New nitrification inhibitor developed to improve nitrogen utilization in agriculture

Recently, a research team led by Professor Wu Lifang of the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a new nitrification inhibitor, copper pyrazole, and a slow-release fertilizer coated with it.

“This new approach aims to improve the efficiency of nitrogen (N) use in agriculture,” said team member Dr. Duan Yan.

Related findings were recently published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency is currently a hot topic in agricultural research around the world. Among the many countermeasures, the application of nitrification inhibitors is attracting a lot of attention. Nitrification inhibitors can improve nitrogen availability by regulating the structure and function of soil microbial communities and slowing down the processes of nitrification and denitrification.

In this study, the research team developed a new nitrification inhibitor, copper pyrazole, and a slow-release fertilizer coated with it, and analyzed its mechanism of action.

The researchers conducted a 60-day soil experiment to study how copper pyrazoles affect soil ammonium and nitrate nitrogen levels, as well as their effects on soil microbial communities. The results showed that copper pyrazole slowed down the nitrification and denitrification processes in nitrogen conversion. This is done by reducing urease activity and lowering the levels of nitrification genes (AOB-amoA) and denitrification genes (nirK) in the soil.

Further studies also found that copper pyrazoles alter the structure and function of soil microbial communities. By analyzing the data, the research team identified key microorganisms that play a key role in the nitrogen cycle. In addition, the coated slow-release fertilizer treatment improved the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use.

This discovery provides scientific support for the wise use of nitrification inhibitors and offers a new approach to sustainable agriculture.