Effect of Biological Denitrification Inhibitor on N₂O Emissions from Paddy Soil and Microbial Mechanisms

The denitrification process is the main process of the soil nitrogen (N) cycle in paddy fields, which leads to the production of large amounts of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and increases N loss in paddy soil. Plant-derived bio denitrification inhibitor procyanidins are thought to inhibit soil denitrification, thereby reducing N₂O emissions and soil N loss. However, the denitrification inhibition effect of procyanidins in paddy soils with high organic matter content remains unclear, and their high price is not conducive to practical application. Therefore, this study conducted a 21-day incubation experiment using low-cost proanthocyanidins (containing procyanidins) and paddy soil with high organic matter content in Northeast China to explore the effects of proanthocyanidins on N₂O emissions and related microorganisms in paddy soil. The results of the incubation experiment showed that the application of proanthocyanidins in paddy soil in Northeast China could promote the production of N₂O in the first three days but inhibited the production of N₂O thereafter. Throughout the incubation period, proanthocyanidins inhibited the enzyme nitrate reductase (NaR) activity and the abundance of nirS and nirk denitrifying bacteria, with a significant dose-response relationship. Although the application of proanthocyanidins also reduced the soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) content, the soil NO₃⁻-N content increased significantly with increasing incubation time. In addition, the application of proanthocyanidins increased soil microbial respiration, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) amoA gene abundance, and soil ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) content. Therefore, the application of proanthocyanidins to paddy soil in Northeast China can effectively regulate denitrification. However, in future studies, it is necessary to explore the impact of proanthocyanidins on the nitrification process and use them in combination with urease inhibitors and/or nitrification inhibitors to better regulate soil N transformation and reduce N₂O emissions in paddy soil.