Nitrification inhibitor formulation to prevent crystallization on solid mineral fertilizer

Abstract

The present invention lies in the field of nitrification inhibitor compositions and fertilizer formulations and relates, in one aspect, to a composition for reducing nitrification, comprising (a) at least one specific alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I), (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one specific N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II); wherein the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), compound (a) in an amount of up to 47 wt.-%, and the at least one solvent (b) in an amount of at least 53 wt.-%. Furthermore, the invention relates to a solid fertilizer composition comprising such a composition; a method for the production of a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition according to the invention; the use of a solvent composition comprising at least one monomeric alcohol and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide of formula (II) to stabilize an alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) in a solid fertilizer composition; and the use of the composition or solid fertilizer composition or methods for reducing nitrification.

Description

[0001] NITRIFICATION INHIBITOR FORMULATION TO PREVENT CRYSTALLIZATION ON SOLID MINERAL FERTILIZER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention lies in the field of nitrification inhibitor compositions and fertilizer formulations and relates, in a first aspect, to a composition for reducing nitrification, comprising (a) at least one alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I), (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one specific N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II); wherein the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), compound (a) in an amount of up to 47 wt.-%, and the at least one solvent (b) in an amount of at least 53 wt.-%. Furthermore, the invention relates to a solid fertilizer composition comprising such a composition; a method for the production of a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition according to the invention; the use of a solvent composition comprising at least one monomeric alcohol and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide of formula (II) to stabilize an alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) in a solid fertilizer composition; and the use of the composition or solid fertilizer composition for reducing nitrification or the corresponding methods. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Alkoxypyrazole compounds can be used as nitrification inhibitors and can be applied, e.g., to ammonium and urea containing fertilizers. The use of alkoxypyrazoles as nitrification inhibitors is, for example, described in international patent publication WO2019 / 166561 A1. However, it was recently found that if such alkoxypyrazole nitrification inhibitors are combined with common solid nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers, crystalline deposits develop upon storage for several weeks at different temperatures. These are undesirable as they negatively impact the appearance of the product and may also interfere with the proper delivery of the actives. Consequently, it was the object of the present invention to provide for compositions that minimize or prevent such crystal growth, in particular at lower temperatures and over extended periods of (storage) time. Summary of the Invention Surprisingly, it has been found that specific solvent combinations are suited to prevent crystal formation of the alkoxypyrazoles, especially if these are applied onto solid mineral fertilizers. Based on these findings, novel compositions for reducing nitrification with improved storage stability, in particular for the application to ammonium and urea containing fertilizers, have been provided. Specifically, the solvent compositions that have been found useful comprise at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one specific N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl. In a first aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a composition for reducing nitrification, comprising (a) at least one alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) wherein R1is allyl or alkyl selected from ethyl, propyl and butyl; or a salt tautomer or N-oxide thereof; and (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl; wherein the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), compound (a) in an amount of up to 47 wt.-%, for example 18 to 47 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-% and the at least one solvent (b) in an amount of at least 53 wt.-%, for example 53 to 82 wt.-%, preferably 55 to 80 wt.-%, more preferably 60 to 70 wt.-%. In various embodiments, R1of formula (I) is ethyl. In various embodiments, the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) can be benzyl alcohol or a polyol. Preferably, the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is a polyol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol, more preferably propylene glycol. In various embodiments, it is further preferred that the solvent (b) comprises at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II), as defined herein. In various embodiments of the compounds of formula (II), R4is selected from (linear or branched) C2-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted with one -OH or one -COOR5group, wherein R5is C1-C4 alkyl. Preferably, the compound of formula (II) is selected from N,N-dimethyllactamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester. In various embodiments, the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) in an amount of from 20 to 50 wt.-% and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) in an amount of from 10 to 50 wt.-%, preferably 15 to 40 wt.-%. In various embodiments, the composition is a liquid composition. The liquid composition is preferably sprayable with standard equipment. In another aspect, the invention relates to a solid fertilizer composition comprising the composition according to the invention. In preferred embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition is a nitrogen- containing fertilizer composition. In various embodiments, the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition comprises an urea-containing and / or an ammonium-containing fertilizer, preferably a solid ammonium-containing inorganic fertilizer, more preferably an NPK fertilizer, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium sulfate and / or ammonium phosphate; or an urea-containing fertilizer, more preferably urea, formaldehyde urea, anhydrous ammonium, urea sulfur, urea based NPK-fertilizers, and / or urea ammonium sulfate. It may be preferred that the fertilizer is in form of granules. In various embodiments, the granules have an average particle size of 1 to 5 mm. In various embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition comprises the composition according to the invention in an amount that corresponds to 0.1 to 5 wt.-% of the at least one alkoxypyrazole according to formula (I) relative to the ammonium-nitrogen and / or urea-nitrogen content of the fertilizer composition. Preferably, the solid fertilizer composition comprises the composition in an amount of 0.2 to 3.0 wt.-%, such as 0.3 to 2.0 wt.-% of the at least one alkoxypyrazole according to formula (I) relative to the ammonium- nitrogen and / or urea-nitrogen content of the fertilizer composition, more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 wt.-% or 0.3 to 1.0 wt.-%, in particular 0.4 to 1.0 wt.-%. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for the production of a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition according to the invention, comprising (a) providing a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition, preferably in the form of granules or a powder; (b) combining the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition with a liquid composition for reducing nitrification according to the invention, preferably by spraying the liquid composition onto the solid nitrogen- containing fertilizer composition or by granulating the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer with the liquid composition. In still another aspect, the invention relates to the use of a solvent composition comprising at least one monomeric alcohol and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl; to stabilize an alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) wherein R1is alkyl selected from ethyl, propyl and butyl, preferably ethyl; or a salt tautomer or N-oxide thereof; in a solid fertilizer composition, wherein the solvent composition and the alkoxypyrazole are combined and applied in liquid form to the solid fertilizer composition. The combination of the solvent composition and the alkoxypyrazole is typically achieved by first dissolving the alkoxypyrazole in the solvent composition and subsequently applying the resulting (liquid) composition to the solid fertilizer. A further aspect of the invention is the use of the composition according to the invention or the solid fertilizer composition according to the invention for reducing nitrification. Preferably, the composition or solid fertilizer composition is used for reducing nitrification of ammonium from urea and / or ammonium containing fertilizers. In various embodiments, said reduction of nitrification occurs in or on soil or soil substitute, in the root zone of a plant, at the locus where a plant is growing or is intended to grow, and / or in or on a plant. A still further aspect of the invention is a method for reducing nitrification, comprising (1) treating a plant growing on soil or soil substitutes and / or the locus or soil or soil substitutes where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with the composition according to the invention; or (2) fertilizing a plant growing on soil or soil substitutes and / or the locus or soil or soil substitutes where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with the solid fertilizer composition according to the invention. In various embodiments of the methods or uses of the invention, said plant is an agricultural plant, such as, without limitation, wheat, barley, oat, rye, soybean, corn, potatoes, oilseed rape, canola, sunflower, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beet, rice, or a vegetable such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, or cabbages; or sorghum; a silvicultural plant; an ornamental plant; or a horticultural plant, each in its natural or in a genetically modified form. These and other aspects, embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention become apparent to the person skilled in the art from the following detailed description and claims. Each feature from one aspect of the invention can be used in any other aspect of the invention. Furthermore, the examples contained herein are intended to describe and illustrate the invention, but not to restrict it. In particular, the invention is not limited to these examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION All technical and scientific terms used herein have, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the meanings as commonly understood in the art. The singular forms of "a" and "an" also include the respective plurals unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “At least one” as used herein, means one or more, i.e.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more of the referenced species. Similarly, “one or more”, as used herein, relates to at least one and comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more. In connection with a given species, the term does not relate to the total number of molecules, but rather to the type of species. “At least one alkoxypyrazole”, for example, thus means that one type of alkoxypyrazole or two or more different types of alkoxypyrazoles may be present. In connection with amounts, the term relates to the total amount of the referenced species. In case of alkoxypyrazoles, for example, this means that the given amount is the total amount of all alkoxypyrazoles (types) in the composition. Numeric values specified without decimal places here refer to the full value specified with one decimal place, i.e., for example, 99 % means 99.0 %, unless otherwise defined. All percentages given herein in relation to compositions or formulations relate to weight % (wt.-%) relative to the total weight of the respective composition or formula, if not explicitly stated otherwise. Numeric ranges specified in the format “from x to y” include the specified values. If multiple preferred numeric ranges are specified in this format, it is understood that all ranges created by combining the different endpoints are also included. The terms “about”, “approximately” or “approx.”, in connection with a numerical value, refer to a variance of ±20 %, preferably ±15 %, more preferably ± 10 %, and even more preferably ± 5 %, with respect to the given numerical value. It is to be understood that the term "comprising" is not limiting. For the purposes of the present invention the term "consisting of" is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the term "comprising of". If hereinafter a group is defined to comprise at least a certain number of embodiments, this is meant to also encompass a group which preferably consists of these embodiments only. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", "third" or "(a)", "(b)", "(c)", "(d)" etc. and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. In case the terms "first", "second", "third" or "(a)", "(b)", "(c)", "(d)", "i", "ii" etc. relate to steps of a method or use or assay there is no time or time interval coherence between the steps, i.e. the steps may be carried out simultaneously or there may be time intervals of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or even years between such steps, unless otherwise indicated in the application as set forth herein above or below. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, reagents etc. described herein as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention that will be limited only by the appended claims. In a first aspect, the invention relates to a composition for reducing nitrification, comprising (a) at least one alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) wherein R1is allyl or alkyl selected from ethyl, propyl and butyl; or a salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; and (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4 wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl; wherein the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), compound (a) in an amount of up to 47 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-% and the at least one solvent (b) in an amount of at least 53 wt.-%, preferably 55 to 80 wt.-%, more preferably 60 to 70 wt.-%. Alkoxypyrazole compounds (a) according to the invention can be prepared by standard processes of organic chemistry. Suitable methods for preparing pyrazole compounds in general are described in “Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry”, Vol.27, G.W. Gribble, J.A. Joule, Elsevier, 2015, Chapter 5.4.2. A general method for the synthesis of 3-alkoxy-pyrazoles comprises the reaction between hydrazine hydrochloride and various ^-ketoesters as described in, for example: a) Sadrine Guillou, Frédéric J. Bonhomme, Yves L. Janin, Synthesis 2008, 3504–3508; or b) in WO 2010 / 015657 A2. Furthermore, the 3- alkoxy group can be introduced by alkylating a suitable hydroxypyrazole derivative as described e.g. by a) D. Piomelli and coworkers, Synthesis 2016, 2739–2756, or b) Sandrine Guillou, Yves L. Janin, Chem. Eur. J.2010, 16, 4669 – 4677. Diverse methods to synthesize pyrazoles bearing the alkoxy group in the position 4 were described by William F. Vernier, Laurent Gomez, Tetrahedron Letters 2017, 4587–4590. WO201916656 describes the compounds of formula (I) as nitrification inhibitors. It is to be understood that 1H-pyrazoles, especially those with different substituents in 3- and 5-position, may be present in the form of different annular tautomers, i.e. prototrophic tautomers, as described by a) Schaumann, Ernst, Methoden der Organischen Chemie, 1994, Houben-Weyl, E8b: Hetarene III and b) A. Güven, N. Kanişkan, Journal of Molecular Structure (Theochem), 1999, 488, 125-134. It is to be understood that these annular tautomers of the compounds of formula (I) may commonly be formed, as the hydrogen atom may migrate to the other nitrogen atom and vice versa. