Effect of wax-coated calcium carbide and nitrapyrin on nitrogen loss and methane emission from dry-seeded flooded rice

Summary The effectiveness of wax-coated calcium carbide (as a slow-release source of acetylene) and nitrapyrin in inhibiting nitrification and emission of the greenhouse gases N₂O and CH₄ was evaluated in a microplot study with dry-seeded flooded rice grown on a grey clay near Griffith, NSW, Australia. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of N levels with nitrification inhibitors (control, wax-coated calcium carbide, and nitrapyrin). The rate of nitrification was slowed considerably by the addition of wax-coated calcium carbide, but it was inhibited only slightly by the addition of nitrapyrin. As a result, the emission of N₂O was markedly reduced by the application of wax-coated calcium carbide, whereas there was no significant difference in rates of N₂O emission between the control and nitrapyrin treatments. Both nitrification inhibitors significantly reduced CH₄ emission, but the lowest emission rates were observed in the wax-coated calcium carbide treatment. At the end of the experiment 84% of the applied N was recovered from the wax-coated calcium carbide treatment compared with 43% for the nitrapyrin and control treatments.     

Persistence of effects of nitrification inhibitors added to soils

Abstract

The persistence of the effects of four nitrification inhibitors (2‐ethynylpyridine, nitrapyrin, etridiazole, 3‐methylpyrazole‐l‐carboxamide) on nitrification in soil was assessed by measuring the ability of two soils to nitrify NH₄ ⁺ [added as (NH₄)₂SO₄] after they had been treated with 5 μg inhibitor g^‐1 soil and incubated at 10, 20, or 30°C for 0, 21, 42, 84, 126, or 168 days. The soils used differed markedly in organic‐matter content (1.2 and 4.2% organic C). The data obtained showed that the persistence of the effects of the inhibitors studied decreased markedly with increase in soil temperature from 10 to 30°C and that, whereas the initial inhibitory effects of the test compounds on nitrification were greatest with the soil having the lower organic‐matter content, the persistence of their effects at 20 or 30°C was greatest with the soil having the higher organic‐matter content. The inhibitory effects of 2‐ethynylpyridine and etridiazole on nitrification were considerably more persistent than those of nitrapyrin or 3‐methylpyrazole‐l‐carboxamide and were significant even after incubation of inhibitor‐treated soil at 20°C for 168 days.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and tillage practices on yield-scaled nitrous oxide emission from a maize field in Iran

Nitrification inhibitors can effectively decrease nitrification rates and nitrous oxide(N₂O)emission while increasing crop yield under certain conditions.However,there is no information available on the effects of nitrification inhibitors and tillage practices on N₂O emissions from maize cropping in Iran.To study how tillage practices and nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor)affect N₂O emission,a split factorial experiment using a completely randomized block design with three replications was carried out in Northeast Iran,which has a cold semiarid climate.Two main plots were created with conventional tillage and minimum tillage levels,and two nitrogen(N)fertilizer(urea)management systems(with and without nitrapyrin application)were created as subplots.Tillage level did not have any significant effect on soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-)concentrations,cumulative amount and yield-scaled N₂O emission,and aboveground biomass of maize,whereas nitrapyrin application showed significant effect.Nitrapyrin application significantly reduced the cumulative amount of N₂O emission by 41%and 32%in conventional tillage and minimum tillage practices,respectively.A reduction in soil NO₃^-concentration by nitrapyrin was also observed.The average yield-scaled N₂O emission was 13.6 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake in both tillage systems without nitrapyrin application and was significantly reduced to 7.9 and 8.2 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake upon the application of nitrapyrin in minimum tillage and conventional tillage practices,respectively.Additionally,nitrapyrin application increased maize biomass yield by 4%and 13%in the minimum tillage and conventional tillage systems,respectively.Our results indicate that nitrapyrin has a potential role in reducing N₂O emission from agricultural systems where urea fertilizers are broadcasted,which is common in Iran due to the practice of traditional farming.     

