Effects of nitrapyrin,terrazole, and simazine on soil nitrogen transformation and corn growth

Abstract

Nitrapyrin, terrazole and simazine were evaluated as chemical inhibitors of biological nitrification and denitrification. Corn (Zea mays L. cv. Hybrid Pioneer 3343) was grown in 60‐liter pots filled with a 50/50 (V/V) sand/Cecil clay mixture. Chemical treatments consisted of weekly applications of 0.25 ppm nitrapyrin, terrazole and/or simazine concurrently with 20 ppm N as either (NH₄)₂SO₄ or Ca(NO₃)₂ for 9 weeks. Thereafter, only N (20 ppm per pot) was applied to the media every three days for 4 weeks. Nitrapyrin, terrazole and simazine reduced nitrification resulting in both higher total plant N and residual soil NH₄ content relative to the control plants and soil. Plant growth was reduced by the inhibitory effects of the chemicals on nitrification and subsequent NH₄ accumulation in the medium. All chemicals reduced denitrification with terrazole being more effective than nitrapyrin as reflected by higher N contents of plants and residual soil NO₃‐N. Nitrapyrin and/or terrazole applied with Ca(NO₃)₂ increased plant biomass, but simazine, by inducing higher N0₂ concentration in the plant tissues, sharply reduced plant growth relative to the other treatments. When simazine was part of the chemical treatment, its effects on plant growth and total N contents generally outweighed or masked those of nitrapyrin or terrazole.