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the compounds of formula (I) may be present in the form of the different annular tautomers, or as a mixture thereof. Further, it is to be understood that the equilibrium between those tautomeric forms depends on the steric and electronic properties of the substituents present on the pyrazole ring of the compounds of formula (I). Therefore, if pyrazolium ions of the compounds of formula (I) are formed, the different tautomers will typically result in two different isomers of the pyrazolium ion. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, such isomer mixtures of pyrazolium ions of the compounds of formula (I) may be used. Generally, all tautomeric forms of the compounds structurally defined herein are intended to be covered by the present invention. The term "nitrification inhibitor" is to be understood in this context as a chemical substance which slows down, reduces, or stops the nitrification process. Nitrification inhibitors accordingly retard the natural transformation of ammonium into nitrate, by inhibiting the activity of bacteria such as Nitrosomonas spp. The term "nitrification" as used herein is to be understood as the biological oxidation of ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+) with oxygen into nitrite (NO2-) followed by the oxidation of these nitrites into nitrates (NO3-) by microorganisms. Besides nitrate (NO3-) nitrous oxide is also produced through nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil. The inhibition of nitrification may thus also reduce N2O losses. The term nitrification inhibitor is considered equivalent to the usefulness / suitability of such a compound for reducing or inhibiting nitrification. The term "compound of formula (I)" comprises the compound(s) as defined herein as well as a salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof. The compounds of formula (I) may be amorphous or may exist in one or more different crystalline states (polymorphs) which may have different macroscopic properties such as stability or show different biological properties such as activities. The present invention covers amorphous and crystalline compounds of formula (I), mixtures of different crystalline states of the respective compound, as well as amorphous or crystalline salts thereof. Salts of the compounds of the formula (I) are preferably agriculturally acceptable salts. They can be formed in a customary manner, e.g. by reacting the compound with an acid of the anion in question if the compound of formula (I) has a basic functionality. Agriculturally useful salts of the compounds of formula (I) encompass especially the acid addition salts of those acids whose cations and anions, respectively, have no adverse effect on the mode of action of the compounds of formula (I). Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide, fluoride, hydrogen sulfate, sulfate, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, phosphate, nitrate, bicarbonate, carbonate, hexafluoro silicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate, and the anions of C1-C4-alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate. They can preferably be formed by reacting compounds of formula (I) with an acid of the corresponding anion, preferably of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, or nitric acid. Preferred salts of the compounds of formula (I) are phosphate salts. In various embodiments, it is also possible that the alkoxypyrazole compound is present in the form of a pyrazolium salt, such that the compound of formula (I) is present in cationic form. The term "N-oxide" includes any compound of formula (I), wherein a tertiary nitrogen atom, e.g. the pyrazole nitrogen atom, is oxidized to an N-oxide moiety. Tautomers of the compounds of formula (I) may be present as described above. For example, tautomers include those compounds in which the hydrogen atom has migrated to the other nitrogen atom and vice versa. The organic moieties covered by the above definition of the variable R1include CH2CH3, i.e. ethyl, propyl, and butyl. Propyl and butyl moieties may be n-propyl and n-butyl, respectively, but may also be isopropyl, isobutyl and t-butyl. In preferred embodiments, R1is ethyl. “Allyl”, as used herein, relates to the moiety -CH2-CH=CH2 (prop-2-en-1-yl). “Solvent”, as used herein in relation to the compositions of the invention, refer to compounds that are typically liquid under standard conditions (20°, 1013 mbar) and are suitable to solubilize the alkoxypyrazole. Accordingly, it may be preferred that the solubility of the alkoxypyrazole in the solvent is at least 1g / 100mL, preferably 1g / 10 mL (at 20°C). It is further preferred that the solvent and the resulting composition has a viscosity and rheology that allows its application to solid fertilizers by conventional means, such as spraying or granulating. Granulation may be carried out, e.g., by melting the solid fertilizer, which is subsequently cooled down and granulated. The composition according to the invention may be added to the melt prior to or during the granulation. Another option includes spraying the composition of the invention onto the fertilizer during any stage of the granulation process, including the final granules. The term “liquid”, as used herein, relates to compounds and compositions that are liquid under standard conditions (20°C, 1013 mbar). As noted above, said term may mean that the respective compositions is suitable to be applied to solid fertilizers by conventional means, including spraying. The term may thus mean that the composition is sprayable (with conventional equipment). In various embodiments, the at least one alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) is 5-butoxy-3- methylpyrazol (R1= butyl), 5-propoxy-3-methyl-pyrazol (R1= propyl) and / or 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole (R1= ethyl), preferably 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazol, or a salt, tautomer, or N-oxide thereof. All pyrazole compounds referred to herein may be 1H-pyrazoles according to formula (I) but may also be tautomers thereof. The composition according to the invention comprises (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl, e.g. methyl. In various embodiments, the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is benzyl alcohol or a polyol, preferably selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol. In preferred embodiments, the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is benzyl alcohol (BA) or propylene glycol (PG), in particular propylene glycol (PG) (IUPAC: 1,2-propane diol). It is further preferred that the solvent (b) comprises at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) as described herein. In various embodiments, R4is selected from C1-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted with one -OH or one -COOR5group, wherein R5is C1-C4 alkyl, e.g. methyl. Preferably, the compound of formula (II) is selected from N,N-dimethyllactamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester. The compounds N,N-dimethyllactamide and N,N-dimethyldecanamide are commercially available, e.g., under the trade names Agnique® AMD 3L and Agnique® AMD 10 from BASF, respectively, and 2-methyl- 5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester is commercially available, e.g., under the trade name Rhodiasolv® PolarClean from Solvay. Preferably, the at least one solvent (b) is comprised in the composition in an amount of at least 53 wt.-%, for example 53 to 82 wt.-%, preferably 55 to 80 wt.-% or 55 to 75 wt.-% or 55 to 72 wt.-%, more preferably 60 to 70 wt.-% based on the total weight of components (a) and (b) of the composition. The lower limit may also be 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 or 69 wt.-% and the upper limit may also be 74, 73, 72, 71, or 70 wt.- %. In various embodiments, these amounts may also be relative to the total weight of the composition. These amounts also apply if a combination of more than one solvent(s) (b) is used and then apply to the total amount of all solvent(s) (b). In various embodiments, the weight ratio of the at least one alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) to the at least one solvent is 2:8 to 4.7:5.3, for example 2.5:7.5 to 4.5:6.5, such as 3:7 to 4:6. In various embodiments, the solvent is comprised in the composition in an amount to sufficient to act as a solvent for the at least one alkoxypyrazole, i.e. typically in an amount sufficient to completely dissolve the at least one alkoxypyrazole. In various embodiments, the composition of the at least one alkoxypyrazole and the at least one solvent may essentially consist of these components, i.e. the totality of them may make up at least 70, preferably at least 80 wt.-% of the total weight of the composition, for example even 90, 95 or 100 wt.-%. If the monomeric alcohol (b1) is combined with an amide-group containing co-solvent such as N,N- dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) as described herein, the cold temperature storage stability of the formulation can be improved. In preferred embodiments, the monomeric alcohol (b1), in particular propylene glycol, is thus combined with at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II). In such embodiments, the monomeric alcohol may be propylene glycol or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol. In various embodiments, the amount of monomeric alcohol(s) (b1) if used in combination with an N,N- dialkylamide (b2) is in the range of 25 to 55 wt.-% relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. Preferred ranges are 28 to 52 and 30 to 50 wt.-%, for example about 30, about 32, about 34, about 35, about 36, about 38, about 40, about 42, about 44, about 45, about 46, about 48 or about 50 wt.-%. The amount of N,N-dialkylamide(s) (b2) can be in the range of 5 to 45 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 40 wt.-%, for example about 10, about 12, about 14, about 16, about 18, about 20, about 22, about 24, about 26, about 28, about 30, about 32, about 34, about 36, about 38 or about 40 wt.-%. All these amounts are relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, the weight ratio of (b1) to (b2) ranges from 5:1 to 1:2, for example 3:1 to 1:1.5 or 2.5:1 to 1:1.5, for example 2:1, 5:2, 5:1.5, 3.5:3, 4:3, or 3:4. In various embodiments, it is preferred that the at least one alkoxypyrazole (a) is present in an amount of up to 47 wt.-%, such as 18 to 47 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 45 wt.-% or 25 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably 27 to 40 wt.-% or 30 to 35 wt.-%. In particular embodiments, the amount of the at least one alkoxypyrazole may be in the range of 27 to 35 wt.-%, 28 to 34 wt.-%, 28 to 33 wt.-%, 28 to 32 wt.-%, 29 to 31 wt.-% or at (about) 30 wt.-%. In various embodiments, the amount is at least 20 wt.-%, for example at least 25 wt.% or at least 30 wt.-%. All the afore-mentioned amounts are relative to the total combined weight of alkoxypyrazole(s) (a) and solvent(s) (b), but may, in various embodiments also be relative to the total weight of the alkoxypyrazole(s) and all solvents or, alternatively, the total weight of the entire composition. However, if the composition contains other components, in particular substantial amounts of components other than solvents, the respective amounts may but do not need to be adapted accordingly to account for the presence of an additional component. It is generally preferred to have as high amounts of the alkoxypyrazole (a) as possible while retaining good cold stability and avoiding crystallization upon storage. The weight ratio of at least one alkoxypyrazole (a) to solvent (b) may range from 2:8 to 4.7:5.3, for example 2.5:7.5 to 4:6, or from 2.8:7.2 to 3.5 to 6.5 or to 3.2:6.8. In various embodiments, the composition as described herein consists essentially of components (a) and (b), with “essentially” meaning in this context that the amount of components other than (a) and (b) is less than 50 wt.-% relative to the total weight of the composition, preferably less than 40 wt.-%, less than 30 wt.- %, more preferably less than 20 wt.-% or less than 10 wt.-%, for example less than 5 wt.-%. In various embodiments, the compositions of the invention do not contain any other solvent(s) than those of (b). In various embodiments, the compositions do not contain any other active than those of (a). In various embodiments, the optional additional components are selected from auxiliaries only and do neither comprise additional solvents nor additional actives. In various embodiments, the composition comprises: (a) at least one alkoxypyrazole, wherein the alkoxypyrazole is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole or salt, tautomer, or N-oxide thereof; (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises (b1) at least one monomeric alcohol, wherein the monomeric alcohol is propylene glycol (1,2- propandiol) and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol; and, optionally, (b2) at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II), wherein the N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is N,N-dimethyllactamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide and / or 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)- pentanoic acid methyl ester. 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole is also simply referred to herein as “ethoxypyrazole”. Thus, it is understood that all references to “ethoxypyrazole” herein refer to the compound of formula (I) with R1being ethyl. In various embodiments, the compositions comprise both, the monomeric alcohol (b1) and the N,N- dialkylamide (b2). In various embodiments, the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is one of N,N-dimethyllactamide or 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester. In various embodiments, N,N-dimethyllactamide is used. In various other embodiments, 2-methyl-5-oxo-5- (dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester is used. In various other embodiments, a combination of more than one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) may be used. Such combinations include a combination of N,N-dimethyldecanamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5- (dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester, a combination of N,N-dimethyllactamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo- 5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester, a combination of N,N-dimethyldecanamide and N,N- dimethyllactamide, and a combination of N,N-dimethyldecanamide, N,N-dimethyllactamide and 2-methyl- 5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester. In various examples, a combination of N,N- dimethyldecanamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester is used. It is preferred that the 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole is comprised in the composition in the amounts given above for alkoxypyrazoles in general, i.e. in an amount of up to 47 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 45 wt.-% or 25 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably 27 to 40 wt.-% or 30 to 35 wt.-%. In particular embodiments, the amount of the at least one alkoxypyrazole may be in the range of 27 to 35 wt.-%, 28 to 34 wt.-%, 28 to 33 wt.-%, 28 to 32 wt.-%, 29 to 31 wt.-% or at (about) 30 wt.-%. In various embodiments, the amount is at least 20 wt.- %, for example at least 25 wt.% or at least 30 wt.-%. All the afore-mentioned amounts are relative to the total combined weight of 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole (a) and solvent(s) (b), but may, in various embodiments also be relative to the total weight of the 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole and all solvents or, alternatively, the total weight of the entire composition. In various embodiments, the composition comprises the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) in an amount of from 25 to 55 wt.-% relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. Preferred ranges are 28 to 52 and 30 to 50 wt.-%, for example about 30, about 32, about 34, about 35, about 36, about 38, about 40, about 42, about 44, about 45, about 46, about 48 or about 50 wt.-%. In various such embodiments, the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is present an amount of from 5 to 45 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 40 wt.-%, for example about 10, about 12, about 14, about 16, about 18, about 20, about 22, about 24, about 26, about 28, about 30, about 32, about 34, about 36, about 38 or about 40 wt.-%. All these amounts are relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole (a) is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 39.9 to 50 wt.-%, or 40 to 50 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is comprised and is N,N-dimethyllactamide, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, more preferably 20 to 40 wt.-% or 30 to 40 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole (a) is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 40 to 50 wt.-% or 39.9 to 50 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is N,N-dimethyldecanamide, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, more preferably 20 to 40 wt.-% or 20 to 30 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole (a) is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 40 to 50 wt.-% or 39.9 to 50 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, more preferably 20 to 40 wt.-% or 30 to 40 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In another embodiment, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole is 5- ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 40 to 50 wt.-% or 39.9 to 50 wt.-%, in particular 35 to 40 wt.-% such as about 39.9 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is a combination of N,N-dimethyldecanamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, more preferably 20 to 40 wt.-%, such as about 30 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In this embodiment, N,N-dimethyldecanamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester are preferably added to the composition in a weight ratio of 5:1 to 1:5, more preferably 4:1 to 1:4, more preferably 3:1 to 1:3 and especially 2:1 to 1:2, e.g., 2:1, 1.75:1, 1.5:1, 1.25:1, 1:1, 1:1.25, 1:1.5, 1:1.75 or 1:2. In various embodiments, N,N-dimethyldecanamide is comprised in the composition in amounts of 5 to 30 wt.-%, preferably 5 to 20 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)- pentanoic acid methyl ester is comprised in the composition in amounts of from 5 to 30 wt.-%, preferably 10 to 20 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In another embodiment, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole is 5- ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 40 to 50 wt.-% or 39.9 to 50 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is a combination of N,N-dimethyllactamide and 2- methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, e.g., 20 to 40 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In this embodiment, N,N-dimethyllactamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester are preferably added to the composition in a weight ratio of 5:1 to 1:5, more preferably 4:1 to 1:4, more preferably 3:1 to 1:3 and especially 2:1 to 1:2, e.g., 2:1, 1.75:1, 1.5:1, 1.25:1, 1:1, 1:1.25, 1:1.5, 1:1.75 or 1:2. In various embodiments, N,N-dimethyllactamide is comprised in amounts of 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester is comprised in the composition in amounts of from 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In another embodiment, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole is 5- ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 40 to 50 wt.-% or 39.9 to 50 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is a combination of N,N-dimethyllactamide and N,N- dimethyldecanamide, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, e.g., 20 to 40 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In this embodiment, N,N- dimethyllactamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester are preferably added to the composition in a weight ratio of 5:1 to 1:5, more preferably 4:1 to 1:4, more preferably 3:1 to 1:3 and especially 2:1 to 1:2, e.g., 2:1, 1.75:1, 1.5:1, 1.25:1, 1:1, 1:1.25, 1:1.5, 1:1.75 or 1:2. In various embodiments, N,N-dimethyllactamide is comprised in amounts of 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, and N,N-dimethyldecanamide is comprised in the composition in amounts of from 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In another embodiment, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole is 5- ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%; the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 29.9 to 50 wt.-%, e.g., 29.9 to 40 wt.-%, 40 to 50 wt.-% or 39.9 to 50 wt.-%; and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) is a combination of N,N-dimethyllactamide, N,N- dimethyldecanamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester, preferably in amounts of 15 to 40 wt.-%, e.g., 20 to 40 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, N,N-dimethyllactamide is comprised in amounts of 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, N,N-dimethyldecanamide is comprised in the composition in amounts of from 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g. about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)- pentanoic acid methyl ester is comprised in amounts of 5 to 30 wt.-%, e.g., about 10 or about 20 wt.-%, relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, the weight ratio of N,N-dimethyllactamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5- (dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester can be, e.g., 1:1:1, 1:1:2, 1:2:1.2:1:1, 1:2:2, 2:1:2, 2:2:1, 3:1:1, 1:3:1, 1:1:3, 3:3:1, 3:1:3, or 1:3:3. In various embodiments, in the composition according to the invention, the at least one alkoxypyrazole (a) is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, preferably in amounts of 30 to 47 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 45 wt.-%; the at least one solvent (b) is at least one monomeric alcohol (b1), preferably propylene glycol and / or benzyl alcohol, more preferably propylene glycol, preferably in amounts of 35 to 75 wt.-%, preferably 40 to 70 wt.- %, such as 55 wt.-%, 60 wt.-%, 65 wt.-% or 70 wt.-%; relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In such an embodiment, propylene glycol is present in amounts of 35 to 75 wt.-%, preferably 40 to 70 wt.-% and / or benzyl alcohol is present in amounts of 15 to 65 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 60 wt.-%, relative to the total weight of (a) + (b) or relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments of the invention, the alkoxypyrazole is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole according to formula (I) and the monomeric alcohol is propylene glycol. If no N,N-dialkylamide is comprised, exemplary compositions include those in which the amount of the 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole is 30-45 wt.-%, for example about 30, about 35, about 40 or about 45 wt.-% and the remainder up to 100 wt.-% is made up by the propylene glycol. The resulting composition may comprise additional components, but the indicated amounts relate to the sum of (a) and (b1). In alternatives to these embodiments, the propylene glycol may be replaced by benzyl alcohol. In various other embodiments, the alkoxypyrazole is 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole according to formula (I) and the monomeric alcohol is propylene glycol and additionally an N,N-dialkylamide is comprised. The N,N- dialkylamide is preferably selected from N,N-dimethyllactamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, 2-methyl-5-oxo- 5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester and combinations thereof. Exemplary compositions include those comprising, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b) or the total weight of the composition: (a) about 40 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 40 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 20 wt.-% N,N-dimethyldecanamide; (b) about 30 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 50 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 20 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide; (c) about 30 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 40 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 30 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide; (d) about 30 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 30 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 40 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide; (e) about 30 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 30 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 40 wt.-% 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester; (f) about 30 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 40 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), about 10 wt.-% N,N-dimethyldecanamide and about 20 wt.-% 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester (g) about 35 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 50 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 15 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide; (h) about 35 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 35 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 30 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide; (i) about 40 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 30 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 30 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide; and (j) about 46.2 wt.-% 5-ethoxy-3-methylpyrazole, about 32.2 wt.-% propylene glycol (PG), and about 21.6 wt.-% N,N-dimethyllactamide. In various embodiments, the composition is a liquid composition. Preferably, it is used in liquid form to be sprayed onto solid fertilizer particles, in particular granules. As defined herein above, this may imply that the composition is sprayable and / or pourable. In various embodiments, the composition according to the invention may be used with at least one carrier, different from fertilizer particles. Thus, in various embodiments, the invention relates to a composition for reducing nitrification as described herein; and at least one carrier. The term " composition for reducing nitrification" as used herein refers to a composition which is suitable, e.g., comprises effective concentrations and amounts of the components for reducing nitrification in any context or environment in which nitrification may occur. In one embodiment, the nitrification may be reduced in or on or at the locus of a plant. Typically, the nitrification may be reduced in the root zone of a plant. However, the area in which such reduction of nitrification may occur is not limited to the plants and their environment, but may also include any other habitat of nitrifying bacteria or any site at which nitrifying enzymatic activities can be found or can function in a general manner, e.g., sewage plants, biogas plants, animal effluents from productive livestock, e.g., cows, pigs etc. A "carrier" as used herein is a substance or composition which facilitates the delivery and / or release of the ingredients to the place or locus of destination. The term includes, for instance, agrochemical carriers which facilitate the delivery and / or release of agrochemicals in their field of use, in particular on or into plants. Examples of suitable carriers, next to fertilizers as described herein, include solid carriers such as phytogels, or hydrogels, or mineral earths e.g. silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, and products of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal, cellulose powders and other solid carriers. Further suitable examples of carriers include fumed silica or precipitated silica, which may, for instance, be used in solid formulations as flow aid, anti-caking aid, milling aid and as carrier for liquid active ingredients. Additional examples of suitable carriers are microparticles, for instance microparticles which can adhere to fertilizer particles. In another specific embodiment the carrier, e.g., an agrochemical carrier, may be or comprise polyaminoacids. Polyaminoacids may be obtained according to any suitable process, e.g. by polymerization of single or multiple amino acids such as glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, proline, tryptophan, serine, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, threonine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, histidine and / or ornithine. Polyaminoacids may be combined with a composition according to the present invention and, in certain embodiments, also with further carriers as mentioned herein above, or other nitrification inhibitors as mentioned herein in any suitable ratio. For example, polyaminoacids may be combined with the composition according to the invention in a ratio of 1 to 10 (polyaminoacids) vs.0.5 to 2 ((nitrification inhibitor) composition according to the invention). In various embodiments, the composition according to the invention can also be added to liquid fertilizers. Furthermore, the composition according to the invention can directly be applied to soil before or after a fertilizer application by e.g. a crop protection sprayer as well as by addition to irrigation water (without or with water soluble fertilizers) provided with any suitable irrigation system. The composition of the invention may further comprise additional ingredients, for example at least one pesticidal compound. For example, the composition may additionally comprise at least one herbicidal compound and / or at least one fungicidal compound and / or at least one insecticidal compound and / or at least one nematicide and / or at least one biopesticide and / or at least one biostimulant. In various embodiments, the compositions do not comprise such additional active, but if such active is comprised, it is selected such that it is compatible with the alkoxypyrazole and the solvents used and does not interfere with the intended method of application. This may require solubility in the chosen solvent. In further embodiments, the composition may, in addition to the above indicated ingredients, further comprise one or more additional nitrification inhibitors. Examples of envisaged additional nitrification inhibitors are, without being limited thereto, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate, methyl ferulate, methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP), Karanjin, brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone, 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP, ENTEC), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea (ASU), 2-amino-4- chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM), 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT), 5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4- thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole), 2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST), ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3- methylpyrazol (3-MP), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP), 1,2,4-triazol thiourea (TU), N-(1H-pyrazolyl- methyl)acetamides such as N-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, and N-(1H-pyrazolyl- methyl)formamides such as N-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide, N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl- pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, N-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, neem, products based on ingredients of neem, cyan amide, melamine, zeolite powder, catechol, benzoquinone, sodium tetra board, zinc sulfate. However, in various embodiments no such additional nitrification inhibitor is contained. Compositions according to the invention may also comprise auxiliaries which are customary, for example, in agrochemical compositions. The auxiliaries used need to be suitable for the particular application form. Examples