Dicyandiamide effects on nitrification and total inorganic soil nitrogen in sandy soils

Abstract

Inhibition of nitrification in soil results in a decreased ratio of nitrate‐nitrogen (NO₃‐N) to ammonium‐nitrogen (NH₄‐N). If the conditions for NO₃‐N loss by leaching or denitrification exist, nitrification inhibitors should increase concentrations of total inorganic soil nitrogen (N) (TISN) (NH₄‐N + NO₃‐N). This can then result in plants taking up more N and developing more crop yield or biomass. This study examined whether inhibition of nitrification by dicyandiamide (DCD) would result in increased concentrations of TISN under field conditions. The effects of DCD on soil N were evaluated in hyperthermic sandy soils planted to potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Atlantic). Treatments were factorial combinations of N as ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) at 67, 134, and 202 kg N ha^‐1 and DCD at 0, 5.6, and 11.2 kg DCD ha^‐1. Soil NH₄‐N, NO₃‐N, and TISN concentrations were determined for up to five potato growth stages at two locations for two years for a total of 16 determinations (cases), i.e., four were not determined. The N form ratio [NO₃‐N/(NH₄‐N + NO₃‐N] x 100 was decreased in 10 of 16 cases, indicating that nitrification was inhibited by DCD. With two of these 10 cases, TISN concentration increased, but with four others, TISN concentration decreased with at least one N rate. With four of these 10 cases, inhibition of nitrification had no effect on TISN concentration. Under the conditions of these field studies, DCD inhibited nitrification more often than not. Inhibition of nitrification was, however, more likely to reduce TISN concentration than to increase it. This may have been due to DCD effects on immobization of applied NH₄‐N.     

Effectiveness of dicyandiamide as a nitrification inhibitor in biochar-amended soil

Overuse of nitrogen (N) fertilizers may lead to many environmental issues via N leaching into groundwater and agricultural runoff into surface water. Biochar, a sustainable soil amendment agent, has been widely studied because of its potential to retain moisture and nutrients. However, recent studies have shown that biochar has a very limited ability to improve the retention of negatively charged nitrite (NO₂^-) or nitrate (NO₃^-). Although positively charged ammonium (NH₄⁺) can be better held by biochar, it is usually susceptible to nitrification and can be easily transformed into highly mobile NO₂^-and/or NO₃^-. In practice, dicyandiamide (DCD) has been used to inhibit nitrification, preserving N in its relatively immobile form as NH₄⁺. Therefore, it is likely that the effects of DCD and biochar in soils would be synergistic. In this study, the influences of biochar on the effectiveness of DCD as a nitrification inhibitor in a biochar-amended soil were investigated by combining the experimental results of incubation, adsorption isotherm, and column transport with the simulated results of different mathematical models. Biochar was found to stimulate the degradation of DCD, as the maximum degradation rate slightly increased from 1.237 to 1.276 mg kg^-1 d^-1 but the half-saturation coefficient significantly increased from 5.766 to 9.834 mg kg^-1. Considering the fact that the availability of DCD for nitrification inhibition was continuously decreasing because of its degradation, a novel model assuming non-competitive inhibition was developed to simulate nitrification in the presence of a decreasing amount of DCD. Depending on the environmental conditions, if the degradation of DCD and NH₄⁺ in biochar-amended soil is not significant, improved contact due to the mitigated spatial separation between NH₄⁺ and DCD could possibly enhance the effectiveness of DCD.     

Nitrification Inhibitor,Fertilizer Rate,and Temperature Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emission and Nitrogen Transformation in Loamy Sand Soil

An incubation study investigated the effects of nitrification inhibitors (NIs), dicyandiamide (DCD), and neem oil on the nitrification process in loamy sand soil under different temperatures and fertilizer rates. Results showed that NIs decreased soil nitrification by slowing the conversion of soil ammonium (NH₄⁺)-nitrogen (N) and maintaining soil NH₄⁺-N and nitrate (NO₃^?)-N throughout the incubation time. DCD and neem oil decreased soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission by up to 30.9 and 18.8%, respectively. The effectiveness of DCD on reducing cumulative soil N₂O emission and retaining soil NH₄⁺-N was inconsistently greater than that of neem oil, but the NI rate was less obvious than temperature. Fertilizer rate had a stronger positive effect on soil nitrification than temperature, indicating that adding N into low-fertility soil had a greater influence on soil nitrification. DCD and neem oil would be a potential tool for slowing N fertilizer loss in a low-fertility soil under warm to hot climatic conditions.     

