与硝化抑制剂相结合的施肥方式。     

生化抑制剂组合对黄泥田土壤尿素态氮转化的影响

采用室内恒温、恒湿培养方法,通过不同剂量和配比试验,研究脲酶抑制剂(N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺,NBPT)、硝化抑制剂(2-氯-6(三氯甲基)吡啶,NP)及其两者组合对尿素态氮在黄泥田土壤中的转化作用效果。结果表明:尿素在黄泥田土壤中,有效作用时间≤3d;不同剂量NBPT处理可以缓释尿素3~9d,有效抑制脲酶活性,减缓尿素分解(效果表现为1.0%0.5%0.25%),对土壤中NO3-生成量及表观硝化率的影响基本与尿素一致;不同剂量NP处理可以有效抑制NH4+-N向NO3--N转化,其有效调控时间长达72d以上(效果表现为0.6%0.3%0.15%)。第72d,不同剂量NBPT和NP处理土壤中表观硝化率分别为64%和43%左右,NP对硝化作用抑制效果显著(P0.05)。与仅添加NBPT和NP处理相比,在黄泥田土壤中两者组合表现出对氮素转化明显的协同抑制效果,既能缓释尿素施入3~9d,有效抑制脲酶活性,减缓尿素水解,又能保持土壤中较高NH4+-N含量的时间超过72d。其中,NBPT 0.5%+NP 0.3%组合抑制效果最佳。总体认为,在黄泥田土壤中施用生化抑制剂时,NBPT和NP选用范围分别为≤0.5%和≤0.3%。     

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。     

聚天冬氨酸尿素及生化抑制剂对长江流域典型土壤N2O排放的影响

以四川紫色土、湖北黄棕壤性水稻土和浙江青泥田水稻土为对象,通过向不同土壤中添加硝化抑制剂3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸(DMPP)和脲酶抑制剂N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT),探讨了不同抑制剂单独或联合施用对普通尿素和聚天冬氨酸尿素(PASP尿素)在各地区土壤中N_2O排放的影响。结果表明,在培养条件下,长江流域不同地区土壤N_2O排放总量呈现出湖北黄棕壤性水稻土四川紫色土浙江青泥田水稻土的趋势,且不添加抑制剂时,PASP尿素相比普通尿素能显著降低湖北黄棕壤性水稻土和浙江青泥田水稻土的N_2O排放。与未添加抑制剂处理相比,含DMPP的处理(DMPP和DMPP+NBPT处理)均能降低普通尿素和PASP尿素在各地区土壤中N_2O的排放,四川紫色土N_2O累积释放量减少了70%～86%,湖北黄棕壤性水稻土减少了7%～53%,浙江青泥田水稻土减少了96%以上;NBPT的添加(NBPT和DMPP+NBPT处理)能降低碱性土壤N_2O累积排放量,其中四川紫色土N_2O排放总量与未添加抑制剂处理相比减少了14%～22%,浙江青泥田水稻土减少了26%～60%。因此,DMPP可有效降低供试土壤N_2O排放;但NBPT仅在四川和浙江供试土壤中表现出减少N_2O排放的效果。综上,推荐四川紫色土和浙江水稻土施用氮肥时辅施DMPP,湖北水稻土施用氮肥时辅施DMPP或DMPP和NBPT联用可减少N_2O排放,减少土壤氮损失及其潜在危害,为进一步探讨各地区氮转化调控提供参考。     