for suitable auxiliaries are, without being limited thereto, dispersants or emulsifiers (such as further solubilizers, protective colloids, surfactants, and adhesion agents), organic and inorganic thickeners, anti-caking agents, anti-dust agents, anti-foaming agents, if appropriate, colorants and tackifiers or binders (e.g. for seed treatment formulations). Suitable surfactants (adjuvants, wetters, tackifiers, dispersants or emulsifiers) are alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, such as lignin sulfonic acid (Borresperse® types, Borregard, Norway) phenol sulfonic acid, naphthalene sulfonic acid (Morwet® types, Akzo Nobel, U.S.A.), dibutyl naphthalene-sulfonic acid (Nekal® types, BASF, Germany),and fatty acids, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, lauryl ether sulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates, and sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanolates, sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, furthermore condensates of naphthalene or of naphthalene sulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxy-ethylene octylphenyl ether, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, alkylphenyl polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, tristearylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, alcohol and fatty alcohol / ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters, lignin-sulfite waste liquors and proteins, denatured proteins, polysaccharides (e. g. methylcellulose), hydrophobically modified starches, polyvinyl alcohols (Mowiol® types, Clariant, Switzerland), polycarboxylates (Sokolan® types, BASF, Germany), polyalkoxylates, polyvinylamines (Lupasol® types, BASF, Germany), polyvinylpyrrolidone and the copolymers thereof. Examples of suitable thickeners (i.e. compounds that impart a modified flowability to compositions, i.e. high viscosity under static conditions and low viscosity during agitation) are polysaccharides and organic and anorganic clays such as Xanthan gum (Kelzan®, CP Kelco, U.S.A.), Rhodopol® 23 (Rhodia, France), Veegum® (R.T. Vanderbilt, U.S.A.) or Attaclay® (Engelhard Corp., NJ, USA). Examples for anti-foaming agents are silicone emulsions (such as e.g. Silikon® SRE, Wacker, Germany or Rhodorsil®, Rhodia, France), long chain alcohols, fatty acids, salts of fatty acids, fluoroorganic compounds and mixtures thereof. Suitable colorants are pigments of low water solubility and water-soluble dyes, e.g. rhodamin B, C. I. pigment red 112, C. I. solvent red 1, pigment blue 15:4, pigment blue 15:3, pigment blue 15:2, pigment blue 15: 1, pigment blue 80, pigment yellow 1, pigment yellow 13, pigment red 112, pigment red 48:2, pigment red 48:1, pigment red 57:1, pigment red 53:1, pigment orange 43, pigment orange 34, pigment orange 5, pigment green 36, pigment green 7, pigment white 6, pigment brown 25, basic violet 10, basic violet 49, acid red 51, acid red 52, acid red 14, acid blue 9, acid yellow 23, basic red 10, basic red 108. In various embodiments, the composition may further comprise such colorant in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5 wt.-%, preferably 0.05 to 3 wt.-% such as (about) 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.095, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 or 0.4 wt.-%, relative to the total weight of the composition. In various embodiments, the colorant may be an azo colorant. Preferably, the azo colorant is liquid at standard conditions (20 °C, 1013 mbar). In a preferred embodiment, the azo colorant comprises a polyoxyalkylene polymer chain covalently bound to the azo chromophore. In another preferred embodiment, the azo colorant comprises a quaternary ammonium counterion that comprises at least one polyoxyalkylene polymer chain covalently bound to the ammonium nitrogen. In particular, these colorants can be mixed with the solvents, which are used for the composition according to the invention. Suitable azo colorants include those azo colorants marketed for agricultural use by Milliken & Company under the Liquitint® name. Colorant compositions comprising such colorants are described in EP 3472122 B1. Furthermore, odorous substances may be present in the compositions as defined above. Such odorous substances comprise citronellynitril, citral, zertrahydrolinalool, tetrahydrogeraniol, geranonitril, beta-ionon R, rootanol, linalylacetat, morillol, and p-cresolmethylether. Examples for tackifiers or binders are polyvinylpyrrolidons, polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl alcohols and cellulose ethers (Tylose®, Shin-Etsu, Japan). In a further aspect, the invention relates to a solid fertilizer composition. The term "fertilizers" is to be understood as chemical compounds applied to promote plant and fruit growth. Fertilizers are typically applied either through the soil (for uptake by plant roots), through soil substituents (also for uptake by plant roots), or by foliar feeding (for uptake through leaves). The term also includes mixtures of one or more different types of fertilizers as mentioned below. The term "fertilizers" can be subdivided into several categories including: a) organic fertilizers (composed of plant / animal matter), b) inorganic fertilizers (composed of chemicals and minerals) and c) urea-containing fertilizers. Organic fertilizers include manure, e.g. liquid manure, semi-liquid manure, biogas manure, stable manure or straw manure, slurry, liquid dungwater, sewage sludge, worm castings, peat, seaweed, compost, sewage, and guano. Green manure crops (cover crops) are also regularly grown to add nutrients (especially nitrogen) to the soil. Manufactured organic fertilizers include, e.g., compost, blood meal, bone meal and seaweed extracts. Further examples are enzyme digested proteins, fish meal, and feather meal. The decomposing crop residue from prior years is another source of fertility. Inorganic fertilizers are usually manufactured through chemical processes (such as e.g. the Haber-Bosch process), also using naturally occurring deposits, while chemically altering them (e.g. concentrated triple superphosphate). Naturally occurring inorganic fertilizers include Chilean sodium nitrate, mine rock phosphate, limestone, sulfate of potash, muriate of potash, and raw potash fertilizers. Typical solid fertilizers are in a crystalline, prilled or granulated form. Typical nitrogen containing inorganic fertilizers are ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, calcium nitrate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium thiosulfate and calcium cyanamide. The inorganic fertilizer may be an NPK fertilizer. "NPK fertilizers" are inorganic fertilizers formulated in appropriate concentrations and combinations comprising the three main nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as well as typically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements. "NK fertilizers" comprise the two main nutrients nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) as well as typically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements. "NP fertilizers" comprise the two main nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as well as typically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements. Urea-containing fertilizer may, in specific embodiments, be formaldehyde urea, UAN, urea sulfur, stabilized urea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammonium sulfate. Also envisaged is the use of urea as fertilizer. In case urea-containing fertilizers or urea are used or provided, it is particularly preferred that urease inhibitors as defined herein above may be added or additionally be present or be used at the same time or in connection with the urea-containing fertilizers. In various embodiments, the fertilizer may be a coated fertilizer that can be provided with a wide range of materials. Coatings may, for example, be applied to granular or prilled nitrogen (N) fertilizer or to multi- nutrient fertilizers. Typically, urea is used as base material for most coated fertilizers. In certain embodiments, elemental sulfur may be used as fertilizer coating. The coating may be performed by spraying molten S over urea granules, followed by an application of sealant wax to close fissures in the coating. In one embodiment, the S layer may be covered with a layer of organic polymers, preferably a thin layer of organic polymers. In another embodiment, the coated fertilizers are physical mixtures of coated and non- coated fertilizers. Further envisaged coated fertilizers may be provided by reacting resin-based polymers on the surface of the fertilizer granule. A further example of providing coated fertilizers includes the use of low permeability polyethylene polymers in combination with high permeability coatings. In specific embodiments, the composition and / or thickness of the fertilizer coating may be adjusted to control, for example, the nutrient release rate for specific applications. The duration of nutrient release from specific fertilizers may vary, e.g., from several weeks to many months. Coated fertilizers may be provided as controlled release fertilizers (CRFs). In specific embodiments, these controlled release fertilizers are fully coated N-P-K fertilizers, which are homogenous and which typically show a pre-defined longevity of release. In further embodiments, the CRFs may be provided as blended controlled release fertilizer products which may contain coated, uncoated and / or slow-release components. In certain embodiments, these coated fertilizers may additionally comprise micronutrients. In specific embodiments these fertilizers may show a pre-defined longevity, e.g., in case of N-P-K fertilizers. Additionally, envisaged examples of CRFs include patterned release fertilizers. These fertilizers typically show a pre-defined release pattern (e.g. hi / standard / lo) and a pre-defined longevity. In exemplary embodiments, fully coated N-P-K, Mg, and micronutrients may be delivered in a patterned release manner. Also envisaged are double coating approaches or coated fertilizers based on a programmed release. In further embodiments, the fertilizer mixture may be provided as, or may comprise or contain a slow- release fertilizer. The fertilizer may, for example, be released over any suitable period of time, e.g., over a period of 1 to 5 months, preferably up to 3 months. Typical examples of ingredients of slow release fertilizers are IBDU (isobutylidenediurea), e.g. containing about 31-32 % nitrogen, of which 90% is water insoluble; or UF, i.e. an urea-formaldehyde product which contains about 38 % nitrogen of which about 70 % may be provided as water insoluble nitrogen; or CDU (crotonylidene diurea) containing about 32 % nitrogen; or MU (methylene urea) containing about 38 to 40% nitrogen, of which 25-60 % is typically cold water insoluble nitrogen; or MDU (methylene diurea) containing about 40% nitrogen, of which less than 25 % is cold water insoluble nitrogen; or MO (methylol urea) containing about 30% nitrogen, which may typically be used in solutions; or DMTU (dimethylene triurea) containing about 40% nitrogen, of which less than 25% is cold water insoluble nitrogen; or TMTU (trimethylene tetraurea), which may be provided as component of UF products; or TMPU (trimethylene pentaurea), which may also be provided as component of UF products; or UT (urea triazone solution) which typically contains about 28 % nitrogen. The fertilizer mixture may also be long-term nitrogen-bearing fertilizer containing a mixture of acetylene diurea and at least one other organic nitrogen-bearing fertilizer selected from methylene urea, isobutylidene diurea, crotonylidene diurea, substituted triazones, triuret or mixtures thereof. Any of the above-mentioned fertilizers or fertilizer forms may suitably be combined. For instance, slow- release fertilizers may be provided as coated fertilizers. They may also be combined with other fertilizers or fertilizer types, e.g., coated, or uncoated, liquid, semisolid or solid fertilizers. In various embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition is a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition comprising a urea-containing and / or an ammonium-containing fertilizer. Preferably, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, calcium nitrate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium thiosulfate, calcium cyanamide, NPK fertilizers, NK fertilizers, NP fertilizers, and urea. In preferred embodiments, the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition is a solid ammonium- containing inorganic fertilizer, more preferably an NPK fertilizer, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium sulfate and / or ammonium phosphate; or an urea-containing fertilizer, more preferably urea, formaldehyde urea, anhydrous ammonium, urea sulfur, urea based NPK- fertilizers, and / or urea ammonium sulfate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is ammonium nitrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is calcium ammonium nitrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is ammonium sulfate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is ammonium sulfate nitrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is calcium nitrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is diammonium phosphate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is monoammonium phosphate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is ammonium thio sulfate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is calcium cyanamide. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is an NPK fertilizer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is an NK fertilizer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is an NP fertilizer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen-containing fertilizer (F) is urea. In preferred embodiments, the fertilizer is a calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fertilizer. However, also fertilizer containing diammonium phosphate, urea or ammonium sulfate are preferred, in particular in granular form or powder form. In preferred embodiments, the fertilizer is in form of granules, preferably with an average particle size of 1 to 5 mm, e.g.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm, or 5 mm. In various embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition comprises the (nitrification inhibitor) composition as described herein in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt.-% of the at least one alkoxypyrazole according to formula (I), based on the ammonium-nitrogen and / or urea-nitrogen content of the fertilizer composition, preferably 0.2 to 3.0 or 0.3 to 2.0 wt.-%, more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 wt.-%, even more preferably 0.3 to 1.0 wt.-%, in particular about 0.4 to about 1.0 wt.-%, such as about 0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8 or about 0.9 wt.-%. The solid fertilizer composition of the invention may further comprise additional ingredients, for example at least one pesticidal compound, as defined above. For example, the solid fertilizer composition may additionally comprise at least one herbicidal compound and / or at least one fungicidal compound and / or at least one insecticidal compound and / or at least one nematicide and / or at least one biopesticide and / or at least one biostimulant. In further embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition may, in addition to the above indicated ingredients, further comprise one or more additional nitrification inhibitors, as defined above in relation to the compositions of the invention. Accordingly, examples of suitable additional nitrification inhibitors include, without being limited thereto, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, methyl p-coumarate, methyl ferulate, methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP), Karanjin, brachialacton, p-benzoquinone sorgoleone, 2-chloro-6- (trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve), 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP, ENTEC), 4- amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC), 1-amido-2-thiourea (ASU), 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM), 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT), 5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole), 2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST), ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU), 3-methylpyrazol (3-MP), 3,5- dimethylpyrazole (DMP), 1,2,4-triazol thiourea (TU), N-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)acetamides such as N-((3(5)- methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide, and N-(1H-pyrazolyl-methyl)formamides such as N-((3(5)- methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide, N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, N- (3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide, neem, products based on ingredients of neem, cyan amide, melamine, zeolite powder, catechol, benzoquinone, sodium tetra board, zinc sulfate. In one embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)-pyridine (nitrapyrin or N-serve). