Effect of nitrification inhibitors and soil pH on N2O emissions

Continued N addition in agricultural soils leads to soil acidification, which affects crops yield and soil nitrification and denitrification processes. Liming is the most common strategy to reduce soil acidity. A laboratory experiment was conducted based on the application of nitrification inhibitors DMPP and DMPSA at three different soil pHs (4.5, 5.5 and 6.5). Both inhibitors demonstrated a higher efficiency reducing soil N2O emissions at higher pHs.

Agricultural soils are becoming acidic worldwide in intensive farming systems due to high application rates of N fertilizers. This acidification is a major agricultural problem since limits several crops yield. On the other hand, soil pH affects nitrification and denitrification pocesseses, consequently affecting the N2O fluxes derived from both processes.