Influence of 3,5-Dimethilphirazolphosfato (DMPP) on soil N2O emission in Zea mays L. crop grown in Southern Italy.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is among the most important greenhouse gases. Based on an IPCC report, the soil represents an important source of atmospheric N2O, contributing about 57% of the total annual global emission. Most atmospheric N2O is of biogenic origin and produced by microbial denitrification and nitrification activity that are controlled by different soil-related factors such as moisture, temperature and nitrogen (N) content. Agricultural systems, by management and high N input, largely contribute to the increase N2O in atmospheric. In order to preserve nitrogen availability in the soil, fertilizers with microbial inhibitors are widely used in intensive agricultural systems contributing to reduction of total N2O efflux also up to 90%. In this work we analyzed the effect of 3,5-Dimethilphirazolphosfato (DMPP), an nitrification inhibitor, on soil N2O emission from Zea mays L. crop grown in Southern Italy. The soil N2O fluxes will be discussed in relationship to the effect of microbial inhibitor and environmental variables.