The new nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole succinic (DMPSA) as an alternative to DMPP for reducing N2O emissions from wheat crops under humid Mediterranean conditions

Nowadays agricultural practices are based in the use of N fertilizers which can lead to environmental N losses. These losses can occur as nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions as result of the microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification. N₂O together with carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) are the strongest greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with agricultural soils. Nitrification inhibitors (NI) have been developed with the aim of decreasing fertilizer-induced N losses and increasing N efficiency. One of the most popular NI is the 3,4-dimethylpyrazol phosphate (DMPP) which have proven to be an advisable strategy to mitigate GHG emissions while maintaining crops yield. A new NI, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole succinic (DMPSA), has been developed. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of the new nitrification inhibitor DMPSA on greenhouse gases emissions, wheat yield and grain protein with respect to DMPP. For this purpose a field-experiment was carried out for two years. Fertilizer dose, with and without NIs, was 180 kg N ha⁻¹ applied as ammonium sulphate (AS) split in two applications of 60 kg N ha⁻¹ and 120 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively. A single application of 180 kg N ha⁻¹ of AS with NIs was also made. An unfertilized treatment was also included. The new nitrification inhibitor DMPSA reduces N₂O emissions up to levels of the unfertilized control treatment maintaining the yield and its components. The DMPSA shows the same behavior as DMPP in relation to N₂O fluxes, as well as wheat yield and quality. In spite of applying a double dose of N at stem elongation than at tillering, N₂O losses from that period are lower than at tillering as a consequence of the influence of soil water content and temperature reducing the N₂O/N₂ ratio by denitrification. NI efficiency in reducing N₂O losses is determined by the magnitude of the losses from the AS treatment.