Genotypic Variation in Rice Root Exudates Controls Biological Nitrification Inhibition Efficiency in the Rhizosphere.

Genotypic variation in rice influences biological nitrification inhibition efficiency through root exudate traits and compounds, notably NBDA, in the rhizosphere.

• Why it matters: Understanding factors controlling BNI potential is crucial for reducing nitrogen losses and N2O emissions in fertilized rice systems, addressing environmental impacts.
• What they did: The study examined five rice genotypes by integrating plant physiology, soil nitrification dynamics, and exudate metabolomics, focusing on nitrifier suppression and exudate composition.
• The result: High-BNI genotypes showed greater shoot biomass, N accumulation, and exudation, with increased NBDA levels, which inhibited nitrifiers, reduced N2O emissions, and did not affect non-nitrifying bacteria, supporting targeted mitigation strategies.