Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of microbial NO production, N2O production and CH4 oxidation initiated by aeration of anoxic rice field soil

  • Published:
Biogeochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Intermittent drainage of rice fields isdiscussed as an option to mitigate emission ofCH4, an important greenhouse gas. HoweverN2O, a potentially more effective greenhouse gas,may be emitted during the aeration phase. Therefore,the metabolism of NO, N2O, NH\(_4^ + \),NO\(_2^ - \) and NO\(_3^ - \) and the kinetics ofCH4 oxidation were measured after aeration ofmethanogenic rice field soil. Before aeration, thesoil contained NH\(_4^ + \) in relatively highconcentrations (about 4 mM), while NO\(_2^ - \) andNO\(_3^ - \) were almost undetectable. Immediatelyafter aeration both NO and N2O were produced withrates of about 15 pmol h-1 gdw-1 and 5 pmolh-1 gdw-1, respectively. Simultaneously,NH\(_4^ + \) decreased while NO\(_2^ - \)accumulated. Later on, NO\(_2^ - \) was depletedwhile NO\(_3^ - \) concentrations increased.Characteristic phases of nitrogen turnover wereassociated with the activities of ammonium oxidizers,nitrite oxidizers and denitrifiers. Oxidation ofNH\(_4^ + \) and production of NO and N2O wereinhibited by 10 Pa acetylene demonstrating thatnitrification was obligatory for the initiation ofnitrogen turnover and production of NO and N2O.Ammonium oxidation was not limited by the availableNH\(_4^ + \)and thus, concomittant production of NOand N2O was not stimulated by addition ofNH\(_4^ + \). However, addition of NO\(_3^ - \)stimulated production of NO and N2O in bothanoxic and aerated rice soil slurries. In this case,10 Pa acetylene did not inhibit the production of NOand N2O demonstrating that it was due todenitrification which was obviously limited by theavailability of NO\(_3^ - \). In the aerated soilslurries CH4 was only oxidized if present atelevated concentrations >50 ppmv CH4). Atatmospheric CH4 concentrations (∼1.7 ppmv)CH4 was not consumed, but was even slightly produced.CH4 oxidation activity increased afterpreincubation at 20% CH4, and then CH4was also oxidized at atmospheric concentrations. CH4oxidation kinetics exhibited sigmoid characteristicsat low CH4 concentrations presumably because ofinhibition of CH4 oxidation by NH\(_4^ + \).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achtnich C, Bak F & Conrad R (1995) Competition for electron donors among nitrate reducers, ferric iron reducers, sulfate reducers, and methanogens in anoxic paddy soil. Biol Fertil Soils 19: 65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Bak F, Scheff G & Jansen KH (1991) A rapid and sensitive ion chromatographic technique for the determination of sulfate and sulfate reduction rates in freshwater lake sediments. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 85: 23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumgärtner M & Conrad R (1992) Effects of soil variables and season on the production and consumption of nitric oxide in oxic soils. Biol Fertil Soils 14: 166–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumgärtner M, Koschorreck M & Conrad R (1996) Oxidative consumption of nitric oxide by heterotrophic bacteria in soil. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 19: 165–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender M & Conrad R (1992) Kinetics of CH4 oxidation in oxic soils exposed to ambient air or high CH4 mixing ratios. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 101: 261–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender M & Conrad R (1995) Effect of CH4 concentrations and soil conditions on the induction of CH4 oxidation activity. Soil Biol Biochem 27: 1517–1527

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollmann A & Conrad R (1997) Acetylene blockage technique leads to underestimation of denitrification rates in oxic soil due to scavenging of intermediate nitric oxide. Soil Biol Biochem 29: 1067–1077

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollmann A, Koschorreck M & Conrad R (1995) Zwei Methoden zur Messung des NO-Umsatzes in Böden. Mitt Dtsch Bodenkundl Ges 76: 513–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosse U, Frenzel P & Conrad R (1993) Inhibition of methane oxidation by ammonium in the surface layer of a littoral sediment. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 13: 123–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosse U & Frenzel P (1997) Activity and distribution of CH4-oxidizing bacteria in flooded rice microcosms and in rice plants (Oryza sativa). Appl Environ Microbiol 63: 1199–1207

