Summary
This 2022 study investigates the mechanisms by which biochar and urease inhibitor amendments mitigate ammonia loss from soil, with particular attention to changes in the relative abundance of genes governing ammonia oxidation and denitrification pathways. The research suggests that these soil amendments alter nitrogen transformation dynamics by modifying microbial communities responsible for key steps in the nitrogen cycle. The findings contribute to understanding how such amendments can improve nitrogen use efficiency whilst reducing volatile losses.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK arable and mixed farming systems where nitrogen fertiliser use is high and ammonia emissions contribute to air quality degradation. Biochar and urease inhibitor adoption could support UK policy objectives around nutrient management and ammonia reduction, though local soil conditions, climate, and crop type would determine practical applicability.
Key measures
Ammonia emission rates; abundance of nitrogen-cycling genes (amoA, nirK, nirS, nosZ); soil microbial community composition; urease activity
Outcomes reported
The study examined how biochar and urease inhibitor applications affect nitrogen transformation genes and ammonia emission rates from soil. Ammonia volatilisation and shifts in microbial functional genes involved in nitrification and denitrification were measured.
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