Acidification in the Rhizosphere of Rape Seedlings and in Bulk Soil by Nitrification and Ammonium Uptake

Ammonium salts used as fertilizers may cause soil acidification by two different processes: nitrification in soil and net release of protons from roots. Their influence on soil pH may vary depending on the distance from root surface. The aim of this study was to distinguish between these two processes. For this purpose rape seedlings were grown 10 d in a system which separated roots from soil by a fine-meshed screen. As a function of distance from the plane root layer formed on the screen, pH, titratable and exchangeable acidity and NO₃- and NH₄-nitrogen were determined. The soil, a luvisol from loess, was supplied with no N or (NH₄)₂SO₄ either with or without a nitrification inhibitor (DCD). The bulk soil pH remained unaffected when no N or 400 mg NH₄? N kg^?1 soil plus DCD was applied but it decreased from 6.6 to 5.8 without DCD. In contrast, rhizosphere pH decreased in all cases, mainly within a distance of 1 mm from the root plane only, but with gradients extending to between 2 and 4 mm into the soil. The strongest pH decrease, from 6.6 to 4.9, occurred at the root surface of plants treated with both NH₄-N and DCD where most of the mineral N remained as ammonium. In this case Al was solubilized in the rhizosphere as indicated by exchangeable acidity. Total soil acidity produced in the NH₄ treatment without DCD was mainly derived from nitrification compared to root released protons. However, acidification of the rhizosphere was diminished by nitrification because nitrate ions taken up by the roots counteracted net proton release. It is concluded that nitrification inhibitors may reduce proton input from ammonium fertilizers but enhance acidification at the soil-root interface which may cause Al toxicity to plants.     

Nitrification Inhibitor Effects on Nitrous Oxide Emission,Nitrogen Transformation,and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield in Loamy Sand Soil in Thailand

The nitrification inhibitors (NIs) effects on soil nitrogen (N) fates and maize yields were investigated in a loamy-sand soil in Thailand. The treatments were chemical fertilizer (CF) and CF with dicyandiamide (DCD) or neem oil at two rates of 5% and 10%. Compared to the CF plot, DCD and neem oil reduced the cumulative nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission by the equivalent of 26% and 10%, respectively (P < 0.05). DCD and neem oil had a positive effect in slowing ammonium (NH₄⁺)-conversion and prolonging NH₄⁺-N in the soil with a maximum efficiency of 45% and 30%, respectively. NO₃^–N was higher in the NI plots (P < 0.05), but the effect was less pronounced later in the growing season. Adding the NIs increased maize yields and N uptake, but was only significant (P < 0.10) for neem oil. Results indicate that applying NIs is an effective method to mitigate soil N losses and enhancing N use efficiency in a tropical, agricultural field.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from grassland and spring barley, following N fertiliser application with and without nitrification inhibitors

The aims of this study were to assess the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) and nitrapyrin on reducing emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) following application of NH₄ ⁺ or NH₄ ⁺-forming fertilisers to grassland and spring barley. DCD was applied to grassland with N fertiliser applications in April and August in 1992 and 1993, inhibiting N₂O emissions by varying amounts depending on the fertiliser form and the time of application. Over periods of up to 2 months following each application of DCD, emissions of N₂O were reduced by 58–78% when applied with urea (U) and 41–65% when applied with ammonium sulphate (AS). Annual emissions (April to March) of N₂O were reduced by up to 58% and 56% in 1992–1993 and 1993–1994, respectively. Applying DCD to ammonium nitrate (AN) fertilised grassland did not reduce emissions after the April 1993 fertilisation, but emissions following the August application were reduced. Nitrapyrin was only applied once, with the April fertiliser applications in 1992, reducing N₂O emissions over the following 12 months by up to 40% when applied with U. When N fertiliser was applied in June without DCD, the DCD applied in April was still partly effective; N₂O emissions were reduced 50%, 60% and 80% as effectively as the emissions following the April applications, for AS in 1993, U in 1992 and 1993, respectively. In 1992 the persistence of an inhibitory effect was greater for nitrapyrin than for DCD, increasing after the June fertiliser application as overall emissions from U increased. There was no apparent reduction in effectiveness following repeated applications of DCD over the 2 years. N₂O emissions from spring barley, measured only in 1993, were lower than from grassland. DCD reduced emissions from applied U by 40% but there was no reduction with AN. The results demonstrate considerable scope for reducing emissions by applying nitrification inhibitors with NH₄ ⁺ or NH₄ ⁺-forming fertilisers; this is especially so for crops such as intensively managed grass where there are several applications of fertiliser nitrogen per season, as the effect of inhibitors applied in April persists until after a second fertiliser application in June. Received: 30 August 1996     

