Effect of nitrogen rate and urease inhibitors on wheat yield in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico
1 Soils and plant nutrition, INIFAP, Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, km 12 Norman E. Borlaug between 800 and 900 Yaqui Valley, Cd. Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
2 Wheat Biotechnology, INIFAP, Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, km 12 Norman E. Borlaug between 800 and 900 Yaqui Valley, Cd. Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
Research Article
Open Access Research Journal of Science and Technology, 2025, 15(02), 112-118.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjst.2025.15.2.0140
Publication history:
Received 27 October 2025; revised on 04 December 2025; accepted on 06 December 2025
Abstract:
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a key determinant factor for wheat yield and quality in northwestern Mexico, where urea is the main nitrogen source. However, its rapid hydrolysis leads to losses through NH₃ volatilization. Urease inhibitors are an alternative to reduce losses. During the 2023–2024 fall–winter growing season, the effect of inhibitor-treated fertilizers (NitroPerfecto: NBPT + Duromide) versus conventional urea was evaluated in two field studies established in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico. In Study 1, 253 kg ha-1 were applied at sowing and 300 kg ha-1 at the first supplemental irrigation; in Study 2, late applications before the second supplemental irrigation were evaluated with doses of 0–200-400-600 kg ha-1. In Study 1, no significant differences were observed between nitrogen sources in grain yield; NitroPerfecto yielded 8.309 t ha-1 and urea 7.969 t ha-1. In Study 2, conventional urea yielded 8.792 t ha-1 with 600 kg ha-1, while NitroPerfecto did not show significant increases between 200–600 kg ha-1, and a maximum yield of 7.527 t ha-1. The above suggests an unfavorable synchrony between nitrogen release and crop demand in late applications. Protein content increased with nitrogen dosage from both sources. It was concluded that urease inhibitors work best at the beginning of the crop cycle, but are not recommended in later crop stages when nitrogen demand is higher.
Keywords:
Inhibitors; Urease; Yield; Nitrogen
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