Effects of urease and nitrification inhibitors to soil microbial communities and nitrogen use efficiency

Abstract

Soil microbial organisms are involved in many soil processes including nutrient cycling, impacting on soil quality and health. Anthropogenic activities such as nutrient addition influence soil ecosystems and soil environment. It is widely known that the contribution of urease inhibitors (UI) e.g. N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and nitrification inhibitors (NIs) e.g. 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) in reducing N losses is associated with urea hydrolysis (and ammonia volatilization) and ammonia oxidization processes, respectively. However, little attention has been given to the understanding of the effect of NBPT on nitrification and urease producing microbes. Further, altho..