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Effects of several nitrification inhibitors, when injected with aqueous urea, on yields and nitrogen recoveries of ryegrass leys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. A. Rodgers ,
F. V. Widdowson ,
A. Penny  and
M. V. Hewitt
G. A. Rodgers
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ
F. V. Widdowson
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ
A. Penny
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ
M. V. Hewitt
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ
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Summary

Several nitrification inhibitors were compared with nitrapyrin, which was taken as the standard, when injected with aqueous urea into ryegrass leys at Rothamsted during 1977–81 and at Liscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm, Dulverton, Somerset, during 1977–9. Injection was done in either autumn or winter or spring.

All the inhibitors slowed down the rate of nitrate formation from the injected urea. Sodium trithioearbonate (STC) was less effective than nitrapyrin and potassium ethyl xanthate (KEtX) less effective than STC. A mixture of nitrapyrin and carbon disulphide was better than nitrapyrin alone, and a mixture of STO and KEtX was better than STC alone.

At Rothamsted, injecting inhibitors in autumn or winter improved yields and N uptakes, probably because they prevented loss of nitrate N by leaching and perhaps by denitrification. STC, STC-KEtX mixture and etridiazole were as good as, and nitrapyrin–CS2 mixture better than, nitrapyrin alone. Injecting inhibitors in spring frequently decreased yields, perhaps because NH4:NO3 ratios were too large, and increased them only when more than 150 mm of rain fell afterwards.

At Liscombe, where rainfall was higher, but soil temperatures were similar to those at Rothamsted, the benefits from using inhibitors in autumn were larger, but there were none from using them in spring.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 101 , Issue 3 , December 1983 , pp. 637 - 656
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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