添加NBPT/DMPP/CP的高效稳定性尿素在黑土和褐土中的施用效应

  【目的】  研究添加脲酶/硝化抑制剂的高效稳定性尿素在黑土和褐土中的作用效果,为科学合理选择抑制剂提供科学依据。  【方法】  以春玉米为试材,采用东北典型的黑土和褐土进行盆栽试验。供试抑制剂包括N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺 (NBPT)、3, 4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐 (DMPP)、2-氯-6 (三氯甲基)-吡啶 (CP)。试验设不施氮肥 (U0)、施普通尿素 (U),和在尿素中添加NBPT、DMPP、CP、NBPT+DMPP、NBPT+CP、DMPP+CP,共8个处理。在玉米苗期、大喇叭口期、灌浆期、成熟期取样,测定土壤尿素态氮、NH₄+-N和NO₃–-N含量,计算硝化抑制率,玉米抽雄吐丝后测定棒三叶叶面积和叶绿素含量,收获后测定玉米生物量、氮素含量等指标。  【结果】  1) 与普通尿素 (U) 相比,黑土上添加NBPT+DMPP、NBPT+CP处理玉米苗期土壤中NH₄+-N含量分别提高1.32、0.96倍,NO₃–-N含量分别降低1.35、1.04倍,玉米叶面积增加,叶片叶绿素含量增高。褐土中,添加DMPP+CP处理在玉米苗期土壤NH₄+-N含量提高3.09倍,NO₃–-N含量降低1.49倍,玉米叶绿素含量提高1.61倍,显著高于对照和单一抑制剂处理。2) 在黑土中,与普通尿素相比,添加NBPT+DMPP、NBPT+CP处理的玉米籽粒产量分别增加1.64和2.18倍;氮素表观利用率分别提高3.02和3.34倍,高于其他处理。褐土添加DMPP+CP处理的籽粒产量增加1.41倍,氮素表观利用率提高4.98倍,高于其他处理。  【结论】  在黑土中,尿素配施NBPT+DMPP、NBPT+CP可以有效抑制NH₄+-N向NO₃–-N的转化,增加玉米氮素吸收量,提高氮肥利用率,从而获得较高的产量,是黑土栽培玉米施用氮肥的最佳选择。褐土中,DMPP+CP的硝化抑制率显著高于添加单一抑制剂,有效抑制铵态氮的硝化作用,减少氮素损失,增加玉米氮素吸收量,从而使玉米高产,因此,添加DMPP+CP是制备褐土玉米专用高效稳定性尿素的最好选择。     

不同施肥处理对三峡库区柑橘园土壤氮磷淋失影响

在2017年8月利用原状土柱模拟淋溶试验对三峡库区秭归县柑橘园土壤的氮磷淋溶流失进行研究,探讨不同施肥处理对土壤氮、磷淋失的影响,为三峡库区农业面源污染的防控提供理论依据。试验设置6个处理,分别为不施肥处理(T0)、减量施肥(T1)、常量施肥(T2)、增量施肥(T3)、常量复合肥A施肥(T4)和常量复合肥B施肥(T5)。结果表明:(1)不同施肥处理下,柑橘园土壤淋滤液中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、硝态氮(NO_3~-—N)和铵态氮(NH_4~+—N)的淋溶浓度范围分别为37.16~163.07,0.61~6.69,27.54~79.38,2.37~7.10mg/L。(2)施肥量和施肥种类皆为土壤中氮磷淋溶的影响因素。在相同施肥种类下,土壤氮磷淋溶浓度随施肥量增加而显著增加,但施肥量高到一定程度后,淋溶浓度增长幅度会降低。在相同施氮量下,硝态氮的淋失受施肥种类影响最大,铵态氮最小。(3)在土壤淋滤液中,硝态氮为可溶性氮主要淋失形态,其淋失量占TN淋失量的比率为29.72%~46.18%,NH_4~+—N淋失量的比重为1.09%~2.05%。从研究结果推论,常量复合肥A施肥处理更有利于肥料氮向供植物吸收可溶性氮转化并降低施肥后土壤中氮素累积的风险。     

氮肥施用对砖红壤硝态氮和盐基离子淋失特征的影响

氮肥品种的合理选用对作物增产增收、 土壤酸化改良有重要的影响。本文以海南省海口市观澜湖采集的砖红壤为研究对象,采用室内土柱模拟试验,对尿素、 硝酸铵和硫酸铵3种氮肥处理下砖红壤硝态氮及盐基离子（Ca2+、 Mg2+、 K+、 Na+）淋失特征进行了研究。结果表明, 1）硝态氮累积淋溶量表现为硫酸铵硝酸铵尿素N0,且硝态氮的淋溶量与施肥量呈正相关关系,整个淋溶过程中硝态氮累积淋溶量（y kg/hm2）与施肥量（x kg/hm2）之间满足线性方程 y=3.3064x+315.74（R2=0.8848）; 2）尿素、 硝酸铵、 硫酸铵处理整个淋溶过程的盐基离子淋溶量均表现为 Ca2+Mg2+K+Na+,且盐基离子淋溶总量（kg/hm2）表现为硫酸铵（1821.12）硝酸铵（1080.27）尿素（872.24）N0（417.23）; 3）砖红壤盐基离子迁移速率表现为硫酸铵（26.28%）硝酸铵（13.37%）尿素（11.78%）,尿素、 硝酸铵和硫酸铵处理分别以线性方程 y=0.1178x+123.18（R2=0.9121）、 乘幂方程 y=15.634x0.4423（R2=0.9259）和对数方程 y=128.38e0.0007x（R2= 0.9244）的拟合度最高。     

