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The influence of moisture content and nitrate feeding on the nitrogen cycle in the soil both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

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Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Summary and Conclusions

The paper deals with the influence of moisture content on ammonification and nitrification, and of nitrate feeding conditions of moisture and aeration on ammonification.

A method is proposed for measuring ammonification. The proposed method for measuring ammonification based upon the difference in organic nitrogen both before and after the incubation period has been found to give better results for ammonification.

There is a particular range of moisture content, both for optimum ammonification and nitrification, being between 34 and 51 per cent, of the moisture-holding capacity of the soil.

Under saturated conditions nitrification is completely inhibited whereas ammonification continues though at a slower rate.

Nitrates influence the ammonifying organisms to increased activity till a particular concentration is reached beyond which the process is retarded.

The ratardation of ammonification is accompanied by setting in of denitrification.

The ammonifiers seems to be composed of two groups, one aerobic and the other anaerobic in nature, if aerobic they exhibit facultative anaerobism under unfavourable conditions.

Under aerobic conditions the activity of the ammonifying organisms is proportionately higher.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Agricultural Research, Benares Hindu University, India

    B. N. Singh, S. N. Singh & K. M. Nair

Authors
  1. B. N. Singh
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  2. S. N. Singh
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  3. K. M. Nair
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Singh, B.N., Singh, S.N. & Nair, K.M. The influence of moisture content and nitrate feeding on the nitrogen cycle in the soil both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 9, 331–342 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03048506

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03048506

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