Use of nitrogen process inhibitors for reducing gaseous nitrogen losses from land-applied farm effluents

Applications of dairy farm effluents to land may lead to ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Nitrogen (N) transformation process inhibitors, such as urease inhibitors (UIs) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs), have been used to reduce NH₃ and N₂O losses derived from agricultural N sources. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of amending dairy effluents with UI (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBTPT)) and NI (dicyandiamide (DCD)) on NH₃ and N₂O emissions. Treatments included either fresh or stored manure and either fresh or stored farm dairy effluent (FDE), with and without NBTPT (0.25 g kg^?1 N) or DCD (10 kg ha^?1), applied to a pasture on a free-draining volcanic parent material soil. The nutrient loading rate of FDE and manure, which had different dry matter contents (about 2 and 11 %, respectively) was 100 kg N ha^?1. Application of manure and FDE led to NH₃ volatilization (15, 1, 17 and 0.4 % of applied N in fresh manure, fresh FDE, stored manure and stored FDE, respectively). With UI (NBTPT), NH₃ volatilization from fresh manure was significantly (P?<?0.05) decreased to 8 % from 15 % of applied N, but the UI did not significantly reduce NH₃ volatilization from fresh FDE. The N₂O emission factors (amount of N₂O–N emitted as a percentage of applied N) for fresh manure, fresh FDE and stored FDE were 0.13?±?0.02, 0.14?±?0.03 and 0.03?±?0.01 %, respectively. The NI (DCD) was effective in decreasing N₂O emissions from stored FDE, fresh FDE and fresh manure by 90, 51 and 46 % (P?<?0.05), respectively. All types of effluent increased pasture production over the first 21 days after application (P?<?0.05). The addition of DCD resulted in an increase in pasture production at first harvest on day 21 (P?<?0.05). This study illustrates that UIs and NIs can be effective in mitigating NH₃ and N₂O emissions from land-applied dairy effluents.     

Effect of urease and nitrification inhibitors on N transformation, gaseous emissions of ammonia and nitrous oxide, pasture yield and N uptake in grazed pasture system

Nitrogen (N) losses via nitrate (NO₃⁻) leaching, ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from grazed pastures in New Zealand are one of the major contributors to environmental degradation. The use of N inhibitors (urease and nitrification inhibitors) may have a role in mitigating these N losses. A one-year field experiment was conducted on a permanent dairy-grazed pasture site at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand to quantify these N losses and to assess the effect of N inhibitors in reducing such losses during May 2005-2006. Cow urine at 600 kg N ha⁻¹ rate with or without urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT) or (trade name “Agrotain”) (3 L ha⁻¹), nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) (7 kg ha⁻¹) and the use of double inhibitor (DI) containing a combination of both Agrotain and DCD (3:7) were applied to field plots in autumn, spring and summer. Pasture production, NH₃ and N₂O fluxes, soil mineral N concentrations, microbial biomass C and N, and soil pH were measured following the application of treatments during each season. All measured parameters, except soil microbial biomass C and N, were influenced by the added inhibitors during the three seasons. Agrotain reduced NH₃ emissions over urine alone by 29%, 93% and 31% in autumn, spring and summer respectively but had little effect on N₂O emission. DCD reduced N₂O emission over urine alone by 52%, 39% and 16% in autumn, spring and summer respectively but increased NH₃ emission by 56%, 9% and 17% over urine alone during those three seasons. The double inhibitor reduced NH₃ by 14%, 78% and 9% and N₂O emissions by 37%, 67% and 28% over urine alone in autumn, spring and summer respectively. The double inhibitor also increased pasture dry matter by 10%, 11% and 8% and N uptake by the 17%, 28% and 10% over urine alone during autumn, spring and summer respectively. Changes in soil mineral N and pH suggested a delay in urine-N hydrolysis with Agrotain, and reduced nitrification with DCD. The combination of Agrotain and DCD was more effective in reducing both NH₃ and N₂O emissions, improving pasture production, controlling urea hydrolysis and retaining N in NH₄⁺ form. These results suggest that the combination of both urease and nitrification inhibitors may have the most potential to reduce N losses if losses are associated with urine and improve pasture production in intensively grazed systems.     

