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Nitrification by Heterotrophic Soil Microorganisms¹

ABSTRACT

Heterotrophic soil bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi produced nitrite when grown in media containing various reduced forms of nitrogen. Amines, amides, N-alkylhydroxylamines, oximes, hydroxamic acids, and aromatic nitro compounds served as substrates for nitrite formation by individual microorganisms. The yield of nitrite varied with the organism and the substrate, ranging from 190 ppm of nitrite-nitrogen with acetaldoxime as a nitrogen source to a few ppm with certain substituted ureas. None of the microorganisms formed nitrate from the substrates tested. One isolate, identified as a species of Fusarium, converted more than 90% of the nitrogen of pyruvic oxime to nitrite. Cell extracts of the fungus catalyzed the production of nitrite from the oxime.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, as Agronomy Paper no. 701. Supported in part by funds provided by National Science Foundation (GB2321) and Cooperative Regional Research Project NE-39. The valuable assistance of M. Obaton and S.K. Bosu is gratefully acknowledged.

² Graduate Research Assistant and Professor of Soil Science.

Present address of senior author is Department of Agronomy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.

Received for publication November 26, 1965. Accepted for publication December 9, 1965.