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Agronomy QUESTION #2022
Question 1
Nitrification inhibitors like Nitrapyrin are used in fertilizer management to:
  • Convert ammonium to nitrate rapidly
  • Slow the conversion of ammonium (\(NH_4^+\)) to nitrate (\(NO_3^-\)) by inhibiting Nitrosomonas bacteria, thereby reducing leaching and denitrification losses✔️
  • Increase atmospheric nitrogen fixation by free-living bacteria
  • Chelate micronutrients to improve their plant availability
Correct Answer Explanation
Nitrification inhibitors suppress the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria, keeping nitrogen in the ammonium form longer. Since \(NH_4^+\) is adsorbed to soil colloids while \(NO_3^-\) is mobile and prone to leaching and denitrification, this improves N retention and NUE.