Responses of ureolytic and nitrifying microbes to urease and nitrification inhibitors in selected agricultural soils in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Purpose: Urease inhibitors (UIs) such as N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs) such as 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) have been reported to improve the efficiency of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. However, their effects on the ureolytic and ammonia-oxidizing microbes in agricultural soils are uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DMPP and NBPT on the abundance and community composition of ureolytic and nitrifying microbes in selected agricultural soils in Australia. Materials and methods: Soil was collected from five agricultural farms and used to establish an incubation experiment. Urea, urea + NBPT, urea + DMPP, and urea + NBPT +..