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,4-thiodiazole (terrazole, etridiazole). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 3,4-dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP, ENTEC). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 2-mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 2-sulfanilamidothiazole (ST). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise ammoniumthiosulfate (ATU). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 3-methylpyrazol (3-MP). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 1,2,4-triazol. In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise thiourea (TU). In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise linoleic acid. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise alpha-linolenic acid. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise methyl p-coumarate. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP). In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise methyl ferulate. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise Karanjin. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise brachialacton. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise p-benzoquinone sorgoleone. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole hydrochloride (ATC). In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 1-amido-2-thiourea (ASU). In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise N-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl)acetamide. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise N-((3(5)-methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-yl)methyl formamide. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise N-(4-chloro-3(5)-methyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise N-(3(5),4-dimethyl-pyrazole-1-ylmethyl)-formamide. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise neem or products based on ingredients of neem. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise cyanamide. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise melamine. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise zeolite powder. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise batechol. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise benzoquinone. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise sodium tetra borate. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise zinc sulfate. In further embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition may, in addition to the above indicated ingredients, further comprise one or more urease inhibitors. Examples of envisaged urease inhibitors include N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT, Agrotain), N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT), 2- nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide (2-NPT), further NXPTs known to the skilled person, phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD / PPDA), hydroquinone, ammonium thiosulfate, and mixtures of NBPT and NPPT (see e.g. US 8,075,659). Such mixtures of NBPT and NPPT may comprise NBPT in amounts of from 40 to 95% wt.-% and preferably of 60 to 80% wt.-% based on the total amount of active substances. Such mixtures are marketed as LIMUS, which is a composition comprising about 16.9 wt.-% NBPT and about 5.6 wt.-% NPPT and about 77.5 wt.-% of other ingredients including solvents and adjuvants. In various embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT, Agrotain®). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD / PPDA). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise 2-nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide (2-NPT). In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise hydroquinone. In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise ammonium thiosulfate. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise neem. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise cyanamide. In yet another embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise melamine. In a further embodiment, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may further comprise a mixture of NBPT and NPPT such as LIMUS®. In further embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention may comprise a combination of the mixture of the solid fertilizer composition according to the invention and two or more entities selected from the group comprising: N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT, Agrotain®), N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT), 2-nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide (2-NPT), further NXPTs known to the skilled person, phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD / PPDA), hydroquinone, ammonium thiosulfate, and LIMUS®. In further embodiments, the solid fertilizer composition may, in addition to one, more or all of the above indicated ingredients, further comprise one or more plant growth regulators. Examples of envisaged plant growth regulators are antiauxins, auxins, cytokinins, defoliants, ethylene modulators, ethylene releasers, gibberellins, growth inhibitors, morphactins, growth retardants, growth stimulators, further unclassified plant growth regulators, and any kind of biostimulants. Suitable examples of antiauxins to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are clofibric acid or 2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid. Suitable examples of auxins to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are 4-CPA, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, 2,4-DEP, dichlorprop, fenoprop, IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA, naphthaleneacetamide, alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, 1-naphthol, naphthoxyacetic acid, potassium naphthenate, sodium naphthenate or 2,4,5-T. Suitable examples of cytokinins to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are 2iP, 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) (= N-6 Benzyladenine), 2,6-Dimethylpuridine (N-Oxide-2,6-Lultidine), 2,6-Dimethylpyridine, kinetin, or zeatin. Suitable examples of defoliants to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are calcium cyanamide, dimethipin, endothal, merphos, metoxuron, pentachlorophenol, thidiazuron, tribufos, or tributyl phosphorotrithioate. Suitable examples of ethylene modulators to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are aviglycine, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), Prohexadione (prohexadione calcium), or trinexapac (Trinexapac-ethyl). Suitable examples of ethylene releasers to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are ACC, etacelasil, ethephon, or glyoxime. Suitable examples of gibberellins to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are gibberelline or gibberellic acid. Suitable examples of growth inhibitors to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are abscisic acid, S-abscisic acid, ancymidol, butralin, carbaryl,chlorphonium, chlorpropham, dikegulac, flumetralin, fluoridamid, fosamine, glyphosine, isopyrimol, jasmonic acid, maleic hydrazide, mepiquat (mepiquat chloride, mepiquat pentaborate), piproctanyl, prohydrojasmon, propham, or 2,3,5-tri- iodobenzoic acid. Suitable examples of morphactins to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are chlorfluren, chlorflurenol, dichlorflurenol, or flurenol Suitable examples of growth retardants to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), daminozide, flurprimidol, mefluidide, paclobutrazol, tetcyclacis, uniconazole, metconazol. Suitable examples of growth stimulators to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are brassinolide, forchlorfenuron, or hymexazol. Suitable examples of further unclassified plant growth regulators to be used in a solid fertilizer composition according to the present invention are amidochlor, benzofluor, buminafos, carvone, choline chloride, ciobutide, clofencet, cloxyfonac, cyanamide, cyclanilide, cycloheximide, cyprosulfamide, epocholeone, ethychlozate, ethylene, fenridazon, fluprimidol, fluthiacet, heptopargil, holosulf, inabenfide, karetazan, lead arsenate, methasulfocarb, pydanon, sintofen, diflufenzopyr or triapenthenol. Suitable biostimulants are, e.g., acid-based biostimulants, including humic acid, fulvic acid, and amino acid, or plant extracts such as seaweed extracts and other plant extracts. In still another aspect, the invention relates to a method for the production of a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition as described herein, comprising (a) providing a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition, preferably in the form of granules or a powder; (b) combining the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition with a liquid composition for reducing nitrification according to the invention, preferably by spraying the liquid composition onto the solid nitrogen- containing fertilizer composition or by granulating the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer with the liquid composition. In various embodiments, the method according to the invention further comprises a mixing step (c) after combining the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition with a liquid composition for reducing nitrification. In various embodiments, the mixing is carried out for 1 to 15 min, preferably 1 to 10 min, most preferably 1 to 5 min, such as 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 4 min or 5 min. In various embodiments, the mixing step takes place in a rotating disk mixer, rotating drum mixer, blending screw auger, vertical mixer, peddle mixer or similar fertilizer mixing equipment. The method for the production of a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition may further comprise a drying step (d) after the mixing step. In various embodiments, the drying step is carried out at 20 to 30 °C, preferably at room temperature (RT). In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a solvent composition comprising at least one monomeric alcohol and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl, e.g. methyl; to stabilize an alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I) (I) wherein R1is alkyl selected from ethyl, propyl, and butyl, preferably ethyl; or a salt tautomer or N-oxide thereof; in a solid fertilizer composition, wherein the solvent composition and the alkoxypyrazole are combined and applied in liquid form to the solid fertilizer composition. The amounts of the solvent composition and the alkoxypyrazole(s) used according to this aspect may be the same as disclosed above for the inventive compositions. When using such a solvent composition, the storage stability of nitrification inhibitors such as alkoxypyrazoles can be improved, in particular at low temperatures of -5°C, 0°C or 10°C. In another aspect, the invention relates to the use of the composition according to the invention or the solid fertilizer composition according to the invention for reducing nitrification, preferably reducing nitrification of ammonium from urea and / or ammonium containing fertilizers. In various embodiments, said reduction of nitrification occurs in or on soil or soil substitute, in the root zone of a plant, at the locus where a plant is growing or is intended to grow, and / or in or on a plant. The term "plant" is preferably to be understood as a plant of economic importance and / or men-grown plant. In certain embodiments, the term may also be understood as plants which have no or no significant economic importance. The plant is preferably selected from agricultural, silvicultural, and horticultural (including ornamental) plants. The term also relates to genetically modified plants. The term "plant" as used herein further includes all parts of a plant such as germinating seeds, emerging seedlings, plant propagules, herbaceous vegetation as well as established woody plants including all belowground portions (such as the roots) and aboveground portions. Within the context of the invention, it is assumed that the plant is growing on soil. In specific embodiments, the plant may also grow differently, e.g. in synthetic laboratory environments or on soil substituents, or be supplemented with nutrients, water etc. by artificial or technical means. In such scenarios, the invention envisages a treatment of the zone or area where the nutrients, water etc. are provided to the plant. Also envisaged is that the plant grows in green houses or similar indoor facilities. The term "locus" is to be understood as any type of environment, soil, soil substituent, area, or material where the plant is growing or intended to grow. Preferably, the term relates to soil or soil substituent on which a plant is growing. In one embodiment, the plant is an agricultural plant. "Agricultural plants" are plants of which a part (e.g. seeds) or all is harvested or cultivated on a commercial scale or which serve as an important source of feed, food, fibers (e.g. cotton, linen), combustibles (e.g. wood, bioethanol, biodiesel, biomass) or other chemical compounds. Preferred agricultural plants are for example cereals, e.g. wheat, rye, barley, triticale, oats, corn, sorghum or rice, beet, e.g. sugar beet or fodder beet; fruits, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, e.g. apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or gooseberries; leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas, alfalfa or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, oil- seed rape, canola, linseed, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans; cucurbits, such as squashes, cucumber or melons; fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits or paprika; lauraceous plants, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; energy and raw material plants, such as corn, soybean, rape, canola, sugar cane or oil palm; tobacco; nuts; coffee; tea; bananas; vines (table grapes and grape juice grape vines); hop; turf; natural rubber plants. In a further embodiment, the plant is a horticultural plant. The term "horticultural plants" are to be understood as plants which are commonly used in horticulture, e.g. the cultivation of ornamentals, vegetables and / or fruits. Examples for ornamentals are turf, geranium, pelargonia, petunia, begonia and fuchsia. Examples for vegetables are potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cucurbits, cucumbers, melons, watermelons, garlic, onions, carrots, cabbage, beans, peas, and lettuce and more preferably from tomatoes, onions, peas, and lettuce. Examples for fruits are apples, pears, cherries, strawberry, citrus, peaches, apricots, and blueberries. In a further embodiment, the plant is an ornamental plant. "Ornamental plants" are plants which are commonly used in gardening, e.g. in parks, gardens and on balconies. Examples are turf, geranium, pelargonia, petunia, begonia and fuchsia. In another embodiment of the present invention, the plant is a silvicultural plant. The term "silvicultural plant" is to be understood as trees, more specifically trees used in reforestation or industrial plantations. Industrial plantations generally serve for the commercial production of forest products, such as wood, pulp, paper, rubber tree, Christmas trees, or young trees for gardening purposes. Examples for silvicultural plants are conifers, like pines, in particular Pinus spec., fir and spruce, eucalyptus, tropical trees like teak, rubber tree, oil palm, willow (Salix), in particular Salix spec., poplar (cottonwood), in particular Populus spec., beech, in particular Fagus spec., birch, oil palm, and oak. The term "genetically modified plants" is to be understood as plants, which genetic material has been modified by the use of recombinant DNA techniques in a way that under natural circumstances it cannot readily be obtained by cross breeding, mutations, or natural recombination. Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the genetic material of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certain properties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but are not limited to targeted post- translational modification of protein(s), oligo- or polypeptides e. g. by glycosylation or polymer additions such as prenylated, acetylated or farnesylated moieties or PEG moieties. Plants that have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering, e.g. have been rendered tolerant to applications of specific classes of herbicides, such as auxin herbicides such as dicamba or 2,4- D; bleacher herbicides such as hydroxylphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors or phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors; acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors such as sulfonyl ureas or imidazolinones; enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors, such as glyphosate; glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as glufosinate; protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase inhibitors; lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; or oxynil (i.e. bromoxynil or ioxynil) herbicides as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering, are also covered. Furthermore, plants have been made resistant to multiple classes of herbicides through multiple genetic modifications, such as resistance to both glyphosate and glufosinate or to both glyphosate and a herbicide from another class such as ALS inhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, auxin herbicides, or ACCase inhibitors. These herbicide resistance technologies are e. g. described in Pest Managem. Sci.61, 2005, 246; 61, 2005, 258; 61, 2005, 277; 61, 2005, 269; 61, 2005, 286; 64, 2008, 326; 64, 2008, 332; Weed Sci. 57, 2009, 108; Austral. J. Agricult. Res.58, 2007, 708; Science 316, 2007, 1185; and references quoted therein. Several cultivated plants have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis), e.g. Clearfield®summer rape (Canola, BASF SE, Germany) being tolerant to imidazolinones, e. g. imazamox, or ExpressSun®sunflowers (DuPont, USA) being tolerant to sulfonyl ureas, e. g. tribenuron. Genetic engineering methods have been used to render cultivated plants such as soybean, cotton, corn, beets, and rape, tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate and glufosinate, some of which are commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady®(glyphosate-tolerant, Monsanto, U.S.A.), Cultivance®(imidazolinone tolerant, BASF SE, Germany) and LibertyLink®(glufosinate-tolerant, Bayer CropScience, Germany). Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known from the bacterial genus Bacillus, particularly from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as δ-endotoxins, e. g. CryIA(b), CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2), CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1) or Cry9c; vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), e. g. VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, e. g. Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp.; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect- specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP- glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokinin receptors); stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of the present invention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as pre-toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by a new combination of protein domains, (see, e. g. WO 02 / 015701). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, e.g., in EP-A 374753, WO 93 / 007278, WO 95 / 34656, EP-A 427529, EP-A 451878, WO 03 / 18810 und WO 03 / 52073. The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g. in the publications mentioned above. These insecticidal proteins contained in the genetically modified plants impart to the plants producing these proteins tolerance to harmful pests from all taxonomic groups of arthropods, especially to beetles (Coeloptera), two-winged insects (Diptera), and moths (Lepidoptera) and to nematodes (Nematoda). Genetically modified plants capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins are, e.g., described in the publications mentioned above, and some of which are commercially available such as YieldGard®(corn cultivars producing the Cry1Ab toxin), YieldGard®Plus (corn cultivars producing Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1 toxins), Starlink®(corn cultivars producing the Cry9c toxin), Herculex®RW (corn cultivars producing Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and the enzyme phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase [PAT]); NuCOTN®33B (cotton cultivars producing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard®I (cotton cultivars producing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard®II (cotton cultivars producing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 toxins); VIPCOT®(cotton cultivars producing a VIP-toxin); NewLeaf®(potato cultivars producing the Cry3A toxin); Bt-Xtra®, NatureGard®, KnockOut®, BiteGard®, Protecta®, Bt11 (e. g. Agrisure®CB) and Bt176 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France, (corn cultivars producing the Cry1Ab toxin and PAT enyzme), MIR604 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France (corn cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry3A toxin, c.f. WO 03 / 018810), MON 863 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry3Bb1 toxin), IPC 531 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (cotton cultivars producing a modified version of the Cry1Ac toxin) and 1507 from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Belgium (corn cultivars producing the Cry1F toxin and PAT enzyme). Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance of those plants to bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens. Examples of such proteins are the so-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PR proteins, see, e. g. EP-A 392225), plant disease resistance genes (e. g. potato cultivars, which express resistance genes acting against Phytophthora infestans derived from the Mexican wild potato Solanum bulbocastanum) or T4-lysozym (e. g. potato cultivars capable of synthesizing these proteins with increased resistance against bacteria such as Erwinia amylvora). The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g. in the publications mentioned above. Furthermore, plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the productivity (e. g. biomass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or other growth-limiting environmental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal, bacterial, or viral pathogens of those plants. Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, specifically to improve human or animal nutrition, e. g. oil crops that produce health-promoting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e. g. Nexera®rape, DOW Agro Sciences, Canada). Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of substances of content or new substances of content, specifically to improve raw material production, e. g. potatoes that produce increased amounts of amylopectin (e. g. Amflora®potato, BASF SE, Germany). In various further embodiments, the composition or fertilizer according to the invention may be used for reducing nitrification in the absence of plants, e.g., as preparatory activity for subsequent agricultural activity, or for reducing nitrification in other technical areas, which are not related to agriculture, e.g., for environmental, water protection, energy production or similar purposes. In specific embodiments, the composition or fertilizer may be used for the reduction of nitrification in sewage, slurry, manure, or dung of animals, e.g., swine or bovine feces. For example, it may be used for the reduction of nitrification in sewage plants, biogas plants, cowsheds, liquid manure tanks or containers etc. Furthermore, the composition or fertilizer may be used in exhaust air systems, preferably in exhaust air systems of stables or cowsheds. The present invention therefore also relates to the use of the composition or fertilizer for treating exhaust air, preferably the exhaust air of stables and cowsheds. In further embodiments, the composition or fertilizer may be used for the reduction of nitrification in situ in animals, e.g. in productive livestock. Accordingly, the composition or fertilizer may be fed to an animal, e.g. a mammal, for instance together with suitable feed and thereby lead to a reduction of nitrification in the gastrointestinal tract of the animals, which in turn is resulting in reduction of emissions from the gastrointestinal tract. This activity, i.e. the feeding of the composition or fertilizer may be repeated one to several times, e.g. each 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7thday, or each week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or month, 2 months etc. The composition or fertilizer according to the invention may also be applied to environments, areas, or zones, where nitrification takes place or is assumed or expected to take place. Such environments, areas or zones may not comprise plants or soil. For example, the composition or fertilizer may be used for nitrification inhibition in laboratory environments, e.g. based on enzymatic reactions or the like. Also envisaged is the use in green houses or similar indoor facilities. The term "soil substituent" as used herein refers to a substrate which is able to allow the growth of a plant and does not comprise usual soil ingredients. This substrate is typically an inorganic substrate which may have the function of an inert medium. It may, in certain embodiments, also comprise organic elements or portions. Soil substituents may, for example, be used in hydroculture or hydroponic approaches, i.e. wherein plants are grown in soilless medium and / or aquatic based environments. Examples of suitable soil substituents, which may be used in the context of the present invention, are perlite, gravel, biochar, mineral wool, coconut husk, phyllosilicates, i.e. sheet silicate minerals, typically formed by parallel sheets of silicate tetrahedra with Si2O5 or a 2:5 ratio, or clay aggregates, in particular expanded clay aggregates with a diameter of about 10 to 40 mm. Particularly preferred is the employment of vermiculite, i.e. a phyllosilicate with 2 tetrahedral sheets for every one octahedral sheet present. The use of soil substituents may, in specific embodiments, be combined with fertigation or irrigation as defined herein. The term "reducing nitrification" or "reduction of nitrification" as used herein refers to a slowing down or stopping of nitrification processes, e.g., by retarding or eliminating the natural transformation of ammonium into nitrate. Such reduction may be a complete or partial elimination of nitrification at the plant or locus where the inhibitor or composition comprising said inhibitor is applied. For example, a partial elimination may result in a residual nitrification on or in the plant, or in or on the soil or soil substituents where a plant grows or is intended to grow of about 90% to 1%, e.g.90%, 85%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% or less than 10%, e.g.5% or less than 5% in comparison to a control situation where the nitrification inhibitor is not used. In certain embodiments, a partial elimination may result in a residual nitrification on or in the plant or in or on the soil or soil substituents where a plant grows or is intended to grow of below 1%, e.g. at 0.5%, 0.1% or less in comparison to a control situation where the nitrification inhibitor is not used. The use of a (nitrification inhibitor) composition or fertilizer formulation as defined herein above for reducing nitrification may be a single use, or it may be a repeated use. As single use, the compositions or fertilizers may be provided to their target sites, e.g. soil or loci, or objects, e.g. plants, only once in a physiologically relevant time interval, e.g. once a year, or once every 2 to 5 years, or once during the lifetime of a plant. In other embodiments, the use may be repeated at least once per time period, e.g., the composition or fertilizer may be used for reducing nitrification at their target sites or objects two times within a time interval of days, weeks, or months. The term "at least once" as used in the context of a use of the (nitrification inhibitor) composition or fertilizer means that it may be used two times, or several times, i.e. that a repetition or multiple repetitions of an application or treatment with such a composition or fertilizer may be envisaged. Such a repetition may be a 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times, 6 times, 7 times, 8 times, 9 times, 10 times or more frequent repetition of the use. Finally, in a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification, comprising (1) treating a plant growing on soil or soil substitutes and / or the locus or soil or soil substitutes where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with the composition according to the invention; or (2) fertilizing a plant growing on soil or soil substitutes and / or the locus or soil or soil substitutes where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with the solid fertilizer composition according to the invention. In various embodiments of the uses and methods described herein, said plant is a plant as described above or an agricultural plant such as wheat, barley, oat, rye, soybean, corn, potatoes, oilseed rape, canola, sunflower, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beet, rice, or a vegetable such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, or cabbages; or sorghum; a silvicultural plant; an ornamental plant; or a horticultural plant, each in its natural or in a genetically modified form. In specific embodiments, the fertilizing may be carried out during all suitable growth stages of a plant as defined herein. For example, the treatment may be carried out during the BBCH principal growth stages. Also envisaged is the application of more than one composition and / or fertilizer, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 compositions and / or fertilizers, or of different fertilizer classes or categories. In various embodiments of the methods and used described herein, the application rates of the composition or of the fertilizer according to the invention are between 0,01 g and 5 kg of active ingredient per hectare, preferably between 1 g and 1 kg of active ingredient per hectare, especially preferred between 50 g and 300 g of active ingredient per hectare depending on different parameters such as the specific active ingredient applied and the plant species treated. In the treatment of seed, amounts of from 0.001 g to 20 g per kg of seed, preferably from 0.01 g to 10 g per kg of seed, more preferably from 0.05 to 2 g per kg of seed of nitrification inhibitors compositions may be generally required. As a matter of course, if nitrification inhibitors and fertilizers are employed, the compounds may be used in an effective and non-phytotoxic amount. This means that they are used in a quantity which allows to obtain the desired effect, but which does not give rise to any phytotoxic symptoms on the treated plant or on the plant raised from the treated propagule or treated soil or soil substituents. For the use according to the invention, the application rates of fertilizers may be selected such that the amount of applied N is between 10 kg and 1000 kg per hectare, preferably between 50 kg and 700 kg per hectare. All embodiments and examples described herein for the composition for reducing nitrification or solid fertilizer composition also apply to the methods and uses disclosed herein and vice versa. The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

