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The Effect of Nitrite and Organic Matter on Aerobic Gaseous Losses of Nitrogen from a Calcareous Soil¹

ABSTRACT

The loss of gaseous nitrogen compounds when nitrite accumulates in a calcareous silty clay loam during nitrification was investigated under aerobic conditions.

Soil to which either (NH₄)₂SO₄, NaNO₂, or (NH₄)₂SO₄ + barley straw was added, was incubated at 28C and 31% moisture for 28 days. Samples were maintained under aerobic conditions in a N-free atmosphere of 21% oxygen and 79% helium. Gas samples were taken every 7 days from the incubation flasks and analyzed, using a gas chromatograph, for gaseous N products evolved. The accumulation of nitrite was measured on separate soil samples incubated in the same manner as the flasks used to secure gas samples.

The gaseous N forms produced were N₂O and N₂. It was found that losses were low even when large amounts (250 ppm) of nitrite-N accumulated. The gaseous N loss was 1.3% for (NH₄)₂SO₄ and NaNO₂ and 3.6% for the (NH₄)₂SO₄ + barley straw treatment.

¹ Contribution from the Southwest Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA.

² Soil Scientists USDA, Southwestern Irrigation Field Station, Brawley, Calif.

Received for publication September 28, 1964. Accepted for publication November 23, 1964.