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Sulfur in Acetylene Inhibition of Nitrous Oxide Reduction by Soil Microorganisms¹

ABSTRACT

A laboratory experiment was designed to determine the involvement of sulfur (S) in the reversal of acetylene (C₂H₂) inhibition of nitrous oxide (N₂O) reduction in the denitrification process. Three soils varying with respect to sulfate and carbon (C) contents were included in the study. Amendments involving sources of S and C (alfalfa, cysteine + glucose, and Na₂S + glucose) were compared with amendments involving only C sources (glucose, alanine + glucose).

Reversal of acetylene inhibition of N₂O reduction did not occur with any of the untreated soils, suggesting that SO^2-₄ was not involved. While glucose and alanine treatments enhanced denitrification, there was no influence on the C₂H₂ inhibition of N₂O reduction. On the other hand, Na₂S (plus glucose), cysteine and alfalfa reversed the inhibition. Although the involvement of added S in the reversal of C₂H₂ inhibition of N₂O reduction was confirmed, the exact nature of its involvement remains to be elucidated.

Key Words: acetylene • inhibition reversal • sulfur substrates • carbon substrates

¹ Contribution of the University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada. Research supported by Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

² Research Associate and Professor, Dep. of Land Resource Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.

Received for publication February 23, 1981. Accepted for publication September 15, 1981.