[0002] EXAMPLES Formulation which prevents crystallization of nitrification inhibitor compositions on solid mineral fertilizer Table 1: Substances. Trade name or shortcut Common name IUPAC name EEP 3-Methyl-5-ethoxypyrazole Agnique® AMD 3L N,N-Dimethyllactamide 2-Hydroxy-N,N- dimethylpropanamide Agnique® AMD 10 N,N-Dimethyldecanamide Rhodiasolv® PolarClean N,N-Dimethyl amid of 2- Pentanoic acid, 5- Methylpentanoic acid methyl (dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5- ester oxo-,methyl ester PG Propylene glycol 1,2-Propanediol DEG Diethylene glycol 2,2’-oxybis ethanol DMSO Dimethyl-sulfoxide 1,1’-sulfinylbis-methane BA Benzyl alcohol Experimental setup Fertilizer CAN, urea, DAP and AS fertilizer granulates used in the following examples are commercially available products. All fertilizer samples were solid granules with an average particle size between 1 – 5 mm. Fertilizer treatment Fertilizer granules were added to a rotating disk mixer. While mixing, nitrification inhibitor formulation is sprayed onto the fertilizer granules using a syringe. After 3 minutes mixing time, the treated fertilizer granules were transferred from the mixer into a stainless-steel bowl and dried overnight at room temperature. Afterwards, samples were filled into glass bottles for storage testing. Formulation Example 1: According to the ratios and components as specified in table 2 all components were mixed, and the resulting mixture was stirred until complete dissolution of the solid and analyzed for the content of EEP (by HPLC). The formulations can be also prepared by mixing at first one or more different premixes of two or more components and combining them with the rest of the components. For the cold stability test, samples were kept at room temperature (20°C ± 2°C), 15°C, 10°C, 5°C, 0°C, -5°C, -10°C, -15°C for one week. After addition of a seed crystal of EEP, the samples were kept for one more weeks at the respective temperature. The coldest temperature that did not result in either crystallization or freezing (sample still liquid and applicable at this temperature) was recorded. Table 2: Overview of formulation components and concentrations.leL 0 o3 1l z D D d o n e h y otaiirM M y lA ARlvn o ltcila pe eru ylo o sa lea b latx u iqu iqociadcrO ysmro ohtG G E ng ngiru ohlaS z o M n a eldF E P D Aero A P R P D B u C A 30 65 5 n.a. B 45 55 n.a. C 45 55 20°C D 40 60 20°C E 35 65 15°C F 30 70 10°C G 40 60 15°C H 40 40 20 15°C I 40 40 20 15°C J 30 50 20 0°C K 30 40 30 0°C M 30 30 40 -5°C N 30 29.9 0.1 40 0°C O 30 39.9 10 0.1 20 0°C P 35 50 15 10°C Q 35 35 30 10°C R 40 30 30 15°C S 46.2 32.2 21.6 20°C Example 2: Formulation B was applied to CAN fertilizer (to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.8 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen content of CAN) and stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. After 7 days the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 3: Formulation B applied on CAN fertilizer. Fertilizer Formulation B Crystals present after 7 days storage (g) (g) 5°C 20°C 30°C 40°C 50°C 500 1.25 + + + + - 500 3.5 + + + + - Example 3: Formulation A was applied to CAN fertilizer (to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.8 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen content of CAN) and stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. After 14 days the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 4: Formulation A applied on CAN fertilizer. Fertilizer Formulation A Crystals present after 14 days storage (g) (g) 20°C 30°C 40°C 50°C 500 1.89 + + - - 500 2.84 + + + - Example 4: Formulation C, D, E and F were applied to CAN fertilizer to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.8 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen content of CAN. Samples of the treated fertilizer were stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. After different storage periods, the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 5: Formulation C, D, E and F applied to CAN fertilizer. Formulati Crystal formation after x months storage time Temp on 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.7 7 8.41213.5 C- - - - - -n / a-n / a- 50°CD- - - - - -n / a-n / a- E n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a F - - - - - - n / a - n / a - C- - - - - -n / a-n / a- 40°CD- - - - - -n / a-n / a- E n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a F - - - - - - n / a - n / a - C- - - - - -n / a-n / a- 30°CD- - - - - -n / a-n / a- E n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a F - - - - - - n / a - n / a - C + + + + + + n / a + n / a + 20°CD- - - - - -n / a+n / a+E n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a F- - - - - -n / a-n / a- C n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a D n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a 5°C E + n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a F n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a Example 5: Formulation G, H, I, J and K were applied to CAN fertilizer to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.8 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen content of CAN. Samples of the treated fertilizer were stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. After different storage periods, the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 6: Formulation G, H, I, J and K applied on CAN fertilizer. Formulation Crystal formation after x months storage time Temp 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.7 8.4 13.5 G - - - - - - - - H - - - - - - - - 50°CI- - - - - - - - J - - - - - - - - K - - - - - - - - G - - - - - - - - H - - - - - - - - 40°C I - - - - - - - - J - - - - - - - -K- - - - - - - - G - - - - - - - - H - - - - - - - - 30°CI- - - - - - - - J - - - - - - - - K - - - - - - - - G - - - - - - - - H - - - - - - - - 20°CI- - - - - - - - J - - - - - - - - K - - - - - - - - Example 6: Formulation M was applied to different fertilizers to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.6 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen and urea nitrogen content of the fertilizer. Samples of the treated fertilizer were stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. After 12 months, the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 7: Formulation M applied on CAN, DAP, and urea fertilizer. Fertilizer Formulation M Crystals present after 12 months storage Type Amount (g) Amount (g) 5°C 20°C 30°C 40°C CAN 4500 12.8+- - - DAP 4500 16.2 - - - - Urea 4500 41.4 - - - - Example 7: Formulation N and O were applied to different fertilizers to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.6 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen and urea nitrogen content of the fertilizer. Samples of the treated fertilizer were stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. At different time intervals, the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 8: Formulation N and O applied on AS, urea and CAN fertilizer. Fertilizer Formu Crystal formation after x months storage time Temp lation 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 4 5 610AS Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - AS On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - 40°CUrea Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a-Urea On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - CAN Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - CAN On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -AS Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -AS On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - Urea Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - 30°C Urea On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -CAN Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a-CAN On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -AS Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -AS On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - U n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a 20°Crea N -Urea On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -CAN Nn / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a-CAN On / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - AS N - - - - - - - - - - AS O- - - - - - - - - - 5°CUrea N- - - - - - - - - -Urea O- - - - - - - - - -CAN N - - - - - - - - - - CAN O- - - - - - - - - -AS N- - - - - - - - - n / a AS O- - - - - - - - - n / a Ure - - - - - - - - - 0°C a Nn / aUrea O- - - - - + + + +n / aCAN N- - - - - - - - - n / a CAN O- - - - - - - - - n / a AS N - - - - - - - - -n / aAS O - - - - - - - - -n / aUrea N- - - - - - - - - -5°Cn / aUrea O- - - - - n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a CAN N - - - - - - - - -n / aCAN O - - - - - - - - +n / aExample 8: Formulation P, Q, R and S were applied to CAN fertilizer to obtain an active ingredient concentration on the fertilizer of 0.8 wt.-% based on the ammonium nitrogen content of CAN. Samples of the treated fertilizer were stored at different temperatures in closed glass bottles. After different storage periods, the samples were visually checked for presence of crystals on the outside of the fertilizer granules. Table 9: Formulation P, Q, R and S applied on CAN fertilizer. Formulati Crystal formation after x months storage time Temp on 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.7 7 8.41213.5 P n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - - 50°C Qn / a n / aR - - - - - - n / a - n / a - S - - - - - - n / a - n / a - P n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a Q n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a -n / - 40°Ca n / aR - - - - - - n / a - n / a - S - - - - - - n / a - n / a - P n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a - n / a - n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n 30°C Q / a -n / a-n / aR - - - - - - n / a - n / a - S - - - - - - n / a - n / a - P n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a + n / a + n / a 20°C Q n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a + n / a + n / aR- - - - - -n / a + n / a +S- - - - - - n / a + n / a + P + n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a Q + n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a 5°C R n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a S n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a n / a Discussion Formulation A, B and C show active ingredient crystallization on fertilizer granules within 2 weeks after application when the treated fertilizer is stored at 20°C. Crystallization of active ingredient on fertilizer should be avoided, since this will lead to losses of the active during handling, transportation, and application of the fertilizer in the field. Formulations with propylene glycol (PG) and or benzyl alcohol (BA) as solvent show improved long-term storage stability on fertilizer granules when alcohol concentration is 60% or more. These formulations, however, cannot be stored at temperatures below 10°C while active ingredient will precipitate out. Formulations should be able to be stored at 0°C and above, ideally -5°C and above. To improve the cold temperature storage stability of the formulation itself, amide-group containing co- solvents like Agnique® AMD 3L, Agnique® AMD 10 and Rhodiasolv® PolarClean must be used. Optimum results in cold storage stability of the formulation and good storage stability on the fertilizer were achieved with 30 wt.-% active ingredient and different ratios of PG and Agnique® AMD 3L, Agnique® AMD10 or Rhodiasolv® PolarClean.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A composition for reducing nitrification, comprising (a) at least one alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I)wherein R1is allyl or alkyl selected from ethyl, propyl and butyl; or a salt, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; and (b) at least one solvent, wherein the solvent comprises at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) wherein R2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl; wherein the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), compound (a) in an amount of 18 to 47 wt.-%, preferably 20 to 45 wt.-%, more preferably 30 to 40 wt.-%, and the at least one solvent (b) in an amount of 53 to 82 wt.-%, preferably 55 to 80 wt.-%, more preferably 60 to 70 wt.-%.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein R1is ethyl.

