Summary
This field experiment used stable isotope tracing (15N) to track nitrogen pathways in irrigated maize and quantify the effectiveness of DMPSA, a nitrification inhibitor, in altering soil nitrogen cycling dynamics. The work contributes evidence on how nitrification inhibitors can modify nitrogen transformations and losses under irrigation in intensive cereal production, with implications for reducing environmental losses whilst maintaining crop productivity.
UK applicability
While UK maize production occurs primarily under rainfed conditions rather than irrigation, the findings on nitrification inhibitor efficacy in mineral soils may be applicable to UK arable systems during wetter seasons or on irrigated holdings. However, the Spanish climate and soil conditions may limit direct extrapolation to cooler, higher-rainfall UK environments.
Key measures
15N recovery in plant tissue, soil mineral nitrogen, nitrous oxide emissions, nitrate leaching, and nitrogen-use efficiency with and without DMPSA application
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the fate of nitrogen from labelled ammonium nitrate in irrigated maize using stable isotope tracing, and evaluated whether the nitrification inhibitor DMPSA reduced nitrogen losses and improved nitrogen-use efficiency.
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