Skip to main content

Microbiological Nitrous-Oxide Production: Implications for the Global Nitrogen Cycle

  • Chapter
Biogeochemistry of Ancient and Modern Environments
  • 194 Accesses

Abstract

In 1972, Lovelock coined the use of the Greek work Gaia to denote the globe encompassing the biosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere as an entity which has developed a powerful homeostatic system to control the global environment. This is a very important concept and a necessary one if we wish to describe, quantify and understand the global biogeochemical cycles. In order to elucidate this self-regulating system with regard to the atmospheric composition of non-noble gases, it is necessary to develop an integration between the atmospheric sciences and biology, especially microbiology (Margulis and Lovelock, 1978).

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bates, D.R. and Hays, P.B., 1967. Atmospheric nitrous oxide. Planet Space Sci., 15: 189–197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackmer, A.M. and Bremner, J.M., 1976. Potential of soil as a sink for nitrous oxide. Geophys. Res. Lett., 3: 739–742.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackmer, A.M. and Bremner, J.M., 1978. Inhibitory effect of nitrate on reduction of N20 to N2 by soil microorganisms. Soil Biol. Biochem., 10: 187–191.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackmer, A.M. and Bremner, J.M., 1979. Stimulatory effect of nitrate on reduction of N20 to N2 by soil microorganisms. Soil Biol. Biochem., 11: 313–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bollag, J.-M and Tung, G., 1972. Nitrous oxide release by soil fungi. Soil Biol. Biochem., 4: 271–276.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner,J.M., 1980. Terrestrial nitrification as a source of atmospheric nitrous oxide. In: C.C. Delwiche (Ed.), Denitrification, Nitrification, and Atmospheric N20. WileyInterscience, NY, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J.M. and Blackmer, A.M., 1978. Nitrous oxide: Emission from soils during nitrification of fertilizer nitrogen. Science, 199: 294–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J.M. and Blackmer, A.M., 1980. Mechanisms of nitrous oxide production in soils. This volume, pp. 279–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brice, K.A., Eggleton, A.E.J. and Penkett, S.A., 1977. An important ground surface sink for atmospheric nitrous oxide. Nature, 268: 127–129.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burford, J.R. and Stefanson, R.C., 1973. Measurement of gaseous losses of nitrogen from soils. Soil Biol. Biochem., 5: 133–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CAST, 1976. Effects of Increased Nitrogen Fixation on Stratospheric Ozone. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology Report No. 53. 33 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicerone, R.J., Shetter, J.D., Stedman, D.H., Kelly, T.J. and Liu, S.C., 1978. Atmosperic N20: Measurements to determine its sources, sinks, and variation. Geophys. Res., 83: 3042–3050.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, Y., 1978. Consumption of dissolved nitrous oxide in an anoxic basin, Saanich Inlet, British Columbia. Nature, 272: 235–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, Y. and Gordon, L.I., 1978. Nitrous oxide in the oxygen minimum of the eastern tropical North Pacific: Evidence for its consumption during denitrification and possible mechanisms for this production. Deep Sea Res., 25: 509–524.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, Y. and.Gordon, L.I., 1979. Nitrous oxide production in the ocean. J. Geophys. Res., 84: 347–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crutzen, P.J., 1970. The influence of nitrogen oxides on the atmospheric ozone content. Q. J. R. Met. Soc., 96: 320–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crutzen, P.J., 1976. Upper limits on atmospheric ozone reductions following increased application of fixed nitrogen to the soil. Geophys. Res. Lett., 3: 169–172.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delwiche, C.C., 1978. Biological production and utilization of N20. Pure Appl. Geophys., 116: 414–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delwiche, C.A. and Bryan, B.A., 1976. Denitrification. Ann. Rev. Microbiol., 30: 241–262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delwiche, C.C., Bissell, S. and Virginia, R., 1978. Soil and other sources of nitrous oxide. In: D. R. Nielsen, and J. G. MacDonald (Eds.), Nitrogen in the Environment, Vol. 1, Academic Press, NY, pp. 459–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubin, M. and Zipf, E.C., 1977. Nitrogen-fixation from atmospheric electrical discharges as prime source of atmospheric nitrous-oxide and soil nitrates. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, 58: 464-

