Introduction

Background & Rational

Nitrogen (N) is a vital macronutrient for plant growth and a key determinant of agricultural productivity. However, the excessive and inefficient use of nitrogen fertilizers in global agricultural systems has resulted in substantial environmental challenges. A significant portion of applied nitrogen is lost through leaching, runoff, ammonia (NH₃) volatilization, and emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O)—a potent greenhouse gas with nearly 300 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide [1,2]. These losses not only reduce nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), but also contribute to water pollution, air quality degradation, and climate change [3].

Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) have been developed to mitigate nitrogen losses by slowing the microbial oxidation of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃⁻) in soils [4]. By delaying nitrification, NIs help retain nitrogen in a plant-available form for a longer period, thereby enhancing NUE and reducing environmental emissions [5]. While numerous studies have explored the benefits of NIs under specific conditions, the overall effectiveness of different types of NIs—especially across diverse agroecological zones, crop species, and management systems—remains inadequately understood [6]. Additionally, the timing and strategy of NI application may further influence their performance in both agronomic and environmental contexts [7].

Research Objectives

The research objectives are outlined below:

1. To evaluate the effects of different types of nitrification inhibitors on the dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen pools across diverse agroecosystems worldwide.

2. To assess how various types of nitrification inhibitors influence crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in global agricultural systems, with the goal of improving nitrogen fertilizer efficiency and supporting sustainable agricultural development.

3. To investigate the impact of various nitrification inhibitor application strategies and timing on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agricultural soils across global agroecosystems in order to inform optimized nitrogen management practices and contribute to climate change mitigation.

By synthesizing data from a broad range of peer-reviewed studies, this research provides comprehensive insights into the agronomic and environmental outcomes of NI use on a global scale. The findings will be valuable for guiding future nitrogen fertilizer policies and optimizing field-level practices to balance productivity with environmental stewardship.

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