Effect of irrigation method and acetylene exposure on field denitrification measurements
Acetylene was introduced into the soil atmosphere of field plots either by flood irrigation with C/sub 2/H/sub 2/-treated water or by continuous diffusion of C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ from dispersion tubes placed in the soil to a depth of 25 cm. Some plots received C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ through dispersion tubes continuously for 42 d, while rotated plots received the gas for 7 d and were then abandoned in favor of fresh plots. Denitrification losses from the fallow, clay loam soil were approximately 16-kg N when the soil was flood-irrigated and approximately 3-kg N when the soil was sprinkle-irrigated. Soil environmental conditions within the disintegrated structure of the flood-irrigated soil promoted denitrification losses. Nitrification rates in C/sub 2/H/sub 2/-treated soils were only 30 and 87% of control rates, but nitrification rates recovered within 4 d after removal of the gas. The complications of nitrification inhibition by acetylene in field denitrification studies may be minimized by intermittent exposure of soil to acetylene or by rotation of experimental sites. Soil microorganisms began to metabolize C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ after 7 d of continuous exposure. The problems of C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ decomposition and decreased C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ partial pressures were overcome by rotating field plots every 7 d.
- Research Organization:
- Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
- OSTI ID:
- 7190870
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 50:1; ISSN SSSJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACETYLENE
ALKYNES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DENITRIFICATION
DIFFUSION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HYDROCARBONS
INHIBITION
IRRIGATION
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROUS OXIDE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOILS
STIMULATION