Nitrous oxide production in grassland soils: assessing the contribution of nitrifier denitrification
Publication year
2004Source
Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 36, 2, (2004), pp. 229-236ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
Experimental Plant Ecology
Journal title
Soil Biology & Biochemistry
Volume
vol. 36
Issue
iss. 2
Page start
p. 229
Page end
p. 236
Subject
Plant EcologyAbstract
Nitrifier denitrification is the reduction of NO2- to N-2 by nitrifiers. It leads to the production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) as an intermediate and possible end product. It is not known how important nitrifier denitrification is for the production of N2O in soils. We explored N2O production by nitrifier denitrification in relation to other N2O producing processes such as nitrification and denitrification under different soil conditions. The influence of aeration of the soil, different N sources, and pH were tested in four experiments. To differentiate between sources of N2O, an incubation method with inhibitors was used [Biol. Fertil. Soils 22 (1996) 331]. Sets of four incubations included controls without addition of inhibitors, incubations with addition of small concentrations Of C2H2 (0.01-0.1 kPa), large concentrations of O-2 (100 kPa), or a combination of C2H2 and O-2. The results indicate that the availability of NO2-, stimulated the apparent N2O production by nitrifier denitrification. A decreasing O-2 content increased the total N2O production, but decreased N2O production by nitrifier denitrification. No significant effect of pH could be found. The study revealed problems concerning the use of the inhibitors C2H2 and O-2. Almost one-third of all incubations with inhibitors produced more N2O than the controls. Possible reasons for the problems are discussed. The inhibitors C2H2 and O-2 need to be tested thoroughly for their effects on different N2O producing processes before further application. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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