Agronomic evaluation of polymer-coated urea and urease and nitrification inhibitors for cotton production under drip-fertigation in a dry climate

Abstract

Interest in the use of enhanced-efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizers (EENFs) has increased in recent years due to their potential to increase crop yield and reduce environmental N loss. Drip-fertigation is widely used for crop production in arid regions to improve water and nutrient use efficiency whereas the effectiveness of EENFs with drip irrigation remains unclear. A field experiment was conducted in 2015 and 2016 to examine the effects of EENFs on yield, N use and quality of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) grown under drip-fertigation in arid NW China. Treatments included an unfertilized control and application of 240 kg N ha −1 by polymer-coated urea (ESN), urea alone, or urea plus urease (NBPT) and nitrification (DCD) inhibitors. ESN was all banded in the plant row at planting, whereas urea was applied with 20% N banded at planting and 80% N by six fertigation events over the growing season. Results showed there was generally no treatment effect on seed and lint yield, N concentration or allocations, N recovery efficiency and fiber quality index of cotton. A lack of treatment effect could be due to N supplied with drip-fertigation better synthesized with crop N needs and the relatively high soil native no 3 − availability, which hindered the effect of polymer-coated urea and double inhibitors. These results highlight the challenge of the employment of EENFs products for drip-fertigation system in arid area. Further research is required to define the field conditions under which the agronomic efficiency of EENFs products may be achieved in accordance with weather conditions.

Anticancer Activity of Urease Mimetic Cobalt (III) Complexes on A549-Lung Cancer Cells: Targeting the Acidic Microenvironment

“…Urease activity is usually considered unfavourable for agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications [40][41][42]. Medicinally, urea is a common physiological metabolite and serves as an ideal substrate for pathogen growth.…”

The Influence of Fertilization and Plant Density on the Dry Matter Yield and Quality of Black Mustard [Brassica nigra (L.) Koch]: An Alternative Forage Crop

“…Urease inhibitors slow urea hydrolysis in soil by lowering NO 3 – and NH 4 + production. In addition, the presence of the inhibitor in the soil influences the effectiveness of NH 3 loss management [ 22 , 23 ]. Concerning nitrification inhibitors, these have a significant impact on the enzymatic activity of NH 3 oxidizing bacteria [ 24 ] and their addition to urea delays the conversion of ammonium ions (NH 4 + ) to NO 3 – NO 3 , potentially reducing N 2 O emissions from soil denitrification [ 25 ].…”

Rejected Sago Starch as a Coating Material to Mitigate Urea-Nitrogen Emission

“…For example, urea has been impregnated with chemical additives such as N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) [4][5][6][7] and several polymers with different principles of action [8,9]. Moreover, chemical inhibitors include urease inhibitors [10] that hinder the hydrolysis of urea by urease enzyme, and nitrification inhibitors [11] that prevent the oxidation of NH 4 + have also been used as coating materials [12]. Organic or inorganic compounds [13][14][15][16][17][18], and micronutrients [19,20] are used for coating urea.…”