Evaluation of Two Products Recently Introduced as Nitrification Inhibitors

This study compared the relative effectiveness of two products recently introduced as nitrification inhibitors with other materials used to inhibit nitrification. Four soils were treated with 0, 0.2, 1, 5, and 25 mg kg^?1 of nitrapyrin (NP), a new microencapsulated nitrapyrin product (ENP), dicyandiamide (DCD), a new maleic-itaconic polymer product (MIP), and ammonium thiosulfate (ATS). The soils were also treated with 200 mg N kg^?1 as urea, and percent inhibition of nitrification determined after 2 or 4 weeks of incubation. After 4 weeks, similar levels of nitrification inhibition were provided by 1 mg kg^?1 of NP (72%), 5 mg kg^?1 of ENP (79%), and 25 mg kg^?1 of DCD (73%), averaged across soil. After 4 weeks with a sandy soil, the highest rate of MIP and ATS provided 15 and 36% inhibition, respectively. MIP and ATS were ineffective at inhibiting nitrification when added to the other three soils.

Abbreviations: ATS: ammonium thiosulfate; DCD: dicyandiamide; ENP: encapsulated nitrapyrin; MIP: maleic-itaconic polymer; NP: nitrapyrin; UAN: urea-ammonium nitrate liquid fertilizer     

Effect of biochar and nitrapyrin on nitrous oxide and nitric oxide emissions from a sandy loam soil cropped to maize

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined or individual effects of biochar and nitrapyrin (a nitrification inhibitor) on N₂O and NO emissions from a sandy loam soil cropped to maize. The study included nine treatments: addition of urea alone or combined with nitrapyrin to soils that had been amended with biochar at 0, 3, 6, and 12 t ha^?1 in the preceding year, and a control without the addition of N fertilizer. Peaks in N₂O and NO flux occurred simultaneously following fertilizer application and intense rainfall events, and the peak of NO flux was much higher than that of N₂O following application of basal fertilizer. Mean emission ratios of NO/N₂O ranged from 1.11 to 1.72, suggesting that N₂O was primarily derived from nitrification. Cumulative N₂O and NO emissions were 1.00 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 and 1.39 kg NO-N ha^?1 in the N treatment, respectively, decreasing to 0.81–0.85 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 and 1.31–1.35 kg NO-N ha^?1 in the biochar amended soils, respectively, while there was no significant difference among the treatments. NO emissions were significantly lower in the nitrapyrin treatments than in the N fertilization-alone treatments (P?<?0.05), but there was no effect on N₂O emissions. Neither biochar nor nitrapyrin amendment affected maize yield or N uptake. Overall, our results showed that biochar amendment in the preceding year had little effect on N₂O and NO emissions in the following year, while the nitrapyrin decreased NO, but not N₂O emissions, probably due to suppression of denitrification caused by the low soil moisture content.     

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.     

Effect of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin on the fate of nitrogen applied to a soil incubated under laboratory conditions

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin on the fate and recovery of fertilizer nitrogen (N) and on N mineralization from soil organic sources. Intact soil cores were collected from a grassland field. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea were applied as N sources. Cores were equilibrated at –5 kPa matric potential and incubated at 20 °C for 42 to 56 days. Changes in NH₄⁺‐N, accumulation of NO₃^–‐N, apparent recovery of applied N, and emission of N₂O (acetylene was used to block N₂O reductase) were examined during the study. A significant increase in NH₄⁺‐N released through mineralization was recorded when nitrapyrin was added to the control soil without N fertilizer application. In the soils to which N was added either as urea or DAP, 50–90 % of the applied N disappeared from the NH₄⁺‐N pool. Some of this N (8–16 %) accumulated as NO₃^–‐N, while a small proportion of N (1 %) escaped as N₂O. Addition of nitrapyrin resulted in a decrease and delay of NH₄⁺‐N disappearance, accumulation of much lower soil NO₃^–‐N contents, a substantial reduction in N₂O emissions, and a 30–40 % increase in the apparent recovery of added N. The study indicates that N recovery can be increased by using the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin in grassland soils at moisture condition close to field capacity.     