    Google Scholar 

  • Focht, D.D., 1974. The effect of temperature, pH and aeration on the production of nitrous oxide and gaseous nitrogen–a zero-order kinetic model. Soil Science, 118: 173–179.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Focht, D.D., 1978. Methods for analysis of denitrification in soils. In: D.R. Nielsen and J.G. MacDonald (Eds.), Nitrogen in the Environment, Vol. 2, Academic Press, NY, pp. 433–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Focht, D.D. and Verstraete, W., 1977. Biochemical ecology of nitrification and denitrification. Adv. Microbial Ecol., 1: 135–214.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Focht, D.D., Stolzy, L.H. and Meek, B.D., 1979. Sequential reduction of nitrate and nitrous oxide under field conditions as brought about by organic amendments and irrigation management. Soil Biol. Biochem., 11: 37–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freney, J.R., Denmead, O.T. and Simpson, J.R., 1978. Soil as a source or sink for atmospheric nitrous oxide. Nature, 273: 530–532.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galbally, I.E. and Roy, C.R., 1978. Loss of fixed nitrogen from soils by nitric oxide exhalation. Nature, 275: 734–735.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilliam, J.W., Dasberg, S., Lund, L.J. and Focht, D.D., 1978. Denitrification in four California soils: Effect of soil profile characteristics. J. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 42: 61–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldan, P.D., Bush, Y.A., Fehsenfeld, F.C., Albritton, D.L., Crutzen, P.J., Schmeltekopf, A.L. and Ferguson, E.E., 1978. Tropospheric N20 mixing ratio measurements. J. Geophys. Res., 83: 935–939.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, J., 1979. The cycle of atmospheric nitrous oxide. Phil. Trans. R. Soc., London, A290: 495–504.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, K. and Junge, C., 1977. Atmospheric nitrous oxide: A critical review. Z. Naturf., 32a: 190–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, R.W.F. and Burns, R.C., 1973. Comparative biochemistry of non-sulfur proteins and dinitrogen fixation. In: Lovenberg, W. (Ed.), Iron-Sulfur Proteins. Vol. 1 Academic Press, NY, pp. 65–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollocher, T.C., 1978. Isotope studies of denitrification: Role of NO and N20 in the pathway from nitrite to N2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In: D. Schlessinger (Ed.), Microbiology - 1978. Am. Soc. Microbiol., Washington, DC, pp. 343–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingestad, T., 1977. Nitrogen and plant growth: Maximum efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers. Ambio, 6: 146–151.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, H.S., 1971. Reduction of stratospheric ozone by nitrogen oxide catalysts from supersonic transport exhaust. Science, 173: 517–522.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, H.S., 1977. Analysis of the independent variables in the perturbation of stratospheric ozone by nitrogen fertilizers. J. Geophys. Res., 82: 1767–1772.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, H.S. and Selwyn, G.S., 1975. New cross sections for the absorption of near ultraviolet radiation by nitrous oxide (N20). Geophys. Res. Lett., 2: 549–551.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Junge, C.E., 1974. Residence time and variability of tropospheric trace gases. Tellus, 26: 477–488.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koike, I. and Hattori, A., 1975. Energy yield of denitrification: An estimate from growth yield in continuous culture of Pseudomonas denitrificans under nitrate-, nitrite-and nitrous oxide-limited conditions. J. Gen. Microbiol., 88: 11–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, S.C., Cicerone, R.J., Donahue, T.M. and Chameides, W.L., 1977. Sources and sinks of atmospheric N20 and the possible ozone reduction due to industrial fixed nitrogen fertilizers. Tellus, 29: 251–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lovelock, J.E., 1972. Gaia as seen through the atmosphere. Atmos. Environ., 6: 579–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margulis, L. and Lovelock, J.E., 1978. The biota as ancient and modern modulator of the earth’s atmosphere. Pure Appl. Geophys., 116: 239–243.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McElroy, M.B., Wofsy, S.C. and Yung, Y.L., 1977. The nitrogen cycle: Perturbations due to man and their impact on atmospheric N20 and 03. Phil. Trans. R. Soc., B277: 159–181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Munn, R.E. (Ed.), 1977. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: An Environmental Impact Assessment. Prepared for UNEP by ICSU-SCOPE through the SCOPE Monitoring and Assessment Research Centre, Chelsea College, University of London. Mimeographed, 46 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, W.J. and Balderston, W.L., 1978. Denitrification. In: D. Schlessinger, (Ed.) Microbiology - 1978. Am. Soc. Microbiol. Washington, DC, pp. 339–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierotti, D. and Rasmussen, R.A., 1976. Combustion as a source of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett., 3: 265–267.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, R.A. and Pierotti, D., 1978. Global and regional N20 measurements. Pure Appl. Geophys., 116: 405–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renner, E.D. and Becker, G.L., 1970.. Production of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide during denitrification by Corynebacterium nephridii. J. Bacteriol.,101: 821–826.