Exploring Substituted Dihydroxybenzenes as Urease Inhibitors through Structure-Activity Relationship Studies in Soil Incubations.

ABSTRACT: Urea fertilization as nitrogen (N) source is essential for increasing crop productivity. However, it results in significant N loss through ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching, and nitrous oxide emissions, causing environmental harm and economic loss. Urease, an enzyme in soil, rapidly catalyzes urea hydrolysis to ammonia/ammonium. To reduce ammonia volatilization, urease inhibitors delay hydrolysis until urea is dissolved in the soil body. The commercial product N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) is effective only in certain soils, yet it dominates the current global urease inhibitor market. This study examines the performance of un- and substituted dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs) as alternatives to NBPT in two Australian soils. Among them, 4-fluorocatechol (DHB 6) and 4-bromocatechol

SUBMITTER: Nathanael JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12352726 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature