Nitrapyrin, terrazole, atrazine and simazine influence on denitrification and corn growth

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Abstract
In modern agriculture, long‐term soil fertility and crop productivity are maintained by a combination of inorganic fertilizers and pesticide inputs which, in turn, create environmental and health concerns. Therefore, studies were initiated to evaluate two commonly used herbicides (atrazine and simazine) and two biological nitrification inhibitors (nitrapyrin and terrazole) applied with NO3‐N source fertilizer for their effects on denitrification and on corn (Zea mays L.) growth and yields. Each chemical applied at the rate of 10, 50, or 100 mg a.i. L‐1 suppressed denitrification of NO3 ‐ in a liquid medium inoculated with a Tifton loamy sand in a laboratory study. Nitrapyrin and terrazole selectively suppressed NO3 ‐ or NO2 ‐ or both reduction while atrazine and simazine suppressed NO2 ‐ or N2O or both reduction. In greenhouse pot culture studies, chemical application resulted in higher percent N recovery relative to the control. When atrazine or simazine was part of the chemical treatment, concentrations of NO3 ‐ and NO2 ‐ in corn (Zea mays L.) plants increased, and plant growth was restricted due to NO2 ‐ toxicity. During two consecutive years of field studies using split‐banded applications of N fertilization with nitrapyrin and terrazole, corn ear yields increased 78% and 25% in the first and second year, respectively. With atrazine and simazine, however, yields increased significantly in the first season only. Mixing either herbicide with nitrapyrin or terrazole had no effect on yields during both seasons. Chemical Names: atrazine = [2‐chloro‐4‐ethylamino‐6‐isopropylamino‐s‐triazine]; simazine = [2‐chloro‐4,6‐bis(ethylamino)‐s‐triazine]; nitrapyrin = [2‐chloro‐6‐(trichloromethyl)pyridine]; terrazole = [ethoxy‐3‐trichloromethyl‐1,2,4‐thiadiazole].

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