脲酶/硝化抑制剂对沿淮平原水稻产量、氮肥利用率及稻田氮素的影响

添加氮素抑制剂是提高水稻氮肥利用率的有效途径之一。采用大田试验,探讨了氮素抑制剂(脲酶抑制剂N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)、硝化抑制剂3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐(DMPP)及其组合)对沿淮平原水稻产量、氮肥利用率及稻田氮素的影响,旨在为优化沿淮稻田生态系统氮素养分管理,减少氮素损失提供科学依据。以"常糯1号"为供试材料,于2018年6—10月在安徽省怀远县(沿淮平原典型水稻种植区)进行试验。试验设5个处理:不施氮肥(CK);尿素(U);尿素+硝化抑制剂(U+DMPP);尿素+脲酶抑制剂(U+NBPT);尿素+硝化抑制剂+脲酶抑制剂(U+NBPT+DMPP)。结果表明:尿素配施NBPT或者DMPP均有利于提高水稻产量、植株吸氮量和氮素利用效率,NBPT效果优于DMPP,NBPT和DMPP联合施用表现出协同增效作用。尿素配施抑制剂的3个处理U+NBPT、U+DMPP和U+NBPT+DMPP较单独施用尿素U处理的产量分别增加6.8%,4.3%,8.6%,植物吸氮量分别增加9.6%,6.5%,12.2%,与U处理之间差异达显著水平(P0.05)。尿素单独配施NBPT或者NBPT+DMPP组合均显著提高了氮肥吸收利用率(NRE)、氮肥农学利用率(NAE)、氮素吸收效率(NUP)和氮肥偏生产力(NPFP)(P0.05),而尿素单独配施DMPP也有不同程度的提高,但差异未达到显著水平(P0.05)。另外,尿素单独配施DMPP或者DMPP+NBPT组合均显著提高了水稻成熟期土壤铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)和微生物量氮(SMBN)的含量,降低了硝态氮(NO_3~--N)的含量,提高了土壤中铵/硝比,而尿素单独配施NBPT对水稻成熟期土壤NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N和SMBN无显著影响。总体认为,在沿淮平原稻作种植体系中,尿素配施NBPT或者DMPP可以有效地增加水稻产量,促进水稻对氮素的吸收利用,提高氮素利用效率,NBPT和DMPP联合施用效果最理想。     

水田土壤氮转化相关因子对多年施用缓/控释尿素的响应

研究持续施用不同种缓/控释尿素肥料对棕壤水田基本化学性质、与氮转化相关酶以及微生物量等生物学活性的影响。采用7 a连续施用不同种缓/控释尿素肥料的水田定位试验,试验处理为单施尿素(U),添加脲酶抑制剂N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)、氢醌(HQ),硝化抑制剂3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐(DMPP)、双氰胺(DCD)制成不同种缓释尿素肥料,以及硫包膜尿素肥料(SCU)和树脂包膜尿素肥料(PCU)。持续7 a施用缓/控释尿素肥料后,棕壤水田土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效氮、有效磷呈下降趋势,速效钾、p H值呈上升趋势。SCU、PCU、HQ+DCD+U和NBPT+DMPP+U的铵态氮(NH4+-N)含量显著高于U,SCU、PCU和未施肥处理的硝态氮(NO3--N)含量显著高于U。未施肥处理和U的土壤脲酶活性低于其他的处理,PCU和SCU土壤硝化作用潜势大于其他处理。未施肥、HQ+U、HQ+DCD+U、NBPT+DMPP+U、PCU和SCU处理土壤硝酸还原酶活性高于U。持续施用缓/控释尿素肥料对土壤微生物量碳含量影响不大,未施肥处理土壤微生物量氮最高,持续施用缓/控释尿素肥料降低了棕壤水田土壤微生物活性。综合考虑土壤化学性质和土壤生物活性以及水田这个特殊环境,在棕壤水田中持续7 a施用SCU与PCU尿素肥料作用效果好于其他尿素肥料。     

