Now that we finally have a hint of spring, producers start
thinking about planting corn and planning on nitrogen (N)
fertilization applications. In case you haven’t noticed,
fertilizer prices are a little higher than they were this time
last year. This typically leads to questions like: “Should I
consider the use of an inhibitor?” Multiple universities conduct
field research with inhibitors to determine effectiveness, but
lab studies conducted to determine proof of mode of action are
more critical to our understanding of their usefulness. Several
inhibitors have sound lab evidence that they do what they are
promoted to do (and some do not), but we may struggle to find
usefulness from field studies. Thus, university researchers
attempt to identify N sources, application methods and
application timings that are more likely to benefit from the use
of these inhibitors. Urea-based N fertilizers are an organic
commercial form that requires a biological enzyme to promote
degradation to ammonia. Ammonia exists as a g