Effect of nitrification inhibitor on plant biomass and N2O emission rates in alpine meadows on the Tibetan Plateau

ABSTRACT

Treatment with nitrification inhibitors, such as dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) have been strongly indicated to increase grassland biomass and mitigate soil N₂O emission rates. However, the responses of both alpine meadow aboveground biomass and N₂O emission rates to nitrification inhibitors remains unclear. We separately applied three doses of DCD and DMPP to alpine grassland soils with three duplicates. The biomass and N₂O emission rates were subsequently measured by a clear-cut method and in-situ static chamber gas chromatography during the growing season. Our findings indicated that aboveground biomass increased significantly, and N₂O emission rate decreased significantly at 6.8?kg?ha^?1 DCD and DMPP. Furthermore, the biomass increase effect was more significant than the N₂O emission rate mitigation effect (p?<?0.05). The highest ratios of DCD treatments on meadow production increase and N₂O emission rate decrease were 27.2% and 36.3%, respectively. Our findings provide insight into the enhanced grassland primary production and decreased N₂O flux by nitrification inhibitor treatment in alpine meadows, which may be beneficial to help mitigate global warming.