title: Controlling the Hydrolysis and Loss of Nitrogen Fertilizer (Urea) by using a Nanocomposite Favors Plant Growth.
abstract: Urea tends to be hydrolyzed by urease and then migrate into the environment, which results in a low utilization efficiency and severe environmental contamination. To solve this problem, a network-structured nanocomposite (sodium humate-attapulgite-polyacrylamide) was fabricated and used as an excellent fertilizer synergist (FS) that could effectively inhibit the hydrolysis, reduce the loss, and enhance the utilization efficiency of nitrogen. Additionally, the FS exerted significant positive effects on the expression of several nitrogen-uptake-related genes, ion flux in maize roots, the growth of crops, and the organic matter in soil. The FS could modify the microbial community in the soil and increase the number of bacteria involved in nitrogen metabolism, organic matter degradation, the iron cycle, and photosynthesis. Importantly, this technology displayed a high biosafety and has a great potential to reduce nonpoint agricultural pollution. Therefore, this work provides a promising approach to manage nitrogen and to promote the sustainable development of agriculture and the environment.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control, Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P.R. China.|University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Linglin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P.R. of China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control, Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P.R. China.|University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control, Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P.R. China.|University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dongfang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P.R. of China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control, Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P.R. China.|University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dongqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control, Technology of Anhui Province, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P.R. China.|University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhengyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, P.R. of China.
authors.forename: Naiqin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005308:Fertilizers; D006868:Hydrolysis; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: fertilizers; hydrolysis; microbes; nitrogen fixation; urea