Effects of Nitrification Inhibitors on Nitrogen Transformations, Other Than Nitrification, in Soils

Abstract

Interest in nitrification inhibitors stems from the fact that retardation of nitrification reduces loss of nitrogen by leaching and denitrification following nitrification. This helps in some situations to achieve more efficient use of nitrogen for crop production and may also help in minimizing fertilizer nitrogen-related environmental stresses, especially accumulation of nitrate in surface and ground waters. Nitrification is generally used to mean biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrate via nitrite effected, respectively, by Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter species of nitrifying bacteria, although nitrification inhibitors are defined as compounds or materials that specifically retard the oxidation of ammonium to nitrite without