N-[n-butyl] thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), CAS No. 94317-64-3

NBPT, an urease inhibitor which can reduce nitrogen loss by ammonia volatilisation from urea, is used as a fertiliser additive in agricultural applications. It prevents and suppress over a certain period of time the transformation of amide-N in urea to ammonium hydroxide and ammonium through the hydrolytic action of the enzyme urease. By slowing down the rates at which urea is hydrolyzed in the soil, volatilization losses of amnonia to the air(as well as further leaching losses of nitrates) is either reduced or avoided. Thus the efficiency of urea and of N fertilizers containing urea(e.g. urea ammonium nitrate solution), is increased and any adverse environmental impact from their use is decreased. NBPT could be used as feeding additive application also.

Advantages of NBPT:

1)       NBPT significantly reduce volatilization losses of ammonia resulting in an increase in plant-available soil N, this may result in the formation of more basic amino acids, so-called “secondary messengers”

2)       NBPT can control ammonia losses from urine and excreta patches and dairy shed effluents, which is most important in countries with large areas of grazed pastures.

3)       NBPT significantly improves N-use efficiency from amide-N

4)       NBPT eliminate the adverse effects of urea fertilizers on seed germination and seedling when seed-placed levels of urea/urea-containing fertilizers are too large.

5)       NBPT decreases the emission of nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxides.

For the farmer, NBPT can be used with current or simplified equipment, which may save capital investment, in addition they offer more options for the timing of N applications and for conservation tillage programs.