Nitrogen (N) is deficient in more than 90% of soils of Pakistan, mainly because of low organic matter contents. The use of nitrogenous fertilizers is a common practice for sustainable and profitable crop yields. A significant portion of added fertilizers is lost through volatilization, leaching, and denitrification. The low use efficiency of these fertilizers in our climate is a serious concern because of high costs and environmental issues. The present study evaluated the novel synergistic effect of urease and nitrification inhibitors such as ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and 2-Chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine (nitrapyrin) to reduce the urea hydrolysis in the soil of three cities of Pakistan, i.e., Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura, to manage the ammonia as well as N loss. Three different combinations, such as A1, A2, and A3 of both inhibitors, were prepared with varying ratios of 1:1, 0.25:0.75, and 0.75:0.25, respectively. Results showed that the minimum urea hydrolysis of about 2.41, 2.79, and 4.68 IU/g soil was observed with A1 combination after 4th-day observation with the rate of 0.50% concentration for Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura, respectively. In addition, results showed better urease activity at a pH value of 6.50, incubation time of 30 min, and temperature of 37 °C for all A1, A2, and A3 combinations with 0.50% concentration. Moreover, inhibitor-treated urea showed the maximum plant height of 111, 101, and 101 cm, and root length of 15, 11, and 5 cm, number of tillers of 14, 16, and 19 per panicle, and number of spikes of 37, 21, and 38 per panicle with A1, A2, and A3 combination at 0.50% dose respectively in Faisalabad soil. Overall, it is concluded that 0.50% inhibitor concentration showed the much impressive urease inhibition results followed by 0.25 and 0.10%. However, the application of inhibitors was a good practice to reduce the N loss from soil.

Graphical abstract

中文翻译：

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脲酶和硝化抑制剂在降低氨挥发中的协同作用

巴基斯坦90%以上的土壤都缺乏氮（N），主要原因是有机质含量低。使用氮肥是实现可持续和有利可图的作物产量的常见做法。很大一部分添加的肥料通过挥发、浸出和反硝化而流失。由于高成本和环境问题，这些肥料在我们的气候中的低使用效率是一个严重的问题。本研究评估了脲酶和硝化抑制剂如硫代硫酸铵 (ATS) 和 2-氯-6-(三氯甲基)吡啶（硝基吡喃）的新型协同作用，以减少巴基斯坦三个城市土壤中的尿素水解，即， Faisalabad、Gujranwala 和 Sheikhupura，以管理氨和 N 损失。三种不同的组合，如A1、A2、和 A3 两种抑制剂分别以 1:1、0.25:0.75 和 0.75:0.25 的不同比例制备。结果表明，在Faisalabad、Gujranwala和Sheikhupura分别以0.50%的浓度观察第4天后，A1组合的最低尿素水解率约为2.41、2.79和4.68 IU/g土壤。此外，结果表明，在 0.50% 浓度的所有 A1、A2 和 A3 组合的 pH 值为 6.50、孵育时间为 30 分钟和温度为 37°C 时，脲酶活性更好。此外，抑制剂处理尿素的最大株高分别为 111、101 和 101 cm，根长分别为 15、11 和 5 cm，每穗分蘖数分别为 14、16 和 19，穗数为在费萨拉巴德土壤中，A1、A2 和 A3 组合分别以 0.50% 的剂量使用每穗 37、21 和 38 个。全面的，得出的结论是，0.50% 的抑制剂浓度显示出令人印象深刻的脲酶抑制结果，其次是 0.25% 和 0.10%。然而，抑制剂的应用是减少土壤中氮损失的良好做法。

图形概要