Soil N2O emission as affected by 3,5-Dimethilphirazolphosphate, a nitrification inhibitor, applied on different soil types in Southern Italy

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas contributing 6% to global warming. It is emitted from soils by microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification which are controlled by different soil-related factors such as moisture, temperature and nitrogen content (Han Jian-gang et al., 2007). Recently, fertilizers have been produced which contain microbial inhibitors and are being widely used in intensive agricultural systems, where it is estimated that can reduce total N2O efflux by up to 90% (Weiske et al., 2006; Pfab et al., 2009). In this study we analyze the effect of 3,5-Dimethilphirazolphosphate (DMPP), a nitrification inhibitor, on soil N2O emission from two cropping systems (potato on a sandy soil and maize on a sandy loam soil).