Potency of nitrification inhibitors following their repeated application to soil

Summary Nitrification inhibitors were applied to a field experiment on loamy sand soil each autumn for 4 years, immediately prior to sowing winter cereals. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that repeated application of the inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) to a soil had little effect either on the rate of DCD decomposition or the ability of DCD to inhibit nitrification. Repeated field application of the inhibitors DCD, nitrapyrin or etridiazole resulted in increased sensitivity of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria to nitrapyrin or etridiazole, but not to DCD. The rate of decomposition of etridiazole was unaffected by four annual applications of this inhibitor, but decomposition of nitrapyrin was somewhat slower in soil that had received nitrapyrin annually for 4 years than in soil that had never been treated with an inhibitor.     

Calcium Carbide–Based Formulations Cause Slow Release of Acetylene and Ethylene in Soil and Nitrification Inhibition

Nitrification inhibition (NI) of applied fertilizer nitrogen (N) is a suitable approach to improve N-use efficiency. Formulated calcium carbide (CaC₂), a slow-release origin of acetylene, is a potent nitrification inhibitor; however, its efficacy in relation to different formulations has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, seven CaC₂ formulations viz. encapsulated; coated with beeswax, paraffin wax or paint, and matrix-I (21% CaC₂, 58% polyethylene and 21% plaster of paris), matrix-II (42% CaC₂, 48% polyethylene and 10% plaster of paris) and matrix-III (61% CaC₂, 34% polyethylene and 5% paraffin oil) were incubated with soil and their effectiveness in acetylene and ethylene release and NI potential were compared up to 91 days. In CaC₂ treatments, acetylene flux was decreased, whereas that of ethylene first increased and then decreased with time. During all the time intervals after day 7 of incubation, fluxes of acetylene and ethylene and NI were significantly greater with matrix I, followed by matrix II, paint-coated, and wax-coated CaC₂. No acetylene release was noted with encapsulated or matrix III formulations after day 35 of incubation. Among other CaC₂ formulations, matrix I, matrix II, and paint-coated CaC₂ were better precursors of acetylene and ethylene, and nitrification inhibitors in the soil.     

Rate of nitrapyrin and soil ph effects on nitrification of ammonium fertilizer and growth and composition of burley tobacco

Abstract

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of rate of nitrapyrin and soil pH on nitrification of NH₄ ⁺ fertilizer in soil, and growth and chemical composition of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. ‘KY ‐14'). Such experiments were needed to develop information for increasing efficiency of N fertilizer use and to lessen the fertilizer‐induced soil acidity and salt effects on tobacco plants.

Results for laboratory and greenhouse incubations indicated that nitrification proceeeded slowly below pH 5.0 and the nitrapyrin necessary to delay nitrification increased with both increasing soil pH and length of incubation time. Generally, nitrification could be delayed 30 days by nitrapyrin rates of 0.25 or 0.5 μg g^‐1 regardless of soil pH. but rates of 1 μg g^‐1 nitrapyrin or higher were required for 60 days and longer incubation times, particularly at higher soil pH.

Growth and morphology of tobacco plants were either unaffected, or affected positively, by low rates of nitrapyrin (up to 2 μg g^‐1). However, rates of 4 μg g^‐1 and above reduced total plant dry weight, reducing sugars and contents of mineral elements. Concentrations and content of plant NO₃ ^‐ N and Mn were greatly decreased by application of nitrapyrin. Values for most parameters measured increased with increasing soil pH. The data show that low rates of nitrapyrin may be used to alter the ratio of NO₃ ^‐ to NH₄ ⁺ N absorbed by tobacco and possibly improve growth and safety of tobacco.     

Effect of acetylene and ethylene gases released from encapsulated calcium carbide on growth and yield of wheat and cotton