UAN添加氮肥抑制剂对生菜产量、品质及土壤氮平衡的影响

设施蔬菜生产中过量施氮的现象十分普遍,其高强度的水肥投入和不断扩大的种植面积,对环境的影响和面源污染的贡献越来越大。施用新型肥料是当前实现减肥增效的一个重要技术途径。尿素硝酸铵溶液(UAN)是近年来我国开始施用的一种新型液体氮肥,其在设施蔬菜中的高效应用与技术方法尚不明确。将UAN与脲酶抑制剂(NBPT)和硝化抑制剂(DCD)组成的双效抑制剂配施,设置田间试验,不同施氮组合分别为:不施氮CK、UAN、UAN+5 kg/t双效抑制剂(ND5)、UAN+8 kg/t双效抑制剂(ND8)、UAN+10 kg/t双效抑制剂(ND10)。采用滴灌施肥,全生育期共施肥2次,总氮量144 kg/hm~2,滴灌4次,总灌水量140 mm。结果表明,在UAN中添加氮肥抑制剂对生菜产量、品质和环境均有显著影响,生菜产量比UAN处理增加10%～21%,其中ND8处理产量最高,添加双效抑制剂的处理其叶片硝酸盐含量有降低趋势,土壤剖面硝态氮残留量也出现下降,有利于减少硝态氮的淋洗损失,减轻环境负荷。施肥增加了氮素表观损失,与UAN处理相比,添加中高量抑制剂有降低表观损失的趋势。随抑制剂添加量增加,经济收入先增加后降低,施用高量抑制剂产投比下降,经济效益变差。本试验中,液体氮肥UAN添加中等用量(8 kg/t)的双效抑制剂为兼顾生菜产量、品质与环境经济效益的适宜用量。     

双季稻田添加脲酶抑制剂NBPT氮肥的最高减量潜力研究

【目的】添加脲酶抑制剂（Urease inhibitor, UI）是提高肥料利用率的有效途径,在尿素（Urea,U）中添加1%的脲酶抑制剂NBPT（N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺）是目前研究使用证明效果最可靠的添加比例。针对当前稻田氮肥施用水平过高的问题,本文采用田间小区试验研究了目前脲酶抑制剂添加比例下稻田氮肥的减施潜力以及脲酶抑制剂的节肥增效机理。【方法】本试验在我国长江中下游的双季稻田进行,脲酶抑制剂用量NBPT为尿素用量的1%。尿素用量设五个水平为N 90、 112.5、 135、 157.5 和180 kg/hm2,分别依次记为U1、 U2、 U3、 U4和U5, 7个处理为CK（不施氮肥）、 U1+UI、 U2+UI、 U3+UI、 U4+UI、 U5+UI、 U5（U5为传统施氮量, N 180 kg/hm2为农民习惯施氮量）,三次重复。U1~U5处理施氮量分别是在农民习惯施氮量的基础上降低50%、 37.5%、 25%、 12.5%、 0%。通过取样分析水稻分蘖期和孕穗期各处理对土壤脲酶活性、 硝酸还原酶活性、 土壤铵态氮含量、 硝态氮含量以及微生物量碳、 氮的含量,研究NBPT对水稻两个主要生育期土壤氮素供应的影响,比较各处理的产量以及氮肥利用率来得出氮肥的减施潜力,在此基础上通过逐步回归分析研究以上各指标对产量的影响,探明脲酶抑制剂（NBPT）在双季稻田的增效机理。【结果】 1) 在双季稻田,添加NBPT后,施氮量为N 135 kg/hm2的籽粒产量达到最高。与传统施氮（单施尿素N 180 kg/hm2）处理相比,早、 晚稻可分别增产8.54%和12.87%,氮肥当季利用率分别提高6.78%和9.46%,可节约氮肥25%; 2)与传统施氮相比,添加NBPT显著降低了水稻分蘖期的土壤脲酶活性和铵态氮含量,显著提高了孕穗期的铵态氮含量,而对此时期的脲酶活性无显著影响,NBPT对两个时期的硝酸还原酶活性、 硝态氮含量及微生物量碳、 氮含量均无明显影响,可见基施的NBPT主要是降低尿素水解速率方面效果显著,并且NBPT具有时效性,其主要是在水稻孕穗期之前起作用,在生态上较为安全; 3) 从各项土壤指标与水稻产量相关性的逐步回归分析结果来看,水稻分蘖期与孕穗期稻田土壤中铵态氮含量对水稻产量影响显著,而且孕穗期的影响大于分蘖期,其余指标则对产量无明显影响。【结论】由于脲酶抑制剂NBPT减缓了分蘖期尿素的水解作用,提高了孕穗期土壤中的铵态氮含量,为水稻后期生长提供充足的氮肥,在双季稻减肥方面具有显著的效果。在本试验土壤条件下,尿素中添加1% 的NBPT,可在提高产量的同时,将传统施氮肥量减少25%,是适于稻田应用的脲酶抑制剂。     

