Abstract
This study focuses on the factors affecting nitrate removal via microbial denitrification in agricultural soils, and particularly on the quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon. To assess the relationship among dissolved organic carbon, nitrate and low molecular weight organic acids (acetate and formate), grids of ceramic suction cups were established in the four most representative soil types of the lower Po River floodplain, cropped with maize. Results highlighted a direct relation between acetate and dissolved organic carbon in all sites. The best fit was obtained in soils were the main source of organic carbon was the maize residues. By comparing dissolved organic carbon and acetate versus nitrate concentration revealed that acetate can be used as a better proxy for denitrification in the field with respect to dissolved organic carbon.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnes RT, Raymond PA (2010) Land-use controls on sources and processing of nitrate in small watersheds: insights from dual isotopic analysis. Ecol Appl 20(7):1961–1978
Blume E, Bishoff M, Reichert JM, Moorman T, Konopka A, Turco RF (2002) Surface and subsurface microbial biomass, community structure and metabolic activity as a function of soil depth and season. Appl Soil Ecol 20:171–180
Böhlke JK, Wanty R, Tuttle M, Delin G, Landon M (2002) Denitrification in the recharge area and discharge area of a transient agricultural nitrate plume in a glacial outwash sand aquifer, Minnesota. Water Resour Res 38(7):10.1–10.26
Brye KR, Norman JM, Bundy LG, Gower ST (2001) Nitrogen and carbon leaching in agroecosystems and their role in denitrification potential. J Environ Qual 30:58–70
Chidthaisong A, Conrad R (2000) Turnover of glucose and acetate coupled to reduction of nitrate, ferrous iron and sulfate and to methanogenesis in anoxic rice field soil. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 31:73–86
Galloway JN, Townsend AR, Erisman JW, Bekunda M, Cai Z, Freney JR, Martinelli LA, Seitzinger SP, Sutton MA (2008) Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: recent trends, questions, and potential solutions. Science 320:889–892
Green CT, Puckett LJ, Böhlke JK, Bekins BA, Phillips SP, Kauffman LJ, Denver JM, Johnson HM (2008) Limited occurrence of denitrification in four shallow aquifers in agricultural areas of the United States. J Environ Qual 37:994–1009
Hadas A, Larissa K, Mustafa G, Emine EK (2004) Rates of decomposition of plant residues and available nitrogen in soil, related to residue composition through simulation of carbon and nitrogen turnover. Soil Biol Biochem 36:255–266
Jahangir MMR, Khalil MI, Johnston P, Cardenas LM, Hatch DJ, Butler M et al (2012) Denitrification potential in subsoils: a mechanism to reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater. Agric Ecosyst Environ 147(1):13–23
Kolář L, Vaněk V, Kužel S, Peterka J, Borová-Batt J, Pezlarová J (2011) Relationships between quality and quantity of soil labile fraction of the soil carbon in Cambisols after liming during a 5-year period. Plant Soil Environ 57(5):193–200
Kusel K, Drake HL (1994) Acetate synthesis in soil from a Bavarian beech forest. Appl Environ Microb 60:1370–1373
Kusel K, Drake HL (1995) Effect of environmental parameters on the formation and turnover of acetate by forest soils. Appl Environ Microb 61:3667–3675
Liu X, Herbert SJ, Hashemi AM, Zhang X, Ding G (2006) Effects of agricultural management on soil organic matter and carbon transformation—a review. Plant Soil Environ 52(12):531–543
Mastrocicco M, Colombani N, Castaldelli G, Salemi E, Vincenzi F (2010a) The role of the unsaturated zone in determining nitrate leaching to groundwater. In: XXXVIII IAH Congress, Krakow (12–17/09/2010)
Mastrocicco M, Colombani N, Salemi E, Castaldelli G (2010b) Numerical assessment of effective evapotranspiration from maize plots to estimate groundwater recharge in lowlands. Agric Water Manage 97(9):1389–1398
Mollema P, Antonellini M, Gabbianelli G, Laghi M, Marconi V, Minchio A (2012) Climate and water budget change of a Mediterranean coastal watershed, Ravenna, Italy. Environ Earth Sci 65:257–276
Pavan V, Tomozeiu R, Cacciamani C, Di Lorenzo M (2008) Daily precipitation observations over Emilia-Romagna: mean values and extremes. Int J Climatol 28:2065–2079
Pfaff JD (1993) US EPA Method 300.0, Methods for the determination of inorganic substances in environmental samples. EPA-600/R-, NTIS PB94-121811, pp 93–100
Potter BB, Wimsatt JC (2005) Method 415.3. Determination of total organic carbon and specific UV absorbance at 254 nm in source water and drinking water. EPA/600/R-05/055
Rivett MO, Buss SR, Morgan P, Smith JWN, Bemment CD (2008) Nitrate attenuation in groundwater: a review of biogeochemical controlling processes. Water Res 42:4215–4232
Rowell DL (1994) Soil science: methods and applications. Longman Scientific and Technical, Harlow
Siemens J, Haas M, Kaupenjohann M (2003) Dissolved organic matter induced denitrification in subsoils and aquifers? Geoderma 113:252–271
Singh RP, Abbas NM, Smesko SA (1996) Suppressed ion chromatographic analysis of anions in environmental waters containing high salt concentrations. J Chromatogr A 733(1–2):73–91
Spedding T, Hamel C, Mehuys G, Madramootoo CA (2004) Soil microbial dynamics in maize growing soil under different tillage and residue management systems. Soil Biol Biochem 36:499–512
Strobel BW (2001) Influence of vegetation on low molecular weight carboxylic acids in soil solution—a review. Geoderma 99:169–198
Taylor PG, Townsend AR (2010) Stoichiometric control of organic carbon–nitrate relationships from soils to the sea. Nature 464:1178–1181
van der Perk M (2006) Soil and water contamination: from molecular to catchment scale. Taylor and Francis/Balkema, Leiden
van Hees PAW, Vinogradoff SI, Edwards AC, Godbold DL, Jones DL (2003) Low molecular weight organic acid adsorption in forest soils: effects on soil solution concentrations and biodegradation rates. Soil Biol Biochem 35:1015–1026
Water Protection Plan of Emilia-Romagna Region (2006) http://www.ermesambiente.it/wcm/acque/sezioni_home/in_evidenza/piano_tutela.htm
Yang R, Liu W (2010) Nitrate contamination of groundwater in an agroecosystem in Zhangye Oasis, Northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 61:123–129
Zarnetske JP, Haggerty R, Wondzell SM, Baker MA (2011) Labile dissolved organic carbon supply limits hyporheic denitrification. J Geophys Res G Biogeosci 116(4):Article no G04036
Acknowledgments
The work presented in this paper was financially supported by PARCAGRI (Delib. CIPE n°202) and by the Ferrara Province within the EU-Water Project “Transnational integrated management of water resources in agriculture for the EUropean WATER emergency control” (contract n. SEE/A/165/2.1/X). The Emilia–Romagna ARPA SIMC is acknowledge for the meteorological data and the Servizio Geologico Sismico e dei Suoli of Emilia-Romagna region is acknowledge for the soil classification database. A special thank goes to Enzo Salemi and Umberto Tessari for their technical support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Castaldelli, G., Colombani, N., Vincenzi, F. et al. Linking dissolved organic carbon, acetate and denitrification in agricultural soils. Environ Earth Sci 68, 939–945 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1796-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1796-7