Will it pay to use a nitrification inhibiter in 2001? Mike
Rankin The
answer is typically not a simple “yes” or “no” because it depends on
several factors.
First, recall that nitrogen (N) is applied to the soil in two basic
forms ---- ammonium and nitrate.
Ammonium, being a positively charged ion, is held to the negatively
charged soil particles.
Nitrate, however, is negatively charged and subject to losses either
by leaching through the soil profile or by a process called denitrification.
Denitrification occurs when soils become saturated and soil bacteria
use the nitrate ion as a source of oxygen while releasing the N to the
atmosphere as a gas.
When ammonium is applied to the soil as fertilizer, it is converted
to nitrate over a period of several weeks through a process called
nitrification.
A nitrification inhibitor helps to prolong this process and keeps the
applied nitrogen in an ammonium form.
Thus, it becomes less susceptible to leaching and denitrification and
more available to the crop. For
an economic benefit to occur by using a NI, the N saved from reduced
denitrification or leaching losses would have to result in a yield increase
for the corn crop of greater value than the cost of the NI. Since NI
products influence only the reaction of ammonium to nitrate, they can only
be used effectively on N-fertilizer products that contain or convert to the
ammonium form. These include anhydrous ammonia, 28% nitrogen solution,
ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea, and liquid manure. The higher
percentage of ammonium contained in the fertilizer, the more effective the
NI will be. So
what is the bottom line on NI use?
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