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrnes BH, Holt LS & Austin ER (1993) The emission of nitrous oxide upon wetting a rice soil following a dry season fallow. J Geophys Res 98: 22925–22929

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsen HN, Joergensen L & Degn H (1991) Inhibition by ammonia of methane utilization in Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 35: 124–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Chalk PM & Smith CJ (1983) Chemodenitrification. Dev Plant Soil Sci 9: 65–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicerone RJ & Oremland RS (1988) Biogeochemical aspects of atmospheric methane. Global Biogeochem Cycles 2: 299–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R (1994) Compensation concentration as critical variable for regulating the flux of trace gases between soil and atmosphere. Biogeochem 27: 155–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R (1995) Soil microbial processes involved in production and consumption of atmospheric trace gases. Adv Microb Ecol 14: 207–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R. (1996a) Metabolism of nitric oxide in soil and soil microorganisms and regulation of flux into the atmosphere. In: Murrell JC & Kelly DP (Eds) Microbiology of Atmospheric Trace Gases: Sources, Sinks and Global Change Processes (pp 167–203). Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R (1996b) Soil microorganisms as controllers of atmospheric trace gases (H2, CO, CH4, OCS, N2O, and NO). Microbiol Rev 60: 609–640

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R & Rothfuss F (1991) Methane oxidation in the soil surface layer of a flooded rice field and the effect of ammonium. Biol Fertil Soils 12: 28–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad R, Schütz H & Babbel M (1987) Temperature limitation of hydrogen turnover and methanogenesis in anoxic paddy soil. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 45: 281–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalton H (1977) Ammonia oxidation by the methane oxidising bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus strain Bath. Arch Microbiol 114: 273–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetzer S, Bak F & Conrad R (1993) Sensitivity of methanogenic bacteria from paddy soil to oxygen and desiccation. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 12: 107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Firestone MK, Smith MS, Firestone RB & Tiedje JM (1979) The influence of nitrate, nitrite, and oxygen on the composition of the gaseous products of denitrification in soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 43: 1140–1144

    Google Scholar 

  • Firestone MK, Firestone RB & Tiedje JM (1980) Nitrous oxide from soil denitrification: Factors controlling its biological production. Science 208: 749–751

    Google Scholar 

  • Freney JR & Denmead OT (1992) Factors controlling ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions from flooded rice fields. Ecol Bull (Copenhagen) 42: 188–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzapfel-Pschorn A & Seiler W (1986) Methane emission during a cultivation period from an Italian rice paddy. J Geophys Res 91: 11803–11814

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandeler E & Gerber H (1988) Short-term assay of soil urease activity using colorimetric determination of ammonium. Biol Fertil Soils 6: 68–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeney DR & Nelson DW (1982) Nitrogen – inorganic forms. In: Page AL, Miller RH & Keeney DR (Eds) Methods of Soil Analysis, vol 2 (pp 643–698). American Society of Agronomy, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura M, Miura Y, Watanabe A, Katoh T & Haraguchi H. (1991) Methane emission from paddy field (part 1) Effect of fertilization, growth stage and midsummer drainage: Pot experiment. Environ Sci 4: 265–271

    Google Scholar 

  • King GM & Schnell S (1994) Ammonium and nitrite inhibition of methane oxidation by Methylobacter albus BG8 and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b at lowmethane concentrations. Appl Environ Microbiol 60: 3508–3513

    Google Scholar 

  • King GM & Schnell S (1994) Effect of increasing atmospheric methane concentration on ammonium inhibition of soil methane consumption. Nature 370: 282–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemedtsson L, Svensson BH & Rosswall T (1988) A method of selective inhibition to distinguish between nitrification and denitrification as sources of nitrous oxide in soil. Biol Fertil Soils 6: 112–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuenen JG & Robertson LA (1994) Combined nitrification-denitrification processes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 15: 109–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Mer J, Escoffier S, Chessel C & Roger P A. (1996) Microbiological aspects of methane emission in a ricefield soil from Carmargue (France): 2.Methanotrophy and related microflora. Eur J Soil Biol 32: 71–80

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenney DJ, Drury CF, Findlay WI, Mutus B, McDonnell T & Gajda C (1994) Kinetics of denitrification by Pseudomonas fluorescens – oxygen effects. Soil Biol Biochem 26: 901–908

