Effect of flooding on microbial activities in organic soils: nitrogen transformations
1980
TERRY, RICHARD E. | TATE, ROBERT L. III
Variation in potential denitrification rate, denitrifying bacteria, nitrifiers, and inorganic nitrogen was measured in Pahokee muck (a Lithic medisaprist) during flooding. The denitrification rate increased immediately upon flooding. A maximum rate of 18 micrograms of nitrogen per cubic centimeter per day was measured. Denitrifying bacteria increased 15-fold during the first 2 days of flooding. The population was maintained at the higher level for at least 10 days before it began to decline. Nitrate concentrations decreased about 80 percent during the first 3 days of flooding. No further change was detected until the field was drained. The nitrate level then increased to the preflood levels. Ammonium concentrations increased fivefold during flooding. No significant variation in nitrifier populations was detected during flooding. These data indicate that flooding of Pahokee muck is a good method of nitrate removal from the soil and, subsequently, from drainage waters.
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