Summary
This laboratory-based study employed 15N isotope labelling to quantify simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) in nitrogen-fertilised soils under oxygen-limiting conditions. SND represents a potential mechanism for rapid nitrogen loss in anaerobic microsites, as suggested by the authors' choice of incubation conditions. The research contributes to understanding how nitrogen is partitioned between different gaseous products and retained forms in soils with heterogeneous oxygen regimes, relevant to predicting nitrogen fate in waterlogged or compacted agricultural soils.
UK applicability
The findings are applicable to UK farming, particularly for clay-dominant and poorly drained soils common in northern regions, where seasonal waterlogging creates anaerobic microsites. Understanding SND kinetics may help predict nitrogen losses and inform fertiliser management strategies to reduce nutrient runoff and gaseous emissions.
Key measures
15N-quantified rates of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification; nitrogen gas (N₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) production; soil oxygen concentrations
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the rates and occurrence of simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) in nitrogen-fertilised soils incubated under oxygen-limiting conditions using 15N isotope tracing methods. The research examined how soil conditions and nitrogen availability influence coupled nitrogen transformations.
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