Abstract

Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) are increasingly recognized as promising tools to improve nitrogen (N) management in agricultural systems. By slowing the microbial oxidation of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃⁻), NIs help reduce reactive nitrogen losses and extend nitrogen availability for crop uptake. To better understand their overall effectiveness across diverse agricultural contexts, we conducted a global meta-analysis evaluating both agronomic and environmental outcomes associated with NI application. Our results demonstrate that NIs significantly reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions by 67.31% and ammonia (NH₃) volatilization by 17.99%, while enhancing crop yield by 6.1% and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 16.54%. Among the tested inhibitors, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) was the most effective, simultaneously improving yield and mitigating N₂O emissions. NI-induced increases in soil mineralized nitrogen were positively associated with crop productivity. Furthermore, several environmental moderators influenced NI performance: greater precipitation was associated with higher NH₃ emissions, warmer temperatures improved NUE, and higher soil pH reduced N₂O emissions. These findings highlight the potential of NIs as effective tools to enhance nitrogen retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support both sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation.