Fate of applied urea 15N in a soil-maize system as affected by urease inhibitor and nitrification inhibitor

Abstract

A micro-plot field experiment with reduced urea <sup>15</sup>N application was conducted to study the effects of urease inhibitor NBPT (N-(<i>n</i>-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide) and nitrification inhibitor DMPP(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazolium dihydrogen) on the fate of applied urea <sup>15</sup>N; it aimed to find an efficient way to reduce the urea N application rate while improving the agronomic and environmental benefits. Five treatments were installed, i.e., 180 kg N/ha (N<sub>1</sub>, conventional application rate), 126 kg N/ha (N<sub>2</sub>, reduced to 70% conventional application rate), N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT, N<sub>2</sub> + DMPP, and N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT + DMPP. Compared with treatment N<sub>1</sub>, all the other treatments had a significantly higher total <sup>15</sup>N recovery by both soil and plant (<i>P</i> < 0.05 48.20, 41.39, 37.69, 38.85 and 34.83% soil recovery for N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT + DMPP, N<sub>2</sub> + DMPP, N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT, N<sub>2</sub> and N<sub>1</sub>treatment, respectively; and 42.68, 40.86, 40.25, 37.18 and 36.30% plant recovery for N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT + DMPP, N<sub>2</sub> + DMPP, N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT, N<sub>2</sub>, and N<sub>1</sub> treatment, respectively). In the plant <sup>15</sup>N recovery, the <sup>15</sup>N absorbed in grain/stem was highest in treatment N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT + DMPP. The maize biomass and the maize yield had a slight increase in treatment N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT + DMPP, compared with those in treatment N<sub>1</sub>. In sum, for the maize production in study area, N<sub>2</sub> + NBPT + DMPP application method would be a feasible way to ensure the normal maize yield while improving yield quality, saving urea fertilizer, and protecting the environment.