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Nitrite Decomposition in Flooded Soil Under Different pH and Redox Potential Conditions¹

ABSTRACT

Nitrite decomposition products were studied in a flooded soil suspension maintained under different pH and redox potential conditions. The effect of a sterilant, HgCl₂, on nitrite breakdown was also investigated. Soil suspensions were incubated for several days with the pH maintained at 4.5, 6, and 8 and the redox potential maintained at 0 and + 200 mV. Nitrite was then added to the suspensions and the decomposition products were determined by mass spectrometry.

Under acid conditions significant amounts of N₂ and nitrogen oxide gases (N₂O, NO) were formed in both the moderately reduced (+200 mV) and reduced (0 mV) suspensions. At higher pH's the nitrite reduction rate was slightly less and the amounts of nitrogen oxide gases formed were considerably less with N₂ being the major product. The chemical sterilant decreased the conversion of nitrite to N₂ and markedly increased the formation of NO. The significant production of NO under acid conditions both with and without the sterilant, suggests the likelihood of self-decomposition of nitrous acid as a major mechanism of nitrite loss.

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Agronomy, Louisiana Agric. Exp. Sn., Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70803. This study was supported in part by the Center for Wetlands Resources, Louisiana State Univ.

² Soil Scientist on leave from the Faculty of Agronomy, Univ. of Ghent, Belgium, Professor of Agronomy, and Associate Professor of Nuclear Science, respectively.

Received for publication October 22, 1974. Accepted for publication September 29, 1975.