Exploring Substituted Dihydroxybenzenes as Urease Inhibitors through Structure–Activity Relationship Studies in Soil Incubations

Abstract

Urea fertilization as nitrogen (N) source is essential for increasing crop productivity. However, it results in significant N loss through ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching, and nitrous oxide emissions, causing environmental harm and economic loss. Urease, an enzyme in soil, rapidly catalyzes urea hydrolysis to ammonia/ammonium. To reduce ammonia volatilization, urease inhibitors delay hydrolysis until urea is dissolved in the soil body. The commercial product N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) is effective only in certain soils, yet it dominates the current global urease inhibitor market. This study examines the performance of un- and substituted dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs) as al..