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Article
Short-term Response of Soil Iron to Nitrate Addition
Soil Science Society of America Journal (2007)
  • Christopher J. Matocha, University of Kentucky
  • Mark S. Coyne, University of Kentucky
Abstract
The inhibition of soil Fe(III) reduction by fertilizer NO3 − applications is complex and not completely understood. This inhibition is important to study because of the potential impact on soil physicochemical properties. We investigated the effect of adding NO3 − to a moderately well-drained agricultural soil (Sadler silt loam) under Fe(III)-reducing (anoxic) conditions. Stirred-batch experiments were conducted where NO3 − was added (0.05 and 1 mM) to anoxic slurries and changes in dissolved Fe(II) and Fe(III), oxalate-extractable Fe(II), and dissolved NO3 − were monitored as a function of time. Addition of 1 mM NO3 − inhibited Fe(II) production sharply with reaction time, from 10% after 1 h to 85% after 24 h. The duration of inhibition in Fe(II) production was closely related to the presence of available NO3 −, suggesting preferential use of NO3 − by nitrate reductase enzyme. Active nitrate reductase was confirmed by the fivefold decline in NO3 − reduction rates in the presence of tungstate (WO4 2−), a well-known inhibitor of nitrate reductase. In addition, NO3 −–dependent Fe(II) oxidation was observed to contribute to the inhibition in Fe(II) production. This finding was attributed to a combination of chemical reoxidation of Fe(II) by NO2 −– and NO3 −–dependent Fe(II) oxidation by autotrophic bacteria. These two processes became more important at a greater initial oxalate-Fe(II)/NO3 − concentration ratio. The inhibitory effects in Fe(II) production were short-term in the sense that once NO3 − was depleted, Fe(II) production resumed. These results underscore the complexity of the coupled N–Fe redox system in soils.
Keywords
  • Soil Iron,
  • Nitrate
Disciplines
Publication Date
January, 2007
Publisher Statement
The copyright holder has granted the permission for posting the article here.
Citation Information
Christopher J. Matocha and Mark S. Coyne. "Short-term Response of Soil Iron to Nitrate Addition" Soil Science Society of America Journal Vol. 71 Iss. 1 (2007)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/markcoyne/24/