N breakdown inhibitor

[dontknowanything]

Our agronomist is trying to convince me to trial a chemical that slows down the breakdown of urea in the soil, which supposedly make it hang around longer for the plants to use. I think it does this by "slowing down" (killing?) the N fixing bacteria that would otherwise be using it.

I'm somewhat skeptical about the overall benefit of using this, has anyone else heard of it?

 

[SilliamWhale]

Koch?

 

[dontknowanything]

it's this stuff, nitrapyrin.

http://www.dowagro.com/usag/prod/090.htm

 

[Andy Howard]

I have been asked to trial it too. A 5% yield increase in maize in the states apparently. I also asked the question to Dow about the stuff slowing down the release by killing microbes, they said no it does not. Do I believe them or did they not actually know themselves. I will probably try a little bit but as I said to the bloke this spring could be crazy busy if it dries up and it could get forgotten!