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponnamperuma FN (1972) The chemistry of submerged soils. Adv Agronomy 24: 29–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Poth M (1986) Dinitrogen production from nitrite by a Nitrosomonas isolate. Appl Environ Microbiol 52: 957–959

    Google Scholar 

  • Poth M & Focht DD (1985) 15N kinetic analysis of N2O production by Nitrosomonas europaea: An examination of nitrifier denitrification. Appl Environ Microbiol 49: 1134–1141

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinn RG (1994) Global atmospheric-biospheric chemistry In: Prinn RG (Ed) Global Atmospheric-Biospheric Chemistry (pp 1–18). Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratering S & Conrad R (1997) Effects of short-term drainage and aeration on the production of methane in submerged rice soil. Global Change Biology, in press

  • Reddy KR & Patrick WH (1975) Effect of alternate aerobic and anaerobic conditions on redox potential, organic matter decomposition and nitrogen loss in a flooded soil. Soil Biol Biochem 7: 87–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy KR & Patrick WH (1976) Effect of frequent changes in aerobic and anaerobic conditions on redox potential and nitrogen loss in a flooded soil. Soil Biol Biochem 8: 491–495

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy KR & Patrick Jr WH (1984) Nitrogen transformations and loss in flooded soils and sediments. Crit Rev Environ Control 13: 273–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Remde A & Conrad R (1990) Production of nitric oxide in Nitrosomonas europaea by reduction of nitrite. Arch Microbiol 154: 187–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Remde A & Conrad R (1991) Role of nitrification and denitrification for NO metabolism in soil. Biogeochem 12: 189–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph J, Koschorreck M & Conrad R (1996) Oxidative and reductive microbial consumption of nitric oxide in a heathland soil. Soil Biol Biochem 28: 1389–1396

    Google Scholar 

  • Sass RL, Fisher FM, Wang YB, Turner FT & Jund MF (1992) Methane emission from rice fields: the effect of floodwater management. Global Biogeochem Cycles 6: 249–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlichting E & Blume HP (1966) Bodenkundliches Praktikum. Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Schütz H, Holzapfel-Pschorn A, Conrad R, Rennenberg H & Seiler W (1989) A 3-year continuous record on the influence of daytime, season, and fertilizer treatment on methane emission rates from an Italian rice paddy. J Geophys Res 94: 16405–16416

    Google Scholar 

  • Segel IH (1993) Enzyme Kinetics. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiler W, Liebl KH, Stöhr WT & Zakosek H (1977) CO-und H2-Abbau in Böden. Z Pflanzenernaehr Bodenkd 140: 257–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurlow M, Kanda K, Tsuruta H & Minami K (1995) Methane uptake by unflooded paddy soils – The influence of soil temperature and atmospheric methane concentration. Soil Sci Plant Nutr 41: 371–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Cleemput O, Patrick Jr WH & McIlhenny RC (1976) Nitrite decomposition in flooded soil under different pH and redox conditions. Soil Sci Soc Am J 40: 55–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermoesen A, DeGroot CJ, Nollet L, Boeckx P & Van Cleemput O (1996) Effect of ammonium and nitrate application on the NO and N2O emission out of different soils. Plant and Soil 181: 153–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward BB (1987) Kinetic studies on ammonia and methane oxidation by Nitrosococcus oceanus. Arch Microbiol 147: 126–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams EJ, Hutchinson GL & Fehsenfeld FC (1992) NOx and N2O emissions from soil. Global Biogeochem Cycles 6: 351–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Yagi K, Tsuruta H, Kanda K & Minami K (1996) Effect of water management on methane emission from a Japanese rice paddy field: Automated methane monitoring. Global Biogeochem Cycles 10: 255–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Yavitt JB, Fahey TJ & Simmons JA (1995) Methane and carbon dioxide dynamics in a northern hardwood ecosystem. Soil Sci Soc Am J 59: 796–804

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, D-35043, Marburg, Germany

    Thilo Henckel & Ralf Conrad

Authors
  1. Thilo Henckel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ralf Conrad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Henckel, T., Conrad, R. Characterization of microbial NO production, N2O production and CH4 oxidation initiated by aeration of anoxic rice field soil. Biogeochemistry 40, 17–36 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005819013950

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005819013950

Search

Navigation