Calcium carbide (CaC₂) is a rich source of the nitrification inhibitor acetylene (C₂H₂) and plant hormone ethylene (C₂H₄). C₂H₄ formed from biotic reduction of C₂H₂ released from CaC₂ may accumulate in soil at physiologically active concentrations. Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of encapsulated CaC₂ for gradually releasing C₂H₂ and its product C₂H₄ in soil. The GC-FID analysis revealed that encapsulated CaC₂ released a copious amount of C₂H₂ (up to 23700 nmol kg⁻¹ soil), which was gradually reduced to C₂H₄ over a period of time via a strictly biotic reaction as no C₂H₄ was detected in CaC₂-amended sterilized soil. Ammonium oxidation was suppressed by the encapsulated CaC₂ indicating that C₂H₂ acted as a nitrification inhibitor. Results of pot trials conducted in the net house indicated that encapsulated CaC₂ applied at 30 mg kg⁻¹ soil significantly increased the number of tillers (up to 45.5%), root weight (up to 14.9%), straw (up to 32.8%) and grain yield (up to 37.3%) of wheat over the fertilizer application alone. In the case of cotton, the number of bolls, root, shoot and seed weight were also significantly increased in response to the application of encapsulated CaC₂. Moreover, application of encapsulated CaC₂ resulted in greater N-use efficiency (NUE) (up to 61.1%) by both wheat and cotton crops than that observed at the same rates of N fertilizer alone. These findings imply that CaC₂ affects plant growth through hormonal action of C₂H₄ as well as improved NUE; however, the latter factor might be a relatively more contributing. It is desirable that CaC₂ is formulated for gradually slow release of C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ in soil air.     

Effects of nitrification inhibitors on denitrification of nitrate in soil

Summary The influence of 28 nitrification inhibitors on denitrification of nitrate in soil was studied by determining the effects of different amounts of each inhibitor on the amounts of nitrate lost and the amounts of nitrite, N₂O and N₂ produced when soil samples were incubated anaerobically after treatment with nitrate or with nitrate and mannitol. The inhibitors used included nitrapyrin (N-Serve), etridiazole (Dwell), potassium azide, 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM), sulfathiazole (ST), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole(ATC),2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyl-s-triazine (CL-1580), potassium ethylxanthate, guanylthiourea (ASU), 4-nitrobenzotrichloride, 4-mesylbenzotrichloride, sodium thiocarbonate (STC), phenylmercuric acetate (PMA), and dicyandiamide (DCD).Only one of the nitrification inhibitors studied (potassium azide) retarded denitrification when applied at the rate of 10 g g^–1 soil, and only two (potassium azide and 2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyl-s-triazine) inhibited denitrification when applied at the rate of 50 g g^–1 soil. The other inhibitors either had no appreciable effect on denitrification, or enhanced denitrification, when applied at the rate of 10 or 50 g g^–1 soil, enhancement being most marked with 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole. Seven of the inhibitors (potassium azide, sulfathiazole, potassium ethylxanthate, sodium isopropylxanthate, 4-nitrobenzotrichloride, sodium thiocarbonate, and phenylmercuric acetate) retarded denitrification when applied at the rate of 50 g g^–1 soil to soil that had been amended with mannitol to promote microbial activity.Reports that nitrapyrin (N-Serve) and etridiazole (Dwell) inhibit denitrification when applied at rates as low as 0.5 g g^–1 soil could not be confirmed. No inhibition of denitrification was observed when these compounds were applied at the rate of 10 g g^–1 soil, and enhancement of denitrification was observed when they were applied at the rate of 50 or 100 g g^–1 soil.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and the plant growth regulator gibberellic acid on yield-scale nitrous oxide emission in maize fields under hot climatic conditions

Nitrification inhibitors are widely used in agriculture to mitigate nitrous oxide(N₂O)emission and increase crop yield.However,no concrete information on their mitigation of N₂O emission is available under soil and environmental conditions as in Pakistan.A field experiment was established using a silt clay loam soil from Peshawar,Pakistan,to study the effect of urea applied in combination with a nitrification inhibitor,nitrapyrin(2-chloro-6-tri-chloromethyl pyridine),and/or a plant growth regulator,gibberellic acid(GA_3),on N₂O emission and the nitrogen(N)uptake efficiency of maize.The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five treatments in four replicates:control with no N(CK),urea(200 kg N ha^-1)alone,urea in combination with nitrapyrin(700 g ha^-1),urea in combination with GA_3(60 g ha^-1),and urea in combination with nitrapyrin and GA_3.The N₂O emission,yield,N response efficiency,and total N uptake were measured during the experimental period.The treatment with urea and nitrapyrin reduced total N₂O emission by 39%–43%and decreased yield-scaled N₂O emission by 47%–52%,relative to the treatment with urea alone.The maize plant biomass,grain yield,and total N uptake increased significantly by 23%,17%,and 15%,respectively,in the treatment with urea and nitrapyrin,relative to the treatment with urea alone,which was possibly due to N saving,lower N loss,and increased N uptake in the form of ammonium;they were further enhanced in the treatment with urea,nitrapyrin,and GA_3 by 27%,36%,and 25%,respectively,probably because of the stimulating effect of GA_3 on plant growth and development and the reduction in biotic and abiotic stresses.These results suggest that applying urea in combination with nitrapyrin and GA_3 has the potential to mitigate N₂O emission,improve N response efficiency,and increase maize yield.     