Dicyandiamide (DCD) as a nitrification inhibitor for rice culture in the United States

Abstract

Efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer management for paddy rice production is difficult because of potentially high N losses from denitrification, NH₃ volatilization, and leaching. The use of a nitrification inhibitor, by slowing the rate of nitrification of NH₄ ⁺‐N sources prior to flooding, offers the potential to reduce denitrification losses that occur after flooding. Dicyandiamide (DCD) is one such nitrification inhibitor. The objective of this series of studies was to evaluate DCD for its effectiveness as a nitrification inhibitor in paddy rice production across an array of soils, management systems, and climate conditions.

Studies were conducted on fine‐ and medium‐textured soils in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Dicyandiamide was coated onto or formulated with urea (7 or 10% of total N as DCD‐N) and applied either broadcast pre‐plant incorporated or broadcast as a topdress application prior to flooding at the 4‐ to 5‐leaf development stage of the rice plant. These treatments were compared with urea applied either pre‐plant incorporated or in multiple applications timed to the peak N demand periods of rice. An array of N rates were used to model the yield response to levels of N. Similar studies utilizing ¹⁵N‐enriched urea were also conducted.

The studies indicated that use of DCD delayed nitrification and tended to result in rice grain yield increases as compared with urea applied pre‐plant without DCD in drill‐seeded rice; however, proper application of urea in split applications gave more consistent results. In water‐seeded continuously flooded rice culture, use of DCD was advantageous only if the flood was delayed for more than 14 days after urea application. The ¹⁵N‐enriched studies indicated that highest N fertilizer recovery was associated with split topdress urea applications; however, addition of DCD resulted in increased immobilization of fertilizer N and release of soil N.     

Indications for passive rather than active release of natural nitrification inhibitors in Brachiaria humidicola root exudates

Plants have the ability to suppress microbial nitrification process through secondary metabolites released from their root exudates or/and leaf litter. For decades, grasses were suggested to control nitrification process, and recently, Brachiaria humidicola accession 26159 (BH) as a tropical and subtropical grass has been shown to reduce nitrification rates under laboratory and soil conditions. In this study, experiments were conducted under controlled conditions in nutrient solution culture to investigate whether the reported release of natural nitrification inhibitors from root exudates of BH is an active or passive phenomenon. So different variables such as N-form (nitrate vs. ammonium), collecting medium (distilled water vs. 1 mM NH₄Cl) and collecting period (6 vs. 24 hrs) were included to study the hypothesis. Results showed when root exudates were collected in distilled water there was no nitrification inhibition activity for all ammonium and nitrate grown plants. However, when collection was done in a medium containing 1 mM NH₄Cl, root exudates showed significant nitrification inhibition activity similar to results obtained by Subbarao et al. The observed nitrification inhibition activity had a positive correlation to ammonium treatment particularly in collection medium, probably due to root cells damage induced by low pH and membrane depolarization under ammonium nutrition. This was more supported by application of shoot homogenates of NH₄⁺, NO₃^? or NH₄NO₃ grown plants that showed significant nitrification inhibition activity compared to distilled water and DMPP controls in a bioassay test, independent of N-form. Potassium concentrations in root exudates (as a result of potassium leakage) were found to increase in root washings of plants, which were grown with ammonium, particularly when root exudates were collected in 1 mM NH₄Cl solution. In addition, higher electric conductivity of root washings after collection of root exudates in ammonium containing medium (low pH) and also in nitrate containing medium which adjusted to pH 3 by applying H₂SO₄, strongly suggest that release of natural nitrification inhibitors from root exudates of B. humidicola may not be an active process, but instead it is rather a passive phenomenon by ammonium induced root physicochemical damages.     