生化抑制剂组合与施肥模式对黄泥田稻季田面水及 渗漏液氮素动态变化的影响

采用二因素随机区组设计,研究生化抑制剂组合(N-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)、N-丙基硫代磷酰三胺(NPPT)和2-氯-6-(三氯甲基)吡啶(CP))与施肥模式(一次性施肥和分次施肥)互作对黄泥田稻季田面水和渗漏液氮(N)素浓度动态变化特征的影响。结果表明,黄泥田稻季田面水和渗漏液中N素形态分别以NH4+-N和NO–3-N为主。基肥施用后,稻田田面水中NH4+-N和总氮(TN)浓度于第1天达到峰值后降低,第6天分别降为峰值的57.9%～69.1%、41.9%～59.0%(一次性施肥)和29.9%～60.7%、60.9%～69.7%(分次施肥);稻田渗漏液中NO–3-N和TN浓度于第1～3天达到峰值后降低,第6天分别降为峰值的51.4%～56.5%、56.6%～61.6%(一次性施肥)和45.3%～57.5%、51.1%～59.6%(分次施肥)。不同施肥模式下,硝化抑制剂CP会提高田面水NH4+-N浓度,而脲酶抑制剂NBPT/NPPT或配施CP有效抑制脲酶活性,降低田面水NH4+-N峰值;CP显著降低渗漏液NO–3-N浓度,且CP或配施NBPT/NPPT有效抑制硝化作用,降低渗漏液NO–3-N峰值。新型脲酶抑制剂NPPT单独施用及与CP配施的稻田田面水和渗漏液N素浓度动态变化特征与NBPT相似。总之,生化抑制剂与适宜的氮肥运筹相结合更能有效延缓黄泥田中尿素水解,抑制硝化作用,减少N素径流和渗漏损失。     

Suppression of methane oxidation in aerobic soil by nitrogen fertilizers,nitrification inhibitors,and urease inhibitors

Concentrations of CH₄, a potent greenhouse gas, have been increasing in the atmosphere at the rate of 1% per year. The objective of these laboratory studies was to measure the effect of different forms of inorganic N and various N-transformation inhibitors on CH₄ oxidation in soil. NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation was also measured in the presence of the inhibitors to determine whether they had differential activity with respect to CH₄ and NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation. The addition of NH₄Cl at 25 g N g^-1 soil strongly inhibited (78–89%) CH₄ oxidation in the surface layer (0–15 cm) of a fine sandy loam and a sandy clay loam (native shortgrass prairie soils). The nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (5 g g^-1 soil) inhibited CH₄ oxidation as effectively as did NH₄Cl in the fine sandy loam (82–89%), but less effectively in the sandy clay loam (52–66%). Acetylene (5 mol mol^-1 in soil headspace) had a strong (76–100%) inhibitory effect on CH₄ consumption in both soils. The phosphoroamide (urease inhibitor) N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) showed strong inhibition of CH₄ consumption at 25 g g^-1 soil in the fine sandy loam (83%) in the sandy clay loam (60%), but NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation inhibition was weak in both soils (13–17%). The discovery that the urease inhibitor NBPT inhibits CH₄ oxidation was unexpected, and the mechanism involved is unknown.     

Responses of biotic and abiotic effects on conservation and supply of fertilizer N to inhibitors and glucose inputs

Fertilizer N can be conserved through immobilization by microorganisms (biotic process) and fixation by soil clay minerals (abiotic process), and then subsequently remineralized and released. These processes are significantly affected by inhibitors, and available C application. In this study, a 96-day incubation experiment was conducted to assess the effects of microbial immobilization and ammonium fixation on conservation and supply of urea-N with the nitrification inhibitor (DMPP: 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate), urease inhibitor (NBPT: N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide), and glucose additions. The results showed that urea-derived soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) consistently increased with DMPP input, whereas NBPT increased urea-derived SMBN in the absence of glucose but decreased it in the presence of glucose. Both inhibitors enhanced the effects of fixed NH₄⁺ on conservation and supply of urea-N in all cases, and retarded the release of fixed NH₄⁺. Glucose addition intensified the competition for NH₄⁺ between microbial immobilization and mineral fixation, as well as reduced the availability of urea-N and native soil N, resulting in a negative added N interaction at the initial incubation stage. From 12 to 96 days, the release of fixed NH₄⁺ was 2.6-fold greater than the mineralization of organic N (including SMBN and non-microbial organic N) in the non-glucose treatments, whereas the latter was 2.7-fold greater than the former in the glucose treatments. Taken together, our study indicates both microbial immobilization and mineral fixation are important processes by which N is stabilized in soil. Clarification of fertilizer N transformation induced by these biotic and abiotic processes can provide helpful implications for quantifying N cycle and optimizing agricultural nutrient management.     