Nitrapyrin effect on corn N‐15 uptake efficiency,denitrification and nitrate leaching

Abstract

The effect of nitrapyrin on the fate of fertilizer nitrogen (N) applied to soil needs further investigation. Our objective was to determine the effect of nitrapyrin under two different leaching regimes on the fate of ammonium sulfate‐nitrogen [(NH₄)₂SO₄‐N] added to the soil, namely corn N uptake, denitrification, nitrate leaching and soil residual N. A Nunn sandy clay loam soil (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic, aridic, argiustoll), low in residual inorganic N was used. Nitrogen‐15 enriched (NH₄)₂SO₄ (5 atom% N‐15) was applied at five rates (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), nitrapyrin at three rates 0, 1.3, and 2.6 μL/kg (0, 2.36, and 4.72 L/ha) and leaching at two rates (0 and 1000 mL over field capacity in two 500‐mL increments at 3 and 6 weeks after planting) in a complete factorial arrangement with three replications. Corn (Zea mays L.) seeds were planted in pots (2 kg soil/pot) and allowed to grow for 80 days in a greenhouse. The atom% N‐15 values were determined in plant tops, leachates and soil samples using a mass spectrometer. The results showed that N fertilizer increased dry matter production, plant N concentration, leaching of nitrates and denitrification significantly. The effect of nitrapyrin on yield was not statistically significant, but, it at a rate equivalent to 4.72 L/ha reduced denitrification and nitrate (NO₃) leaching and increased N uptake efficiency. Application of 4.72 L/ha of nitrapyrin versus control showed the following results respectively, N uptake: 46.3 versus 39.6%, denitrification: 26.3 versus 35.3% and NO₃ leaching: 2.7 vesus 6.7% of fertilizer N‐15. Nitrapyrin increased soil residual fertilizer N‐15 in organic matter and roots. The result of this study show that application of nitrapyrin at an adequate rate decreases denitrification and NO₃ leaching and increases N uptake efficiency.     

Laboratory evaluation of dicyandiamide as a soil nitrification inhibitor

Abstract

Laboratory studies to evaluate dicyandiamide (DCD) as a soil nitrification inhibitor showed that it is considerably more effective than several compounds that have been patented or proposed as fertilizer amendments for retarding nitrification of fertilizer nitrogen (N) in soil, but is considerably less effective than 2‐ethynylpyridine, nitrapyrin (N‐Serve), etridiazole (Dwell), 3‐methylpyrazole‐l‐carboxamide (MPC), or 4‐amino‐l,2,4‐triazole (ATC). Other findings in studies reported were as follows: a) DCD is more effective for inhibiting nitrification of ammonium‐N than of urea‐N; b) the effectiveness of DCD as a nitrification inhibitor is markedly affected by soil temperature and soil type and is limited by the susceptibility of DCD to leaching; c) DCD has very little, if any, effect on urea hydrolysis, denitrification, or seed germination in soil; d) products of DCD decomposition in soil (guanylurea and guanidine) have little, if any, effect on nitrification compared with DCD; e) in the absence of leaching, the persistence of the inhibitory effect of DCD on nitrification decreases with increase in soil temperature from 10 to 30°C, but the inhibitory effect of 50 μg DCD g^‐1 soil is substantial even after incubation of DCD‐treated soils at 20 or 30°C for 24 weeks.     