Nitrification in soils incubated with pig slurry or ammonium sulphate

The effects of temperature, moisture content and the addition of pig slurry on nitrification in two soils were studed. There was no accumulation of NO₂^?-N under the incubation conditions investigated and the accumulation of NO₃^?-N was linear for additions of 50–250 μg NH₄⁺-N g^? soil, either as ammonium sulphate or as pig slurry. Nitrate formation was treated as a single step, zero order process to enable a rate constant to be calculated. Nitrification rate increased with increasing moisture content up to the highest level tested, soil water potential ?8.0 kPa, corresponding to approximately 60% of water holding capacity in both soils. Measurable nitrification was found in both soils at the lowest moisture content (soil water potential ?1.5 MPa) and temperature (5° C) tested. The nitrification rate constant in soils treated with 50 μg NH₄⁺-N g^? soil was not significantly affected (P = 0.05) by the form of ammonium added. Addition of 250 μg NH₄⁺-N as ammonium sulphate caused a marked inhibition of nitrification at all moisture contents and temperatures. Addition of 250 μg NH₄⁺-N as pig slurry caused a marked increase in nitrification rate, the increase being greater at the higher temperatures and moisture contents.     

Short‐term effects of polyacrylamide and dicyandiamide on C and N mineralization in a sandy loam soil

The soil conditioners anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) and dicyandiamide (DCD) are frequently applied to soils to reduce soil erosion and nitrogen loss, respectively. A 27‐day incubation study was set up to gauge their interactive effects on the microbial biomass, carbon (C) mineralization and nitrification activity of a sandy loam soil in the presence or absence of maize straw. PAM‐amended soils received 308 or 615 mg PAM/kg. Nitrogen (N)‐fertilized soils were amended with 1800 mg/kg ammonium sulphate [(NH₄)₂SO₄], with or without 70 mg DCD/kg. Maize straw was added to soil at the rate of 4500 mg/kg. Maize straw application increased soil microbial biomass and respiration. PAM stimulated nitrification and C mineralization, as evidenced by significant increases in extractable nitrate and evolved carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations. This is likely to have been effected by the PAM improving microbial conditions and partially being utilized as a substrate, with the latter being indicated by a PAM‐induced significant increase in the metabolic quotient. PAM did not reduce the microbial biomass except in one treatment at the highest application rate. Ammonium sulphate stimulated nitrification and reduced microbial biomass; the resultant acidification of the former is likely to have caused these effects. N fertilizer application may also have induced short‐term C‐limitation in the soil with impacts on microbial growth and respiration. The nitrification inhibitor DCD reduced the negative impacts on microbial biomass of (NH₄)₂SO₄ and proved to be an effective soil amendment to reduce nitrification under conditions where mineralization was increased by addition of PAM.     

Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Yields,Soil Nitrous Oxide Emission,and Soil Nitrogen Transformation Affected by Nitrification Inhibitors in Loamy Sand Soil in Thailand

The effects of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) on soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission, soil ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃^?), and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) yields were investigated in a loamy sand soil in eastern Thailand. Treatments were chemical fertilizer (CF) and CF plus dicyandiamide (DCD) or neem (Azadirachta indica) oil at two rates of 5% and 10%. DCD had a greater reduction of soil N₂O flux than the neem oil (P<0.10). DCD and neem oil retained NH₄⁺-N in the soil by 79% and 63% (P ≤ 0.10), respectively. The NI effect on soil NO₃^?-N was small due to a low N fertilizer rate. The cassava root yield and N uptake were increased 4–11% and 2–18%, respectively, by use of NIs, but they were only significant for DCD (P ≤ 0.10). These findings suggest that NIs application may be a promising method for minimizing nitrogen loss and enhancing crop yields in a tropical cassava field.     

Dicyandiamide (DCD) research in agriculture in the mid‐Atlantic region

Abstract

Numerous experiments have been conducted in Maryland and Pennsylvania since 1981 to determine if adding the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) to an ammonium‐containing or producing N fertilizer source would increase the efficiency of that source with turfgrass, wheat, or corn. Greater yields per unit of fertilizer N were attained in three of eight experiments with wheat when DCD was included with an early spring application of N as urea or UAN. There was no significant beneficial effect of DCD on turf clipping yields or color in the 3 years of the turf study or on corn grain yields in the 22 field comparisons of N fertilizer with and without DCD. In five of the 22 comparisons with corn, there was a significantly lower grain yield with DCD than when it was not included. In three of these five cases, it was hypothesized that the lower yields with DCD were due to increased NH₃ volatilization from urea or urea‐ammonium nitrate solutions containing DCD that were surface‐applied to no‐till corn. It was concluded that there was little likelihood that the inclusion of a nitrification inhibitor such as DCD with N fertilizer would increase N fertilizer efficiency with corn or turf on the predominantly well‐drained silt loam soils in the two states.     

