Nitrification and characteristics of nitrifying microorganisms in an acid forest soil
A study was conducted of factors affecting nitrate (NO3 ) accumulation and characteristics of the nitrifying microflora in the O2 horizon of an acid forest soil (pH 3.6 - 4.0) from the Adirondacks region of New York. The addition of ammonium (NH4 did not enhance NO3 formation in suspensions of soil, but such an enhancement occurred if the suspensions were amended with peptone or if the soil had been previously leached with distilled water. The effect of additions of NH4 on NO3 production was correlated with the influence of NH4 on N mineralization. Although levels of 47 g NH4 -N/mL stimulated NO3 formation in suspensions of leached soil, additions of 94 g NH4 -N/mL or more were toxic. The enhancement of nitrification by low concentrations of NH4 was not accompanied by an increase in CO2 fixation. Nitrapyrin inhibited nitrification in NH4 -amended but not in unamended suspensions of soil, but it suppressed CO2 fixation in suspensions with and without added NH4 . Nitrapyrin stimulated N and C mineralization. The results show that nitrification in this soil is not the result of classical autotrophic nitrifiers, and a possible role for methylotroph-type organisms in nitrification is suggested.
- Research Organization:
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
- OSTI ID:
- 6337646
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 49:6; ISSN SSSJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effect of simulated acid rain on nitrification and nitrogen mineralization in forest soils
Contributions of autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrifiers to soil NO and N sub 2 O emissions
Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMMONIA
AUTOTROPHS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOREST LITTER
FORESTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALIZATION
NITRATES
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS