Effects of Enhanced-Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers on Soil Microbial Biomass and Respiration in Tropical Soil Under Upland Rice Cultivation

Vinícius Almeida Oliveira, Eliana Paula Fernandes Brasil, Welldy Gonçalves Teixeira, Felipe Corrêa Veloso dos Santos and Atila Reis da Silva

Journal of Agricultural Science, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 31

Abstract: While over-use of N fertilizers can suppress microbial biomass, application of urease inhibitors is known to be a potential way to rebuilt microbial diversity and improve soil functions. However, the hypothesis of this study is that the application of N fertilizers regardless of the source would increase soil microbial biomass and reduce soil respiration. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of enhanced-efficiency N sources on soil microbial biomass, and soil respiration. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design in a 3 × 4 + 1 factorial scheme, with four replicates. Treatments comprised three sources (conventional uncoated urea, NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide)-treated urea, and polymer-coated urea) and four rates (30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1) of N, in addition to a control treatment (no fertilizer application). Microbial biomass C (MBC) and microbial biomass N (MBN), and soil respiration (C-CO2 and qCO2) were determined in upland rice rhizosphere in each crop season. Responses of soil microbial properties to N fertilization were dependent on the N rates, but no significant effect of the N sources was observed. All measured parameters, except MBC in the first season and C-CO2 in the second season, were increased with increasing N rates. However, the application of N higher than 60 kg ha-1 suppressed soil microbial biomass, as well as soil respiration. Therefore, the lack of response by added urease inhibitors to the N sources indicate that optimizing N rates for upland rice production is a far more effective option for improving soil microbial community than using enhanced-efficiency N sources.

Date: 2024
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