3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) is benzyl alcohol or a polyol, preferably selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol.

4. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solvent (b) comprises at least one N,N- dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II).

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein R4is selected from C2-C10 alkyl, optionally substituted with one -OH or one -COOR5group, wherein R5is C1-C4 alkyl.

6. The composition of claim 4 or 5, wherein the compound of formula (II) is selected from N,N- dimethyllactamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, and 2-methyl-5-oxo-5-(dimethylamino)-pentanoic acid methyl ester.

7. The composition of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the composition comprises, relative to the total weight of (a) and (b), the at least one monomeric alcohol (b1) in an amount of from 20 to 50 wt.-% and the at least one N,N-dialkylamide (b2) of formula (II) in an amount of from 10 to 50 wt.-%, preferably 15 to 40 wt.-%.

8. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the composition is a liquid composition.

9. Solid fertilizer composition, preferably nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition, comprising the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The solid fertilizer composition of claim 9, wherein the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition comprises an urea-containing and / or an ammonium-containing fertilizer, preferably a solid ammonium- containing inorganic fertilizer, more preferably an NPK fertilizer, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium sulfate and / or ammonium phosphate; or an urea-containing fertilizer, more preferably urea, formaldehyde urea, anhydrous ammonium, urea sulfur, urea based NPK- fertilizers, and / or urea ammonium sulfate.

11. The solid fertilizer composition of claim 9 or 10, wherein the fertilizer is in form of granules, preferably with an average particle size of 1 to 5 mm.

12. The solid fertilizer composition of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the solid fertilizer composition comprises the composition of any one of claims 1 to 8 in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt.-% of the at least one alkoxypyrazole according to formula (I) based on the ammonium-nitrogen and / or urea-nitrogen content of the fertilizer composition, preferably 0.2 to 3.0 or 0.3 to 2.0 wt.-%, more preferably 0.3 to 1.0 wt.-%, even more preferably 0.4 to 1.0 wt.-%.

13. Method for the production of a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition according to any one of claims 9 to 12, comprising (a) providing a solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition, preferably in the form of granules or a powder; (b) combining the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition with a liquid composition for reducing nitrification according to any one of claims 1 to 8, preferably by spraying the liquid composition onto the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer composition or by granulating the solid nitrogen-containing fertilizer with the liquid composition.

14. Use of a solvent composition comprising at least one monomeric alcohol and, optionally, at least one N,N-dialkylamide of formula (II) R2R3N-C(=O)-R4(II) whereinR2and R3, independently of each other, are C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl; R4is an C1-C10 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from -OR5 and -COOR5; and R5is H or C1-C4 alkyl; to stabilize an alkoxypyrazole compound of formula (I)wherein R1is alkyl selected from ethyl, propyl and butyl, preferably ethyl; or a salt tautomer or N-oxide thereof; in a solid fertilizer composition, wherein the solvent composition and the alkoxypyrazole are combined and applied in liquid form to the solid fertilizer composition.

15. Use of the composition of any one of claims 1 to 8 or the solid fertilizer composition of any one of claims 9 to 12 for reducing nitrification, preferably reducing nitrification of ammonium from urea and / or ammonium containing fertilizers.

16. The use of claim 15, wherein said reduction of nitrification occurs in or on soil or soil substitute, in the root zone of a plant, at the locus where a plant is growing or is intended to grow, and / or in or on a plant.

17. A method for reducing nitrification, comprising (1) treating a plant growing on soil or soil substitutes and / or the locus or soil or soil substitutes where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with the composition of any one of claims 1 to 8; or (2) fertilizing a plant growing on soil or soil substitutes and / or the locus or soil or soil substitutes where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with the solid fertilizer composition of any one of claims 9 to 12.

18. The use of claim 16 or the method of claim 17, wherein said plant is an agricultural plant such as wheat, barley, oat, rye, soybean, corn, potatoes, oilseed rape, canola, sunflower, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beet, rice, or a vegetable such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, or cabbages; or sorghum; a silvicultural plant; an ornamental plant; or a horticultural plant, each in its natural or in a genetically modified form.

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