Effects of the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl)phosphorothioic triamide in low concentrations on ammonia volatilization and evolution of mineral nitrogen

Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to study the influence of increasing concentrations of N-(n-butyl)phosphorothioic triamide (NBPT) on NH₃ volatilization and rate of urea hydrolysis and evolution of mineral N in Ozzano, Rimini and Carpi soils with different physicochemical characteristics. Low concentrations of NBPT reduced NH₃ losses due to volatilization after urea fertilization and the effectiveness of the inhibitor was related to the soil characteristics (e.g. high concentrations of organic C and sand). After 15 days of incubation, no significant reductions of losses were found for any of the NBPT concentrations employed in Rimini soil. The application of NBPT led to a considerable reduction of the formation of nitrite. This process was completely annulled with the highest dose of NBPT (0.5% w/w_urea) in the Carpi soil after 15 days. In Rimini soil, however, the use of NBPT was less effective in influencing nitrite formation. The use of NBPT favoured accumulation of nitrate proportional to the NBPT concentration employed while it had no influence on the NH _inf4 ^sup+ fixation by 2:1 layer silicates. The data obtained support previous evidence that NBPT is effective in reducing the problems encountered in using urea as fertilizer. However, environmental conditions and soil physicochemical characteristics may have an important influence on the effectiveness of NBPT.     

Stability of stored N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) treated urea-based fertilizers

ABSTRACT

The effectiveness of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) in reducing ammonia volatilization from urea-based fertilizers has been thoroughly investigated. However, the stability of this inhibitor during storage of NBPT treated urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) needs further investigation. We compared ammonia volatilization from NBPT treated urea (360 mg NBPT kg^?1 urea) and UAN (180 mg NBPT L^?1 UAN) that were stored at room temperature for 6, 3 and 0 months. We measured ammonia volatilization with cylindrical chambers fitted with acid-charged discs at five times for 21 d. Total ammonia volatilization (measured as a % of applied nitrogen) was significantly greater in untreated urea and UAN (32% to 33%) than those in NBPT treated urea and UAN (6% to 12%). Reduction of ammonia volatilization was not significantly different among NBPT treated urea (73% to 81%) and UAN (63% to 73%) irrespective of storage time. This implies that farmers can mix their urea-based fertilizers with NBPT formulation 6 months prior to fertilization without compromising the ammonia volatilization reducing property of the NBPT.     

Changes in Chemical Properties of an Oxisol Due to Gypsum Application

The increasing demand for fertilizers and the fact that the world reserves of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are depletable make appropriate soil management a critical factor in agriculture. Techniques for the fertilizer use and soil acidity corrective are becoming increasingly necessary to minimize the cost of yield and increase the nutrient efficiency. In view of the aforementioned, the present study aimed to assess the effects of gypsum application on the leaching of cations in the soil profile. A completely randomized design in a 5 × 4 factorial arrangement, with five replicates, was used. The treatments corresponded to five gypsum rates (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 magnesium (Mg) ha^?1) applied on broadcast of soil and at four depth sampled (0–5, 6–10, 11–15, and 16–20 cm). Gypsum application increased the fertility in depth, with the leaching of cations. There was an increase in soil pH, exchangeable K⁺ and calcium (Ca²⁺), sulfur (S–SO₄^2?), P, boron (B), and manganese (Mn) concentration, cation exchange capacity (CEC), K⁺ and Ca²⁺ saturation, Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺/K⁺, and K⁺/(Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺) ratios, and electrical conductivity in soil depth. On the other hand, there was a decrease in exchangeable Mg²⁺ and potential acidity hydrogen and aluminum (H⁺ + Al³⁺), available silicon (Si), Mg²⁺ saturation, and Ca²⁺/K⁺ and Mg²⁺/K⁺ ratio. These results demonstrate that the gypsum application in an Oxisol with 690 g kg^?1 of clay improves the root system with a significant increase in the soil fertility in the profile.