Illinois Launches Statewide Study of Nitrogen Inhibitors
A four-year, $1.4 million University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign project will test how fertilizer inhibitors affect nitrate loss across nine counties.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Organic Food
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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has launched a four-year, $1.4 million statewide study of nitrification and urease inhibitors used with nitrogen fertilizer. The project, funded by the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council and led by Andrew Margenot, will evaluate the products at 12 research and on-farm sites.
Why it matters
Nitrification inhibitors were included in approximately 96% of fall anhydrous ammonia applications statewide, according to an Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association retailer survey, yet prior research on their effect on nitrate loss has been limited. The findings could strengthen the scientific foundation behind Illinois nutrient-loss reduction efforts.
The project's $1.4 million budget covers four years of work at 12 sites across nine counties, with nearly $1 million in additional funding for nitrous oxide emissions research with Koch Agronomic Services. Findings on crop nitrogen uptake, yield response and economic returns remain pending.
The players
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A public research university in Illinois whose College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences conducts extensive work on crop nutrient management.
Andrew Margenot
A professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois who leads the statewide inhibitor study.
Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council
A state-supported council that funds research on nutrient management to protect water quality and support agricultural productivity in Illinois.
The details
Researchers will compare nitrification and urease inhibitors, which slow the conversion of ammonium fertilizer into nitrate and of urea into ammonium, respectively. The work relies on monitored drainage systems that directly measure nitrate leaving fields through subsurface tile lines, and it will also assess crop nitrogen uptake, nitrogen-use efficiency and yield response.
Timeline
Four-year project period beginning with its launch announcement in November 2026.
Health Landscape
Earlier monitored drainage studies in Minnesota and across the Corn Belt examined single inhibitors at fixed rates, leaving the broader effect of nitrification inhibitors on nitrate loss largely untested. This project is designed to close that gap by evaluating multiple products and rates across Illinois conditions.
Illinois farmers who apply nitrogen fertilizer may see future guidance on whether inhibitors justify their cost once the study reports yield and economic results. The findings could shape which products are recommended for nitrate-loss control on local fields.
The takeaway
Farmers weighing nitrogen fertilizer inhibitors can watch for multi-site results that test both nitrate loss and economic return before changing application practices.
Further reading
For broader context on farming practices, see Organic Food coverage in Illinois.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AZoCleantech.
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