Plant-based manipulation of nitrification in soil: a new approach to managing N loss?

Fillery, I. R. P.

doi:10.1007/s11104-007-9263-z

Cited by 53 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The peaks observed (m/z, %) were 334 (M ϩ , 17), 291 (9), 245 (5), 227 (5), 199 (11), 149 (21), 137 (100), 136 (75), 121 (47), and 107 (22) (Fig. S3).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for biological nitrification inhibition inBrachiariapastures

Subbarao

Nakahara²,

Hurtado³

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

438

420

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Nitrification, a key process in the global nitrogen cycle that generates nitrate through microbial activity, may enhance losses of fertilizer nitrogen by leaching and denitrification. Certain plants can suppress soil-nitrification by releasing inhibitors from roots, a phenomenon termed biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). Here, we report the discovery of an effective nitrification inhibitor in the root-exudates of the tropical forage grass Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick. Named ''brachialactone,'' this inhibitor is a recently discovered cyclic diterpene with a unique 5-8-5-membered ring system and a ␥-lactone ring. It contributed 60 -90% of the inhibitory activity released from the roots of this tropical grass. Unlike nitrapyrin (a synthetic nitrification inhibitor), which affects only the ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) pathway, brachialactone appears to block both AMO and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase enzymatic pathways in Nitrosomonas. global warming ͉ nitrogen pollution ͉ nitrous oxide emissions ͉ root exudation ͉ climate change M ost modern agricultural systems are based on large inputs of inorganic nitrogen (N), with ammonium (NH 4 ϩ ) being the primary N source (1, 2). Also, current crop management practices result in the development of highly nitrifying soil environments (3, 4). Nitrification results in the transformation of the relatively immobile NH 4 ϩ to highly mobile nitrate (NO 3 Ϫ ), making inorganic N susceptible to losses through leaching of NO 3 Ϫ and/or gaseous N emissions, potentially initiating a cascade of environmental and health problems (1, 2, 5, 6). Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is one of the three major biogenic greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, produced primarily from denitrification processes in agricultural systems (5, 7). Also, assimilation of NO 3 Ϫ by plants can result in further N 2 O emissions directly from plant canopies (8). The low agronomic N-use efficiency (NUE) found in many agricultural systems is largely the result of N losses associated with nitrification (i.e., N losses from NO 3 Ϫ leaching and denitrification) (9-11). Most plants have the ability to assimilate both NH 4 ϩ and NO 3 Ϫ (12); therefore, nitrification does not need to be a dominant process in the N cycle for efficient N use.Nitrification is low in some forest and grassland soils (13-17). Since the early 1960s, some tropical grasses have been suspected of having the capacity to inhibit nitrification (18-21). However, this concept remained controversial due to the lack of direct evidence showing such inhibitory effects or the identification of specific inhibitors (22).We adopted a very sensitive bioassay using a recombinant luminescent Nitrosomonas europaea to detect biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) in plant-soil systems with the inhibitory activity of roots expressed in allylthiourea units (ATU) (23). Using this methodology, we were able to show that certain plants release nitrification inhibitors from their roots (23-26). Such BNI capacity appears to be relatively widespread among...

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“…The peaks observed (m/z, %) were 334 (M ϩ , 17), 291 (9), 245 (5), 227 (5), 199 (11), 149 (21), 137 (100), 136 (75), 121 (47), and 107 (22) (Fig. S3).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the early 1960s, some tropical grasses have been suspected of having the capacity to inhibit nitrification (18)(19)(20)(21). However, this concept remained controversial due to the lack of direct evidence showing such inhibitory effects or the identification of specific inhibitors (22).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for biological nitrification inhibition inBrachiariapastures

