Field Notes: Could These Crops Save You Nitrogen?

Could crops protect their own nitrogen—and help lower your fertiliser bill? Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is an emerging area of crop research that could offer new ways to improve nitrogen use efficiency in Australian agriculture. In this episode of In The Paddock — Field Notes, farmer and agronomist Martin Murray explores how plant roots could release natural nitrification inhibitors, helping retain nitrogen for crop uptake. First, we follow nitrogen from fertiliser application to the plant: how urea becomes ammonium and nitrate, where losses occur, and why different inhibitors protect different stages. You’ll hear: • How ammonia volatilisation, nitrate leaching and denitrification affect nitrogen availability. • How roots absorb ammonium and nitrate. • The difference between urease inhibitors such as NBPT and nitrification inhibitors such as DMPP. • What biological nitrification inhibition could offer wheat, sorghum and canola. • What Australia’s $10 million, four-year GRDC investment led by CSIRO is investigating. • Why promising overseas wheat results are not yet an Australian fertiliser-rate recommendation. BNI conserves existing nitrogen—it does not fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. The practical test is whether the trait delivers reliable benefits in yield, grain quality or fertiliser savings across Australian soils and seasons. 💬 What would convince you to choose a nitrogen-protecting variety: lower fertiliser costs, more reliable yield, or better performance in wet seasons? Leave a comment on the companion article or join the discussion wherever your podcast player supports it. READ THE COMPANION ARTICLE Explore the nitrogen-loss graphics, inhibitor comparison and deeper research discussion. Scheduled for 6 am AEDT, Wednesday 14 October 2026: https://inthepaddock.au/?p=3805 MORE FROM IN THE PADDOCK https://inthepaddock.au/ SOURCES & FURTHER READING GRDC GroundCover — Australian biological nitrification inhibition research: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/new-grdc-nitrogen-research-could-deliver-future-crop-options CSIRO — Research into future nitrogen-efficient crop options: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/news/2026/july/new-grdc-nitrogen-research-could-deliver-future-crop-options GRDC — Nitrogen loss pathways and levers to mitigate losses: https://grdc.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/614906/Paper-Bell-Schwenke-Grace_N-losses-Wagga-2025.pdf JIRCAS — Experimental BNI-enabled wheat results: https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/publication/research_results/2021_a04 Bozal-Leorri and colleagues — BNI traits and nitrogen uptake in wheat: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1034219 Follow In The Paddock for practical agronomy, emerging agricultural technology and research explained with Australian farmers in mind. Share this episode with someone weighing up their nitrogen-management options. General information only—not paddock-specific agronomic advice. Overseas experimental results do not establish that Australian growers can safely reduce nitrogen rates by 60%.