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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jan DolfingORCiD
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Soils are the major source of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) to our atmosphere. A thorough understanding of terrestrial N2O production is therefore essential. N2O can be produced by nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and by nitrifiers paradoxically denitrifying. The latter pathway, though well-known in pure culture, has only recently been demonstrated in soils. Moreover, nitrifier denitrification appeared to be much less important than classical nitrate-driven denitrification. Here we studied a poor sandy soil, and show that when moisture conditions are sub-optimal for denitrification, nitrifier denitrification can be a major contributor to N2O emission from this soil. We conclude that the relative importance of classical and nitrifier denitrification in N2O emitted from soil is a function of the soil moisture content, and likely of other environmental conditions as well. Accordingly, we suggest that nitrifier denitrification should be routinely considered as a major source of N2O from soil. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author(s): Kool DM, Dolfing J, Wrage N, Van Groenigen JW
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Soil Biology & Biochemistry
Year: 2011
Volume: 43
Issue: 1
Pages: 174-178
Print publication date: 08/10/2010
ISSN (print): 0038-0717
ISSN (electronic): 1879-3428
Publisher: Pergamon
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.09.030
DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.09.030
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