Nitrification inhibition – UXN

Urease is an enzyme produced by soil microbes and fungi, that catalyses the breakdown of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urease plays a critical role in making applied nitrogen available to plants.  However, the rapid hydrolysis of urea by urease can result in excessive volatilization of ammonia, leading to losses of applied nitrogen into the atmosphere. This represents an economic loss to the farmer and creates greenhouse gases. The extent of ammonia volatilization and subsequent nitrous oxide (N₂O) formation is influenced by various factors, including soil pH, temperature, and moisture. Higher soil pH (more alkaline soils) and warmer temperatures generally increase ammonia volatilization.

UXN contains urease inhibiting phenols such as catechol. The application of UXN with urea will slow the release of urea to the plant, reducing ammonia volatilization and improving the availability of applied urea to the crop.