Nonmicrobial Nitrite‐to‐Nitrate Transformation in Soils
- 1 November 1981
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Soil Science Society of America Journal
- Vol. 45 (6) , 1054-1058
- https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500060009x
Abstract
Nitrate formation in soils equilibrated with nitrite at 0.5° C was directly related to soil level of reactive managanese (Mn) oxides. It was demonstrated that synthetic Mn oxides can oxidize nitrite to nitrate and become reduced in the process. Nitrite oxidation, nitrate formation, and MnO2 reduction were stoichiometrically related reactions in the presence or absence of atmospheric O2. Nitrite reduced Mn(IV) to either Mn(II) or Mn(III), but when MnO2/nitrite ratios were high, reduction to Mn(III) appeared to predominate. This mechanism of nonmicrobial conversion of nitrite to nitrate may explain why nitrite seldom accumulates in soils, even when Nitrobacter numbers are low and conditions for their growth are unfavorable.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Inorganic Forms of NitrogenPublished by Wiley ,2016
- Effect of nitrogen dioxide on nitrite oxidation and nitrite-oxidizing populations in soilSoil Biology and Biochemistry, 1977