How do urease inhibitors impact nitrogen in the soil?

Urease inhibitors work by slowing down the enzymatic reaction that converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. By doing this, they delay the transformation of urea into ammonium, which is a crucial step before the nitrogen can further convert into nitrate through nitrification. The delay allows for more efficient utilization of nitrogen by crops, as it reduces the chances of nitrogen loss through volatilization and leaching soon after application. This means that the nitrogen remains in a form that plants can uptake for a more extended period, thus improving the overall nitrogen use efficiency in agricultural systems.