Subbarao

Nakahara²,

Hurtado³

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

438

420

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Strategies to suppress nitrification after N fertilization could result in higher uptake of N in the form of NH 4 + by crops and might be additionally beneficial for plants preferring + (Boudsocq et al 2012), while reducing N losses to the environment. Synthetic nitrification inhibitors (SNIs) like nitrapyrin, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and dicyandiamide (DCD) were shown to inhibit the activity of soil nitrifiers, but persistence of their effectiveness depends strongly on environmental factors (Zerulla et al 2001;Fillery 2007;Ruser and Schulz 2015). In addition, prices for SNIs are beyond the reach of smallholders that manage low input systems in tropical and subtropical regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Residual effect of BNI by Brachiaria humidicola pasture on nitrogen recovery and grain yield of subsequent maize

et al. 2017

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Background and Aims The forage grass Brachiaria humidicola (Bh) has been shown to reduce soil microbial nitrification. However, it is not known if biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) also has an effect on nitrogen (N) cycling during cultivation of subsequent crops. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the residual BNI effect of a converted long-term Bh pasture on subsequent maize (Zea mays L.) cropping, where a long-term maize monocrop field (M) served as control. Methods Four levels of N fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120 and 240 kg N ha −1 ) and synthetic nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide) treatments allowed for comparison of BNI effects, while 15 N labelled micro-plots were used to trace the fate of applied fertilizer N. Soil was incubated to investigate N dynamics. Results A significant maize yield increase after Bh was evident in the first year compared to the M treatment. The second cropping season showed an eased residual effect of the Bh pasture. Soil incubation studies suggested that nitrification was significantly lower in Bh soil but this BNI declined one year after pasture conversion. Plant N uptake was markedly greater under previous Bh compared with M. The N balance of the 15 N micro-plots revealed that N was derived mainly (68-86%) from the mineralized soil organic N pool in Bh while plant fertilizer N recovery (18-24%) was not enhanced. Conclusions Applied N was strongly immobilized due to long-term root turnover effects, while a significant residual BNI effect from Bh prevented re-mineralized N from nitrification resulting in improved maize performance. However, a significant residual Bh BNI effect was evident for less than one year only.

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“…Furthermore, Lata et al (2004) demonstrated that nitrification can be suppressed or stimulated depending on the ecotype of Hypparhenia diplandra. Inhibition of nitrification can play a role in the functioning of these nutrient-poor grassland systems to control N losses (Lata et al 2004;Fillery 2007;Phillipot et al 2009). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Repression of potential nitrification activities by matgrass sward species

et al. 2010

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Soil nitrification is a key process in regulating the relative availability of the various inorganic N forms to plants. In the current study, we investigated the effect of different plant species on numbers of ammoniaoxidizing microbial cells by measuring the potential nitrification activity (PAA). Soil from matgrass sward and from calcareous grassland was collected in the field and four characteristic plant species of each vegetation type were cultivated from seed. These plant species grew for 4 months in the two soil types. After those 4 months, PAA were significantly higher in calcareous soil compared to the matgrass sward soil and the presence of matgrass sward species had significantly decreased PAA in this soil. In soils from matgrass stands, PAA were much lower, and no effect of the different plant species could be detected. Plant biomass of the calcareous grassland species was overall positively correlated with PAA, whereas for matgrass plant species a negative trend was found. We conclude that matgrass sward plant species had a clear repressing effect on the potential ammonia-oxidizing activity in calcareous grassland soil within this 4-month growth experiment. The observed repression of PAA is in accordance with earlier field observations of PAA in the different vegetation zones, where repressed PAA and significant higher ammonium to nitrate ratios were observed in the matgrass sward vegetation compared to the other vegetation zones. Major findings of this study indicate that plant species can influence the nitrification potential of their habitats, i.e. certain species can repress nitrification potential and others can increase nitrification potential of their habitats.

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Plant-based manipulation of nitrification in soil: a new approach to managing N loss?

Cited by 53 publications

References 26 publications

Evidence for biological nitrification inhibition inBrachiariapastures

Evidence for biological nitrification inhibition inBrachiariapastures

Residual effect of BNI by Brachiaria humidicola pasture on nitrogen recovery and grain yield of subsequent maize

Repression of potential nitrification activities by matgrass sward species

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