Potential denitrification rates in deep sediments from the southeastern coastal plain

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00172a014· OSTI ID:6606817

Morris, J T; Whiting, G J; Chapelle, F H

Measurements of potential denitrification, by the acetylene block technique, and CO/sub 2/ production were made in sediment samples from cores taken to a depth of 185 m on Parris Island, SC. A significant denitrification potential in sediments overlying the Floridan aquifer and in the Floridan aquifer itself was found. Denitrification rates in subsurface sediments (5-185 m) amended with 1 mM NO/sub 3//sup -/ averaged 1.7 +/- 1.8 nmol of N/sub 2/O g/sup -1/ d/sup -1/ (+/- 1 SD), whereas samples of organic rich surface soils gave mean rates from 117 +/- 71 to 173 +/- 39 nmol of N/sub 2/O g/sup -1/ d/sup -1/. Depth-integrated rates indicate that potential denitrification in a 150-m column of subsurface sediment, excluding the surface layer, is 253 mmol of N/sub 2/O m/sup -2/ d/sup -1/. The surface layer has a potential rate of 74 mmol of N/sub 2/O m/sup -2/ d/sup -1/. Denitrification rate was apparently limited by NO/sub 3//sup -/ concentration in assays with 1 mM NO/sub 3//sup -/. CO/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/O production showed parallel trends with depth; mean surface CO/sub 2/ production was from 104 +/- 29 to 1034 +/- 307 nmol of CO/sub 2/g/sup -1/ d/sup -1/ and was greater than subsurface rates. The latter averaged 21 +/- 18 nmol of CO/sub 2/g/sup -1/ d/sup -1/ between 5- and 185-m depth.

• Research Organization: Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6606817
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 22:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
NITRATES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SEDIMENTS
DENITRIFICATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
DRILL CORES
SOUTH CAROLINA
WATER POLLUTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FEDERAL REGION IV
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
USA
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)