Download Effect of soil aeration status on the degradation of DCD in soil

Dicyandiamide (DCD) is a nitrification inhibitor that has been used in New Zealand’s agriclutural systems to reduce nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The efficacy of DCD at reducing both nitrate leaching and N2O can vary with season and soil type. One reason for this is the variation in seasonal soil temperature, since biological degradation of DCD is influenced by temperature. Other possibilities included the level of organic matter in the soil and the degree of soil aeration. Few studies have examined how soil organic matter influences DCD degradation while no studies have performed controlled experiments to determine the effect of soil aeration on DCD.