Limited inhibition of nitrous oxide reduction in soil in the presence of acetylene

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 517 - 519
• Main Authors: Yeomans, Jane C., Beauchamp, E.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1978
• Subjects: soil science
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-0717(78)90046-9

Anaerobic flasks with two different soils contained microorganisms which effectively reduced NO 3 − to N 2 in the absence of C 2H 2 and in the presence or absence of CO 2. In the presence of C 2H 2, the microorganisms reduced NO 3 − to N 2O and the further reduction of N 2O to N 2 was temporarily inhibited. This was shown for two partial pressures of C 2H 2 (0.1 kPa and 1.0 kPa). However. after a maximum of 168 h, microorganisms were able to reduce N 2O to N 2 in the presence of C 2H 2. This was shown in the presence of CO 2 for both partial pressures of C 2H 2 and in the absence of CO 2 for 1.0 kPa C 2H 2. The absence of CO 2 delayed the complete reduction of N 2O. Microorganisms which had reduced N 2O in the presence of C 2H 2 retained this ability for at least 3 days after the original atmosphere containing C 2H 2 had been removed.