Improving the management of mineral fertilizers for nitrous oxide mitigation: The effect of nitrogen fertilizer type, urease and nitrification inhibitors in two different textured soils

The highest N2O and CO2 emissions were recorded after the application of an ammonium-based fertilizer in both soils, suggesting the preponderance of nitrifying organisms. The results confirmed that WFPS is a key driver for N2O emissions, with highest N2O emissions occurring at WFPS > 75%, while CO2 emissions decreased linearly with increasing WFPS across all fertilizer treatments and in both soils. NIs were effective only in the soil with the highest nitrification activity and the lowest clay content, decreasing N2O emissions by an average of 50%, while the UI did not reduce N2O emissions in either soil. These results proved that soil characteristics significantly affect NIs capacity to mitigate N2O emissions from soil.