Effects of a nitrification inhibitor (3,4,-DMPP) and a biostimulant on potentially mineralized nitrogen of a soil amended with bovine slurry in a short rotation forestry (SRF) system
Résumé
The element nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant development and its
intake is a key factor for crop production; however, its real availability in soil, as
well as its chemical form, are crucial for the nitrogen uptake by crops. Agriculture
is one of the main responsible of N compounds emission (e.g. ammonia, nitrate,
nitrous oxide) causing negative impacts to the environment. N excess due to high
livestock density results in intensification of environmental pollution. Hence, N
emissions and leaching from agriculture to the environment have to be further
reduced.
Council Directive 91/676/EEC (known as the Nitrates Directive) aims to protect
water quality across Europe by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources
polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use of good farming
practices.
Nitrification inhibitors (NI) are compounds that delay the nitrification process, that
consists in the oxidation of the ammonium in nitrate made by soil microorganisms
such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. As a result, the delay of the oxidation of the
ammonium present in the fertiliser into nitrate for a certain period of time offers the
chance to reduce N losses and to increase fertilizer use efficiency. Recently, nitrification inhibitors have been applied with livestock manures in
Northern Europe to prevent N emissions and leaching and delay nitrification
process in soil.
The aim of this work is to study the effects of the nitrification inhibitor DMPP (3,4
dymethylpyrazole phosphate) and a biostimulant on microbial diversity of a soil
amended with bovine slurry in a Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) system. In this
study, nitrate and ammonia release during the incubation has been investigated, so
to establish the potentially mineralized N content.