In an incubation experiment, atrazine application retarded the urea hydrolysis in three soils (acidic, neutral and saline-alkali soils). The nitrification process was inhibited by atrazine application and the inhibition increased with increase in the concentration of the pesticide. The nitrification rate was of the order: neutral soil> acid soil> saline - alkali soil. The inhibition of enzymes, viz. urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase, was also recorded by its application. The inhibition of enzyme activities was more intense at higher levels.
Atrazine, urea-N, mineralization, nitrification, urease, phosphatase, dehydrogenase
