ISSN:
1573-2932
Keywords:
denitrification
;
nitrification
;
nitrogen
;
nitrous oxide
;
wetlands
;
15 isotopes
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract The transformations of applied (100 kg N ha-1)15 N labelled NO3 and NH4 in Mississippi River deltaic plain swamp forest soil which receives agriculture run-off from adjacent sugarcane fields were determined. Using an isotopic dilution technique, the rates of NO3 production (nitrification) and reduction in the 15NO3 treated soil-water-columns were approximately 240 and 2,320 g N ha-1 d-1, whereas NH4 production (mineralization) and removal rates in the 15NH4 treated soil-water-columns were 270 and 2160 g N ha-1 d-1, respectively. It was shown that if nitrification and NH4 assimilation were the primary processes responsible for NH4 removal, average NH4 assimilation would be 145 g N ha-1 d-1. Based on labelled N2-emission, denitrification was 3 fold greater in the NO3 treatment compared to the NH4 treated soil water-columns with rates of 818 and 266 g N ha-1 d-1 respectively. Even though the rate was lower in the NH4 treatment, results show that nitrification-denitrification of NH4 is a significant process. Nitrogen losses determined by15 N2 emissions were 20.4 and 6.4% and N2O emissions were 0.10 and 0.03% of the applied NO3-N and NH4-N, respectively, over 32 days of incubation. Fertilizer loss through N2O emission was only of minor significance compared to the fertilizer loss through N2 evolution. Nitrous oxide fluxes from the control soil-water-columns averaged 9.4 g N ha-1 d-1. Addition of NO3-N to the columns increased N2O production 56% as compared to a 15% increase from the NH4-N addition. Results show that this wetland soil has a large capacity to process inorganic nitrogen entering the system as a result of agriculture run-off.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004953626415
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