Nitrate enhances N2O emission more than ammonium in a highly acidic soil

Purpose

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is produced naturally in soils through microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification. In recent years, the long-term application of nitrogen-heavy fertilizers has led to the acidification of tea orchard soils with high N₂O emission. The present research aimed at finding out which process (nitrification or denitrification) dominates in N₂O production, whether certain fertilizer managements could reduce N₂O emission, and the effects of fertilizer management on the abundance of functional genes.

Materials and methods

Two nitrification inhibitors, 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and dicyandiamide (DCD), combined with different N fertilizers (ammonium sulfate and potassium nitrate) were applied to highly acidic tea orchard soil in an aerobic incubation experiment. Both amoA and nosZ gene abundances from different treatments were determined by quantitative PCR. An anaerobic nitrate effect test was carried out using C₂H₂ inhibition method.

Results and discussion

The application of nitrate fertilizers significantly (P?<?0.05) enhanced total N₂O emission. A linear regression analysis between total N₂O emission and average nitrate contents indicated that denitrification is the dominant source of N₂O in this tea orchard soil. In the anaerobic incubation, no significant difference of N₂O emission was observed between KNO₃ and no KNO₃ treatments before 96 h. Quantitative PCR revealed lower copy numbers of nosZ in nitrate-associated fertilizer-treated soils than the soils from other treatments. Compared with the control, ammonium fertilizers with DCD or DMPP significantly (P?<?0.05) inhibited nitrate production as well as N₂O.

Conclusions

These results showed that denitrification is the dominant source of N₂O in this highly acidic soil. Nitrate addition could significantly inhibit the abundance of nitrous oxide reductase, therefore causing high N₂O emission. The application of ammonium fertilizers with DCD or DMPP could significantly reduce N₂O emission, possibly due to the effective inhibition of nitrate production.     

Plant availability of magnesium and phosphorus from struvite with concurrent nitrification inhibitor application

Struvite (MgNH₄PO₄.6H₂O) and nitrification inhibitors are applied to soils to, respectively, provide nutrients and reduce nitrogen (N) loss. Given its low N composition (5.7%) relative to that of phosphorus (P, 12.6%) and magnesium (Mg, 9.9%), struvite could be added to soil concurrently with N fertilizers as a source of P and Mg. Nutrient release from struvite could be impacted if nitrification of its ammonium component is reduced by a nitrification inhibitor. Accordingly, a pot trial gauged whether struvite‐fertilized ryegrass had comparable Mg or P uptake and shoot yields with treatments receiving conventional Mg and P fertilizers. Struvite precipitated from milk industry wastewater, or conventional fertilizers, were added to a soil–sand mixture of low fertility. The inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) was added to assess its effect on P uptake by ryegrass. Relative to Epsom salt, struvite led to increased Mg uptake without significantly affecting shoot biomass, indicating luxury consumption. Regarding shoot yield and P uptake, struvite was as effective as triple super phosphate. DCD significantly reduced P uptake in the first harvest; the inhibited nitrification of the ammonium is surmised to have diminished struvite dissolution. In later harvests, DCD led to a trend (albeit not statistically significant) of increased biomass; this N‐rich (66% N) compound was probably biodegraded and utilized as an N source. The impact of DCD on P uptake in this experiment was short‐lived. Nevertheless, DCD degradation occurs less rapidly in field conditions, potentially affecting early P supply which is vital for optimum yield.     

DCD 在不同质地土壤上的硝化抑制效果和剂量效应研究

通过硝化抑制剂抑制土壤硝化作用是实现作物铵硝混合营养和提高氮肥利用率的重要途径之一。本试验采用室内模拟的方法, 在人工气候室(25 ℃)黑暗培养条件下, 应用新疆石灰性土壤研究了不同剂量的双氰胺(dicyandiamide, DCD)在砂土、壤土、黏土3 种不同质地土壤中对土壤硝态氮、铵态氮转化的影响及DCD 的剂量效应和硝化抑制效果。处理30 d 内, 各剂量DCD 处理对砂土的硝化抑制率为96.5%~99.4%(平均值为98.3%), 在黏土上为66.9%~85.6%(平均值为77.6%), 在壤土上为49.3%~79.4%(平均值为67.7%), 总体硝化抑制率表现为砂土>黏土>壤土。在砂土上DCD 的剂量效应不明显, DCD 用量从纯氮的1.0%增加到7.0%时, 土壤中硝态氮含量仅增加1.9~10.7 mg·kg^-1(培养30 d 时); 而在壤土和黏土中, 土壤硝态氮含量随DCD 浓度的增加而显著下降, 存在明显剂量效应。这说明施用DCD 可显著抑制新疆石灰性土壤的硝化作用过程, 在砂土、壤土、黏土中DCD 的最佳浓度分别为纯氮用量的6.0%、7.0%和7.0%, 并在培养30 d 内发挥显著作用。     

