Abstract Time-resolved electric field strength measurements have been performed, using an electric-field induced second harmonic (E-FISH) diagnostic, in a nanosecond glow discharge of an impulse dielectric barrier discharge (iDBD), in an ammonia gas environment. A temporal resolution of 2 ns and a spatial resolution estimated at 70 µm (given by laser waist) have been achieved. The comparative study of E-FISH measurements with and without a plasma discharge, operated at 4 kHz, reveal the presence of a persistent counter electric field, which is assumed to be caused by charge accumulation in between the AlN dielectrics used. Furthermore, by studying the influence of the applied voltage, the pressure, and the inter-dielectric distance, measurements seem to indicate the presence of charges remaining also in the post-discharge volume from the previous discharge to the next one.