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Gaseous Nitrogen Evolution During Nitrification of Ammonia Fertilizer and Nitrite Transformations in Soils¹

ABSTRACT

The biological oxidation of NO₂^- is inhibited when alkaline-hydrolyzing N fertilizers are band-applied to soils, and NO₂^- may accumulate. Nitrogenous gases can be evolved with NO₂^- is added to soil. The aim of the work described here was to determine if gaseous-N losses could occur via chemical transformations of NO₂^- during nitrification in soils treated with NH₃ fertilizer.

Evolution of N₂, N₂O, and NO + NO₂ occurred during nitrification in three soils treated with aqueous NH₃. Losses occurred when measured soil pH was > 7.5. The highest gaseous-N loss amounted to 16.5% of applied-N (1156 µg N applied/g of soil) in a calcareous soil incubated for 28 days at 30°C. Nitrogen was the major gaseous form of N evolved in all soils. In two soils, NO₂^- did not accumulate to more than 13 µg N/g of soil, but substantial N₂ emission was measured. Addition of the nitrification inhibitor, nitrapyrin, with the fertilizer, prevented NO₂^- accumulation without preventing nitrification. This treatment prevented N₂O evolution and markedly reduced loss of N₂ and NO + NO₂.

Evolution of N₂, N₂O, and NO + NO₂ occurred in the three soils following NO₂^- addition. Loss of N₂ was very sensitive to soil pH, and markedly increased with increasing acidity. However, N₂ was readily evolved when soil pH was slightly alkaline. Evolution of NO + NO₂ was inversely related to pH, but N₂O loss was highest in the most alkaline soil (pH 8.4). The marked similarities within individual soils of the patterns of gaseous-N losses obtained for NH₃ and NO₂^- treatments, strongly suggest that similar processes were operating. Gaseous-N evolution was similar in -irradiated and nonirradiated soils treated with NO₂^-. These results, together with the effect of nitrapyrin, suggest that gaseous-N losses can occur via chemical transformations of NO₂^-, when the competitive biological oxidation of NO₂^- by Nitrobacter is inhibited.

¹ Contribution from the School of Agric. and Forestry, Univ. of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.

² Graduate Student and Lecturer in Soil Science, respectively. The senior author is now Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Wetland Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

Received for publication April 24, 1979. Accepted for publication November 6, 1979.

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