Effect of ammonium thilosulfate and dicyandiamide on residual ammonium in fertilizer bands

Abstract

Ammonium thiosulfate (ATS, 12–0–0–26S) and dicyandiamide (DCD, 66–0–0) are fertilizer products that also inhibit nitrification. It has also been proposed that ATS can improve the nitrification inhibition properties of DCD. The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of ATS, DCD, and ATS/DCD mixtures on the nitrification of banded urea solution or urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN) under laboratory, field microplot, and field conditions. The laboratory study demonstrated that adding 8.7% (vol vol^‐1) ATS to a urea solution inhibited nitrification by 68%. Inhibition of nitrification was greater with ATS + DCD than with DCD alone. Some nitrite accumulated when ATS was added, but little or no nitrite accumulated when both ATS and DCD were present In field microplot studies, the addition of ATS to urea solution significantly (P ≤ 0.10) increased residual soil ammonium levels over urea alone at six of 11 trials. ATS was usually a less effective nitrification inhibitor than was DCD, and ATS + DCD outperformed DCD at only one of 11 trials. In all three field trials, adding ATS to banded UAN solution led to increased residual ammonium levels. Again, ATS was less effective than DCD or nitrapyrin as a nitrification inhibitor, and no ATS/DCD synergism was observed. It was concluded that the use of ATS as a sulfur fertilizer in fluid fertilizer bands can lead to measurable inhibition of nitrification, but ATS was not as reliable as DCD or nitrapyrin.     

Decomposition rate of dicyandiamide and nitrification inhibition

Abstract

Degradation of dicyandiamide (DCD) was assayed in laboratory studies at 8, 15, and 22 C in a Decatur silt loam and in a Norfolk loamy sand. Dicyandiamide was very short lived at 22 C, with half‐lives of 7.4 and 14.7 days in the Decatur and Norfolk soils, respectively. In the Norfolk soil at 8 C, half‐life increased to 52.2 days. In a nitrificaton study of both soils at 22 C, 80 mg (NH₄)₂SO₄‐N kg^‐1 of soil was applied with 20 mg DCD‐N kg^‐1 of soil and 100 mg kg^‐1 (NH₄)₂S0₄‐N was added with 5% nitrapyrin. Distinct lag phases preceded zero order nitrification with the inhibitor treatments. Lag periods were 2 and 2.6 times the half life of DCD in the degradation study for Decatur and Norfolk soils, respectively. Like most nitrification inhibitors, the effectiveness of DCD decreases with increasing temperature. In the Norfolk loamy sand, nitrification inhibition by DCD was equal to nitrapyrin for up to 42 days, but in Decatur silt loam, DCD was less potent to nitrapyrin as a nitrification inhibitor.     

石灰和双氰胺对红壤酸化和硝化作用的影响及其机制

施用石灰是改良酸性土壤的重要措施,但其对土壤硝化作用的增强不仅加速土壤酸化,也增加硝态氮流失风险。传统的硝化抑制剂双氰胺(Dicyandiamide,DCD)能否在石灰改变pH的条件下始终有效抑制硝化是当前红壤区生产中亟需解决的问题。采用短期土壤培养试验,探讨了不同用量石灰与DCD配合施用对土壤酸化和硝化作用的影响及其机制。结果表明:施用一定量的石灰(≤4 g·kg^–1)显著提高土壤pH,通过促进氨氧化细菌的生长以促进硝化作用。在不同pH条件下,DCD对红壤硝化过程均有显著抑制效果。在较高pH(pH 7.0~7.8)条件下,DCD主要通过降低氨氧化细菌的丰度以抑制硝化,而在低pH(pH<6.0)条件下,DCD对氨氧化古菌和氨氧化细菌的丰度均有抑制作用。此外,DCD通过抑制土壤硝化,显著提高了土壤pH。上述结果表明,适宜量(2~4 g·kg^–1)的石灰和DCD结合施用不仅能够减缓红壤酸化,而且能够抑制硝化作用,降低硝态氮的潜在环境风险。