Nitrapyrin effectiveness in reducing nitrous oxide emissions decreases at low doses of urea in an Andosol

In the tropics,frequent nitrogen(N)fertilization of grazing areas can potentially increase nitrous oxide(N₂O)emissions.The application of nitrification inhibitors has been reported as an effective management practice for potentially reducing N loss from the soil-plant system and improving N use efficiency(NUE).The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the co-application of nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor,NI)and urea in a tropical Andosol on the behavior of N and the emissions of N₂O from autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification.A greenhouse experiment was performed using a soil(pH 5.9,organic matter content 78 g kg^-1,and N 5.6 g kg^-1)sown with Cynodon nlemfuensis at 60%water-filled pore space to quantify total N₂O emissions,N₂O derived from fertilizer,soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-),and NUE.The study included treatments that received deionized water only(control,NI).No significant differences were observed in soil NH₄⁺content between the UR and UR+NI treatments,probably because of soil mineralization and NO₃^-produced by heterotrophic nitrification,which is not effectively inhibited by nitrapyrin.After 56 d,N₂O emissions in UR(0.51±0.12 mg N₂O-N concluded that the soil organic N mineralization and heterotrophic nitrification are the main processes of NH₄⁺and NO₃^-production.Additionally,it was found that N₂O emissions were partially a consequence of the direct oxidation of the soil's organic N via heterotrophic nitrification coupled to denitrification.Finally,the results suggest that nitrapyrin would likely exert significant mitigation on N₂O emissions only if a substantial N surplus exists in soils with high organic matter content.     

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.     

Effect of acetylene provided by wax-coated calcium carbide on transformations of urea nitrogen applied to an irrigated wheat crop

The effect of acetylene (provided by wax-coated calcium carbide, CaC₂) on N transformations in a red-brown earth was measured in a field experiment with irrigated wheat by determining the change in the concentration and ¹⁵N enrichment of the organic N and mineral N pools with time. The study was conducted in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation region of south-eastern Australia using 0.3 m by 0.3 m microplots fertilized with ¹⁵N-labelled urea (10 g N m^-2; 5 atom% ¹⁵N). Acetylene was effective in slowing the nitrification of both unlabelled and labelled N. Nitrate derived from the added fertilizer reached a maximum 19 days after sowing in the treatment without CaC₂, whereas little nitrate accumulated in the 8 g CaC₂ m^-2 treatment. There was significant immobilization of the urea N by 19 days after sowing in all treatments, but the extent of immobilization was not affected by the acetylene. The addition of acetylene slowed net mineralization of labelled and unlabelled N from the organic N pool, and resulted in increased accumulation of both unlabelled and labelled N in wheat tops.     

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.     

Nitrapyrin,terrazole, atrazine,and simazine influence on nitrification and corn growth

Most farming systems involving tilled crops require use of pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers in different combinations although most pesticides effects on soil N transformation are scantly documented. Studies were initiated to compare atrazine and simazine herbicides with two biological nitrification inhibitors (nitrapyrin and terrazole) for their effects on biological nitrification and corn (Zea mays L.) growth. In a laboratory study, inhibition of nitrification was less than 3% in a Tifton loamy sand incubated with 10 μg a.i g^‐1 soil atrazine or simazine but was more than 10% in soil amended with nitrapyrin or terrazole, applied separately or in combinations with either herbicide at the same rate. Similar trends were observed with soil treated with different combinations of 2.5 μg a.i. g^‐1 soil nitrapyrin or terrazole and 1.25 μg a.i. g^‐1 soil atrazine or simazine and incubated with and without corn plants under greenhouse conditions. The combination of either herbicide with nitrapyrin or terrazole significantly reduced the corn dry weights with substantial accumulation of Kjeldahl N and NO₃ ^‐ in tissues of plants, probably due to a concentration effect. However, these chemical combinations, applied at the rate of 1.2 kg a.i. ha^‐1 in conjunction with 35 kg ha^‐1 N as (NH₄)₂SO₄ in split banded applications (at planting and at the 6^th leaf stage), showed a nonsignificant trend towards increased corn ear yields in two‐year field studies. Generally, when atrazine or simazine was part of the chemical treatment, its effects on nitrification, plant growth and total N contents outweighed or masked those of nitrapyrin or terrazole.