Biological and synthetic approaches to inhibiting nitrification in non-tilled Mediterranean soils

Abstract Background The increasing demand for food production has led to a tenfold increase in nitrogen (N) fertilizer use since the Green Revolution. Nowadays, agricultural soils have been turned into high-nitrifying environments that N pollution. To decrease losses, synthetic nitrification inhibitors (SNIs) such as 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) developed. However, SNIs are not widely adopted by farmers due their biologically limited stability and soil mobility. On other hand, allelopathic substances from root exudates crops sorghum known activity biological (BNIs). These released directly rhizosphere. Nevertheless, BNI exudation could be modified or even suppressed if crop development is affected. In this work, we compare performance of (sorghum crop) field conditions. Results Sorghum BNIs DMPP prevented an abundance ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) without affecting total bacterial abundance. Both maintained similar NH 4 + content, but at 30 days post-fertilization (DPF), resulted higher NO 3 − content than DMPP. Even so, these managed reduce 64% 96%, respectively, -N/NH -N ratio compared control treatment. Similar mineral N, there were no differences leaf δ 15 values between two inhibitors, yet DPF, more positive those 2 O emissions DMPP-treated low throughout experiment. while also emissions, they associated with substantial emission peak DPF lasted until 7 DPF. Conclusions Our results indicate can soil, same efficiency certain amount time, able prevent pollution derived fertilization does during entire Graphic