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Nitric Oxide and Nitrous Oxide Production from Soil: Water and Oxygen Effects
Author(s) -
Drury C. F.,
Findlay W. I.,
McKenney D. J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1992.03615995005600030015x
Subject(s) - loam , denitrification , nitrous oxide , water content , soil water , chemistry , environmental chemistry , moisture , agronomy , nitrogen , soil science , environmental science , geology , biology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
This study was designed to determine the effects of water and O 2 on the speciation of denitrification gases (NO and N 2 O). Nitric oxide was found to be the principal end product from soil incubated under low‐moisture conditions, whereas the relative amount of N 2 O increased under wetter moisture regimes. The total amount of NO plus N 2 O produced increased with increasing water content for the Brookston clay loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Argiaguoll), whereas it peaked at 150 g kg −1 (15%) water content with the Fox sandy loam (fine‐loamy over sandy or sandy or sandy‐skeletal, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludalf). The decrease in NO plus N 2 O at higher water contents was probably the result of the subsequent reduction of N 2 O to N 2 in the Fox sandy loam soil. The residence time of the denitrification gases in the soil increased with increasing water content, hence facilitating the subsequent conversions of NO to N 2 O and N 2 . The thickness of the water film surrounding the microbes affected both the diffusion of O 2 through the water and into the microbes as well as the diffusion of denitrification gases (NO, N 2 O, and N 2 ) from the microbes into the atmosphere. In the sandy loam soil, O 2 content and soil water affected both the amount and species of evolved denitrification gases. Oxygen was more effective in decreasing NO production at lower than at higher water contents.