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Synergistic Effect of Urease and Nitrification Inhibitors in the Reduction of Ammonia Volatilization

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is deficient in more than 90% of soils of Pakistan, mainly because of low organic matter contents. The use of nitrogenous fertilizers is a common practice for sustainable and profitable crop yields. A significant portion of added fertilizers is lost through volatilization, leaching, and denitrification. The low use efficiency of these fertilizers in our climate is a serious concern because of high costs and environmental issues. The present study evaluated the novel synergistic effect of urease and nitrification inhibitors such as ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and 2-Chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine (nitrapyrin) to reduce the urea hydrolysis in the soil of three cities of Pakistan, i.e., Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura, to manage the ammonia as well as N loss. Three different combinations, such as A1, A2, and A3 of both inhibitors, were prepared with varying ratios of 1:1, 0.25:0.75, and 0.75:0.25, respectively. Results showed that the minimum urea hydrolysis of about 2.41, 2.79, and 4.68 IU/g soil was observed with A1 combination after 4th-day observation with the rate of 0.50% concentration for Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura, respectively. In addition, results showed better urease activity at a pH value of 6.50, incubation time of 30 min, and temperature of 37 °C for all A1, A2, and A3 combinations with 0.50% concentration. Moreover, inhibitor-treated urea showed the maximum plant height of 111, 101, and 101 cm, and root length of 15, 11, and 5 cm, number of tillers of 14, 16, and 19 per panicle, and number of spikes of 37, 21, and 38 per panicle with A1, A2, and A3 combination at 0.50% dose respectively in Faisalabad soil. Overall, it is concluded that 0.50% inhibitor concentration showed the much impressive urease inhibition results followed by 0.25 and 0.10%. However, the application of inhibitors was a good practice to reduce the N loss from soil.

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Data Availability Statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. No additional data is associated with this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Asim Hussain, Khalil Ur Rehman & Hamza Rafeeq

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Nazish Jahan

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Zara Jabeen

  4. School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China

    Muhammad Bilal

  5. Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico

    Hafiz M. N. Iqbal

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  1. Asim Hussain
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  2. Nazish Jahan
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  3. Zara Jabeen
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  4. Khalil Ur Rehman
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  5. Hamza Rafeeq
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Hussain, A., Jahan, N., Jabeen, Z. et al. Synergistic Effect of Urease and Nitrification Inhibitors in the Reduction of Ammonia Volatilization. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 303 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05259-0

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