In vitro effects of urease inhibitors on rate of urea hydrolysis in soils

Abstract

We studied the effect of urease inhibitors on the urea hydrolysis in some Sundanese soils belonging to the orders of Vertisol and Entisol. The hydrolysis showed a lag period of about 3 days and its rate (Y) per unit time (t) could be described by a two constants exponential equation of the general form Y = K1tK2. Statistical analysis showed that the intercept K1 (rate of urea hydrolysis) was significantly affected by soil type rather than treatment. It seems that K1 is associated with the soils' initial urease activity as it closely correlates with the Michaelis constant (km).