Distinguishing between Nitrification and Denitrification as Sources of Gaseous Nitrogen Production in Soil †

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The source of N2O produced in soil is often uncertain because denitrification and nitrification can occur simultaneously in the same soil aggregate. A technique which exploits the differential sensitivity of these processes to C2H2 inhibition is proposed for distinguishing among gaseous N losses from soils. Denitrification N2O was estimated from 24-h laboratory incubations in which nitrification was inhibited by 10-Pa C2H2. Nitrification N2O was estimated from the difference between N2O production under no C2H2 and that determined for denitrification. Denitrification N2 was estimated from the difference between N2O production under 10-kPa C2H2 and that under 10 Pa. Laboratory estimates of N2O production were significantly correlated with in situ N2O diffusion measurements made during a 10-month period in two forested watersheds. Nitrous oxide production from nitrification was most important on well-drained sites of a disturbed watershed where ambient NO3− was high. In contrast, denitrification N2O was most important on poorly drained sites near the stream of the same watershed. Distinction between N2O production from nitrification and denitrification was corroborated by correlations between denitrification N2O and water-filled pore space and between nitrification N2O and ambient NO3−. This technique permits qualitative study of environmental parameters that regulate gaseous N losses via denitrification and nitrification.

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