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, G.A.F. and Nicholas, D.J.D., 1972. Identification of the sources of nitrous oxide produced by oxidative and reductive processes in Nitrosomonas europea. Biochem. J., 125: 1181–1191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolston, D.E., 1978. Application of gaseous-diffusion theory to measurement of denitrification. In: D. R. Nielsen and J. G. MacDonald (Eds.), Nitrogen in the Environment, Vol. 1, Academic Press, NY, pp. 309–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolston, D.E. and Broadbent, F.E., 1976. Field Measurement of Denitrification. Environmental Protection Technology Series. EPA–600/2–77–233. USEPA, Ada, Oklahoma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolston, D.E., Fried, M. and Goldhamer, D.A., 1976. Denitrification measured directly from nitrogen and nitrous oxide gas fluxes. J. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 40: 259–266.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rolston, D.E., Hoffman, D.L. and Toy, D.W., 1978. Field measurement of denitrification: I. Flux of N2 and N20. J. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 42: 863–869.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosswall, T., 1978. Impact of Massive Microbe-mediated Transformations on the Global Environment: Microbial Activity Affecting the Thickness of the Ozone Layer and the CO2 Concentration in the Atmosphere. SCOPE/UNEP International Nitrogen Unit Report No. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryden, J.C., Lund, L.J. and Focht, D.D., 1979a. Direct measurement of denitrification loss from soils. I. Laboratory evaluation of acetylene inhibition of nitrous oxide reduction. J. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 43: 104–110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryden, J.C., Lund, L.S., Letey, J. and Focht, D.D., 1979b. Direct measurement of denitrification loss from soils: II. Development and application of field methods. J. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 43: 110–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sidransky, E., Walter, B. and Hollocher, T.C., 1978. Studies on the differential inhibition by azide on the nitrite/nitrous oxide level of denitrification. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 35: 247–250.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K.A., 1978. Critique–of “Application of gaseous–diffusion theory to measurement of denitrification.” In: D.R. Nielsen and J.G. MacDonald (Eds.), Nitrogen in the Environment, Vol. 1. Academic Press, NY, pp. 337–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Söderlund, R. and Svensson, B.H., 1976. The global nitrogen cycle. In: B.H. Svensson and R. Söderlund (Eds.), Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur–Global Cycles. SCOPE Report 7. Ecol. Bull. (Stockholm), 22: 23–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanson, R.C., 1972. Soil denitrification in sealed soil-plant systems. II. Effect of soil water content and form of applied nitrogen. Plant Soil, 37: 129–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • St. John, R.T. and Hollocher, T.C., 1977. Nitrogen 15 tracer studies on the pathway of denitrification in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Biol. Chem., 252: 212–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sze, N.D. and Rice, H., 1976. Nitrogen cycle factors contributing to N20 production from fertilizers. Geophys. Res. Lett., 3: 343–346.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, R.E., Liu, K.K. and Kaplan, I.R., 1978. Oceanic nitrogen isotopes and their uses in determining the sources of sedimentary nitrogen. In: B.W. Robinson (Ed.), Stable Isotopes in the Earth Sciences. DSIR Bull., 220: 9–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiedje, J.M., Caskey, N.V., Smith, M.S., Bleakley, B.H. and Firestone, B.B., 1979. Nitrous oxide production by bacteria that reduce nitrate to ammonium. Agronomy Abstracts, Am. Soc. Agron., 71st Annual Meeting, p. 165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turco, R.P., Whitten, R.C., Popoff, I.G. and Capone, L.A., 1978. SSTs, nitrogen fertilisers and stratospheric ozone. Nature, 276: 805–807.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vedenina, I.Ya. and Zavarzin, G.A., 1977. Biological removal of nitrous oxide under oxidizing conditions. Mikrobiologija, 46: 898–903. (English translation published in Microbiology 1978: 728–733).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, R.F. and Craig, H., 1976. Production of atmospheric nitrous oxide by combustion. Geophys. Res. Lett., 3: 751–753.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, T. and Alexander, M., 1970. Nitrous oxide formation by Nitrosomonas europea and heterotrophic microorganisms. Proc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 34: 880–882.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1980 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rosswall, T. (1980). Microbiological Nitrous-Oxide Production: Implications for the Global Nitrogen Cycle. In: Biogeochemistry of Ancient and Modern Environments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-26582-6_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-26582-6_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85847-062-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-26582-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics