Summary
1. Stimulated soils, for studies on nitrate dissimilation, were prepared by percolating soil crumbs with solutions containing glucose, ammonia, and nitrate under an atmosphere either of air or of oxygen-free nitrogen. For studies on nitrification, stimulated soils were prepared by percolation with solutions of ammonium sulphate under air.
2. The effect of oxygen concentrations on the respiration of such stimulated soils was studied by Warburg manometric, and polarographic techniques. Both techniques showed that in all stimulated soils lowering of the oxygen concentration did not inhibit respiration until low values were reached. At an oxygen concentration of from 2 to 5 µM the respiration rates were about half the rates in the presence of excess oxygen.
3. It is concluded from these results that at an oxygen concentration of 2 to 5 µM nitrate dissimilation took place at about half of its rate under an atmosphere of nitrogen, and nitrification took place at about half of its rate when oxygen was not limiting.
4. Measurements were made of the rates of nitrification and of nitrate dissimilation in moist 2 to 4 mm diameter soil crumbs held in soil percolators under different oxygen partial pressures. The effect of oxygen partial pressure on both processes was in approximate agreement with that predicted by means of an equation deduced from Fick's law of diffusion.
5. An attempt is made to define the soil-physical conditions under which biological nitrogen losses can take place.
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Greenwood, D.J. Nitrification and nitrate dissimilation in soil. Plant Soil 17, 378–391 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01377675
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01377675