Several authors have described deletorius effects on plants after DCD application, but they have not analysed DCD contents in plants. For example:

Macadam, X.M.B., A. Prado, P. Merino, J.M. Estavillo, M. Pinto, and C. González-Murua. 2003. Dicyandiamide and 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate decrease N2O emissions from grassland but dicyandiamide produces deleterious effects in clover. J. Plant Physiol. 160: 1517–1523.

But some authors (not many) have determined DCD uptake in plants. You can review this one:

Vilsmeier, k. 1991. Fate of ammonium-N in pot studies as affected by DCD addition. Fertilizer Research 29: 187-189.

I

Thanks Sergio for your response. Gerald

Some of our papers on the use of dicyandiamide(DCD) in a perennial aromatic grass, Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt.) may be interesting to your research. We did not analyse DCD in plants; there was no adverse effect of DCD on citronella plants.

1. Prakasa Rao, E.V.S. and K.Puttanna (1987). Nitrification and ammonia volatilisation losses from urea and dicyandiamide treated urea in a sandy loam soil. Plant Soil 97, 201-206.

2. Prakasa Rao, E.V.S. and K.Puttanna (1993). Evaluation of dicyandiamide treated urea in Java citronella. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 42(1) : 54-59.

3. Puttanna K., N. M. Nanje Gowda and E. V. S. Prakasa Rao (1999). Effect of concentration, temperature, moisture, liming and organic matter on the efficacy of the nitrification inhibitors benzotriazole, o-nitrophenol, m-nitroaniline and dicyandiamide. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (The Netherlands) 54 : 251-257.

4.. Puttanna, K., N. M. Nanje Gowda and E.V.S. Prakasa Rao (2001). Effect of applications of N fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors on dry matter and essential oil yields of Java citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt). J. Agric. Sci. Camb. 136: 427-431.

5. Puttanna, K., N. M. Nanje Gowda and E.V.S.Prakasa Rao (2001). Regulation of nitrification by benzotriazole, o-nitrophenol, m-nitroaniline and dicyandiamide and pattern of NH3 emissions from citronella field fertilized with urea. Water, Air & Soil Pollution (The Netherlands) 131 : 11-17.

Thank you for your references. We are keen to know if there is uptake of DCD directly into plants and therefore see if it enters the food chain. Regards

Hi Gerald,

I have heard one incidence (please see the articles in the links provided below) about DCD (nitrification inhibitor) being used in New Zealand, and how it was found in their milk – though it does not seem to be a harmful substance in any way from a food safety standpoint. I have not heard any other incidence of similar nature. Hope these articles will help you.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/8219272/Product-recall-to-protect-dairy-exports

http://www.3news.co.nz/Eco-chemical-found-in-dairy-products/tabid/423/articleID/284334/Default.aspx

http://www.foodbev.com/news/toxic-substance-found-in-new-zealand-mil

Use of nitrification inhibitors is critical for reducing nitrate pollution of environment; consequent  effects such as nitrate and nitrite related toxicity. Prof Amberger from Technical Univ. Munich did pioneering work on DCD; also Dr. Vilsmeir. May be they will be able to answer some questions!

Thank you for your advice Regards

Thank you and best regards.

Please check the following paper for phytoxicity and uptake of DCD in some crop plants:

Reeves DW, Toughton JT (1986) Relative phytoxicity of dicyandiamide and availability of its nitrogen to cotton, corn, and grain sorghum. Soil Sci Soc Am J 50:1353–1357

Interesting recent conference paper on this topic Cheers Gerald Rys

Conference Paper

Routes of DCD uptake in pasture plants: a preliminary glasshouse study

 Pranoy Pal

 Landcare Research

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Andrew M. S. Mcmillan   23.96 · 95.04

Landcare Research 

Surinder Saggar  

Landcare Research

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Conference: FLRC Workshop. Moving farm systems to improved nutrient attenuation. (Eds L.D. Currie and L.L. Burkitt). http://flrc.massey.ac.nz/publications.html., At Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, Volume: Occasional Report No. 28

ABSTRACT The nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD) can mitigate nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions in New Zealand pastures and was commercially available to farmers (as spray suspension or granular formulations) until January 2013, when its use was suspended due to detection of traces of DCD found in exported milk. It is evident that DCD in the milk must have entered into the ruminant’s body via ingested pasture and/or soil adhering to the pasture. The question is: did the DCD originate solely from the leaf surface or was it absorbed into leaf tissues? Alternatively, was the DCD taken up by the roots and translocated to the shoots? We investigated these routes of DCD into the plant by separately examining leaf uptake and root uptake in two glasshouse experiments. In experiment 1, DCD (at 10 kg/ha) was sprayed onto the foliage of ryegrass/clover growing on an intact soil core, off which 41–64% was intercepted. Surface residues of DCD were quantified periodically by thorough rinsing of the foliage, which decreased (P

Dear Gerald,

We have now published the above work in Biology and Fertility of Soils (DOI: 10.1007/s00374-016-1096-6). Another relevant publication on DCD dynamics in wheat is published by Marsden et al. 2015 in Plant and Soil (DOI: 10.1007/s11104-015-2549-7). I hope this is helpful to other researchers who are looking into similar areas. Thanks. Pranoy