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Sequence of Products Formed During Denitrification in Some Diverse Western Soils¹

ABSTRACT

The sequential products of anaerobic denitrification were determined on seven Western soils (four alkaline, two acid, and one neutral) by soil and gas analysis. The soils with 1% alfalfa and added KNO₃ were incubated at moistures slightly greater than field capacity and with an atmosphere of He. The soils and gases were periodically analyzed and balance sheets prepared. The sequence of NO₃^- NO₂^- N₂O N₂ operated in all soils. The N₂O and N₂ were determined on a gas chromatograph. The rates of nitrogen interchanges and maximal amounts of nitrite, N₂O, and N₂ were determined. From this data it was postulated that the rate-limiting process for denitrification in acid soils is the reduction of nitrate, while in alkaline soils it is the reduction of nitrite. The reduction of N₂O was rapid in all instances. The total time for complete reduction of 300 ppm. N as nitrate to N₂ at 30°C. varied only from 28 to 96 hours for the 7 soils. Lowering the temperature to 25° or 20°C. influenced all rates for 3 alkaline soils and resulted in a twofold increase in denitrification time for the 10°C. drop. Decreases in initial concentration of added KNO₃ to 150, 75, and 37.5 ppm. did not change the overall rate of dentrification. There was, however, a marked reduction in the maximal amounts of N₂O found in the gaseous atmosphere when the initial KNO₃ concentration was reduced.

¹ Approved by the Director, Utah Agr. Exp. Sta., as Journal Paper No. 318. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation through a Faculty Research Fellowship for the Senior author and in part by Western Regional Research Project W-31.

² Associate Professor of Chemistry, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, Calif., and Associate Professor of Agronomy, Utah State University, Logan.

Received for publication February 7, 1963. Accepted for publication April 10, 1963.

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