Nitrification is the conversion of ammonia to nitrate via nitrite and is performed by ammonia oxidising archaea (AOA), complete ammonia-oxidiser (comammox) and ammonia and nitrite oxidising bacteria (AOB and NOB). The aim of this study is to examine the effect of ammonia concentration, temperature, drought and inhibitors on activity of AOA and AOB using soil microcosms and cultures. Ammonia concentration in soil increases during drought due to the reduced soil water content and, with desiccation stress or a combination of both factors, may result in reported greater inhibition of AOA than AOB during drought. The independent effects of both matric potential and initial ammonium concentration on AOA and AOB amoA abundances and nitrate production were studied in soil microcosms. AOA were more susceptible to increased desiccation stress than AOB, irrespective of initial soil ammonium concentration, and AOA cultures were more sensitive than AOB to osmotic stress induced by different concentrations of NaCl or sorbitol. This may represent an additional niche differentiating factor between AOA and AOB in soil. The effect of temperature and supply of high levels of inorganic ammonium on ammonia oxidation by AOA and AOB were also investigated in soil microcosms. Activity and growth of AOA and AOB were observed in soil amended with high ammonium concentration with increasing temperature, suggesting that AOA can contribute to nitrification in highly fertilised soil, particularly at 25 oC. Inhibition of AOA by simvastatin was investigated in culture and in soil. Simvastatin selectively inhibited AOA in both systems and soil microcosm studies provided evidence for oxidation of ammonia by AOB at low ammonium concentration. Generally, the results show the benefits of combining soil microcosm and culture-based approaches in soil microbiology. The findings advance our understanding of the influence of ammonium supply, temperature and osmotic stress on soil nitrification and its role in controlling the availability of ammonium-based fertilisers for plant uptake.

Thesis (M.Sc. Earth and Ocean Sciences)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed March 19, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-107)

Adsorption of the nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) and nitrapyrin (2-chloro-6(trichloromethyl)-pyridine) on humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) extracted from five Indiana soils was studied. Ten mg of HA or FA were suspended in aqueous solutions (10 ml) of either DCD (5,10, 20, 40 and 80 ug ml-1) or nitrapyrin (2,4,6,8,12 ug ml-1). The amount of nitrification inhibitor absorbed was evaluated after shaking the suspension of DCD for 48 h or nitrapyrin for 24 h. Infrared spectra of the nitrification inhibitor-humic material complexes were recorded. The results indicated that FA adsorbed more DCD than HA, and HA was a better adsorbent for nitrapyrin. Correlation between Freundlich K values and organic carbon content of HA and FA was not statistically significant, indicating a slight contribution of hydrophobic forces in the adsorption of DCD and nitrapyrin. The infrared spectra provided evidence that adsorption occurred predominantly through an ionic bonding mechanism involving the protonated amino group of DCD or the nitrogen of the pyridine ring of nitrapyrin and the negative functional groups of the humic materials. / Department of Natural Resources

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-112). Also available on the World Wide Web.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effectiveness of Dwell, a nitrification inhibitor, on the efficiency of two fertilizers applied to three Arizona soils, Anthony sandy loam, Laveen loam, and Vinton loamy sand. Tomato plants Lycopersicum esculentum cultivar Row Pak were used as an index plant. These plants were grown in soil columns of 10 cm internal diameter and 50 cm in length, containing 4,500 g of soil. Two fertilizers, urea and ammonium sulfate (AS), were applied at two rates: 112 and 224 kg N/ha. The nitrification inhibitor Dwell was applied also at two rates: 0 and 1.27 kg/ha⁻¹ of active ingredient. The active ingredient in the chemical is 5- ethoxy -3- (trichloromethyl)-1, 2,4- thiadizole. Both fertilizers and Dwell were added to the soils using two methods: (1) uniform mixtures, in which the fertilizer and Dwell were mixed with the top 500 cm³ soil volume in the columns, and (2) banded fertilizers and Dwell, in which a soil paste, made by mixing 10 ml of 0.02% Dwell solution with the volume of 50 cm³ soil, was added to the required amount of the fertilizer to soil column about 7cm below the soil surface. This factorial designed experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications of each treatment. Plants were allowed to grow for 67 days after transplanting to the soil columns. At the end of the experiment, samples from two depths (0 to 18 cm and 18 5o 40 cm) were analyzed for NH₄, NO₃, and organic N. Dry matter yield and N content of plants were also determined. Results showed that Dwell was effective in improving N efficiency, as determined by yield and N content of plants, with all three soils and with both fertilizers. Higher yields were obtained when AS was used in all soils. Higher response to Dwell, but lower yields, were observed in urea treatments as compared to AS treatments. Dwell resulted in yield increase of 139 and 60% with urea in Vinton and Laveen soils, respectively, while with AS, the increases were 74 and 11%. The lowest response to Dwell occurred with the Anthony soil. Generally, higher yield was obtained when AS was thoroughly mixed and when urea was banded. Yield and N content in plants grown in these soils were in the following order: Laveen > Anthony > Vinton. Dwell was effective with both N rates, particularly with the high N rate of urea. Incubation studies showed that Dwell was effective in retarding nitrification for about 10 days. Accordingly, Dwell seems to have had no residual effect on soil nitrogen.

Dissertation (B. Agr. Sc. (Hons.)) -- Lincoln University, 2009. / Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Kiel, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 110-129).

Azospirillum brasilense reduced nitrate in W-containing Mo-limited medium, but at lower rates than in W-free medium. However nitrate reduction by Paracoccus denitrificans was completely suppressed under the same conditions. Nitrite reductase activity of growing A. brasilense was negatively affected by tungstate. Nitrite accumulation was shown to be the result of an inhibitory effect of nitrate on nitrite reductase activity. Both resting whole cell and cell-free extract preformed nitrite reductase activities were equally affected by increasing levels of tungstate. Preformed nitrate reductase activity of the cell-free extract was shown to be more sensitive to increasing concentrations of tungstate than whole cell activity, suggesting that the cytoplasmic membrane served as a protective barrier against tungsten inactivation of nitrate reductase.

No description available.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 T93 / Master of Science