HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tyler, K. B. Articles by Broadbent, F. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tyler, K. B. Articles by Broadbent, F. E. Agricola Articles by Tyler, K. B. Articles by Broadbent, F. E.

Nitrite Transformations in California Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Incubation studies of factors influencing nitrite oxidation in four California soils were conducted at two temperatures—45° and 75° F. In acid soils nitrite transformations were found to be highly sensitive to nitrite concentration in the soil and were inhibited by very low levels. Nitrite had less effect on the second step of nitrification in alkaline soils. Nitrite oxidizers were shown to be very sensitive to low temperature soil conditions.

Although nitrite disappeared rapidly following addition to acid soils, little nitrate was produced during the incubation period. Much of the nitrite-nitrogen was lost from the system. Experiments using acid soils which had been sterilized showed similar losses in added nitrite-nitrogen and lead to the conclusion that these losses result from nonbiological processes. Studies to determine the nature of these losses suggest nitrogen gas as the principal product.

Investigations of respiration rates of the soil population where various concentrations of nitrite were added reveal that nitrites inhibit the respiratory activity of the soil microorganisms as a whole and not merely the nitrifying group. Very low concentrations were inhibitory in acid soils; however, in a calcareous soil more than a hundred-fold increase in nitrite concentration was required to achieve the same magnitude of respiratory inhibition.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition, University of California, Davis, and the Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Riverside. Presented before Div. III, Soil Science Society of America, Nov. 19, 1959 at Cincinnati, Ohio.

² Assistant Olericulturist and Associate Soil Microbiologist, respectively.

Received for publication December 15, 1959. Accepted for publication February 8, 1960.