Assessment of the Nitrification Inhibitor Nitrapyrin on Nitrogen Losses and Brassica oleracea Growth: A Preliminary Sustainable Research
2025
Mariangela Triozzi | Annamaria Ilacqua | Marina Tumolo | Valeria Ancona | Daniela Losacco
The use of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) with nitrogen fertilizers represents an effective strategy to reduce nitrogen loss. In addition, nitrification inhibitors are widely applied to improve agricultural yield. However, it is necessary to continue investigating the crop-specific agricultural practice. In this study, a nitrapyrin-based nitrification inhibitor was used to assess its effects on Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis growth and on the environment. In a pot experiment, cauliflower plants were grown in fertilized soils based on calcium nitrate (SF) and SF + nitrapyrin. At the end of the experiment, the content of nitrogen compounds in soil and percolation water and the cauliflower yield were determined, and the plant tissues were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The application of the NI significantly reduced nitrogen losses, increasing nutrient availability in the soil and the element&rsquo:s absorption in the plant. Co-application of fertilizers and NIs reduced NO3&minus: leaching from 925 to 294 mg/L. Plant tissue characterization by FTIR spectroscopy highlighted variations in the functional groups in response to the application of NIs. These results suggest that applying nitrogen fertilizer in combination with nitrapyrin can mitigate nitrate pollution and improve element absorption and plant growth. Our research has shown that application methods and cropping systems need to be studied to maximize the effectiveness of nitrapyrin-based NIs.
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