The role of nitrifier denitrification in the production of nitrous oxide revisited

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearch

Authors

  • Nicole Wrage-Mönnig
  • Marcus A. Horn
  • Reinhard Well
  • Christoph Müller
  • Gerard Velthof
  • Oene Oenema

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • University of Rostock
  • Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Justus Liebig University Giessen
  • University College Dublin
  • Wageningen University and Research
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)A3-A16
JournalSoil Biology and Biochemistry
Volume123
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

Abstract

Nitrifier denitrification is the reduction of nitrite (NO2 ) by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. This process may account for up to 100% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from ammonium (NH4 +) in soils and is more significant than classical denitrification under some conditions. Investigations of nitrifier denitrification have expanded in the last decade but many aspects are still not understood. In this review, we revisit our 2001 paper, present a comprehensive summary of current knowledge concerning nitrifier denitrification, and identify the many research needs. Nitrifier denitrification can be distinguished from other routes of N2O production using isotopic methods: either isotopomer techniques or a combination of 15N and 18O tracers. Our understanding of the regulation and conditions favouring nitrifier denitrification has improved over the last decade as a result of adopting molecular and modelling approaches. Environments low in oxygen, and especially those with fluctuating aerobic-anaerobic conditions, promote N2O production by nitrifier denitrification. Also, large NO2 concentrations, which often arise following inputs of ammonium or urea, may be linked to changes in aerobicity and high pH and favour nitrifier denitrification. The effects of temperature and carbon contents on nitrifier denitrification are incompletely understood and future research needs include: the study of pathways similar to nitrifier denitrification in archaea and nitrite oxidizers; the effects of interactions among microorganisms and between microorganism and plants; and the regulation and importance of the enzymes involved. A comparison and evaluation of the methods used for differentiating the sources of N2O is urgently needed. Furthermore, results from studies of freshwater and marine environments as well as wastewater treatment, where nitrifier denitrification is also known as nitrous aerobic denitritation (up to N2O) or aerobic denitritation (up to N2), will further advance our understanding.

Keywords

    Denitritation, Isotopomers, Modelling, Molecular methods, NO, Nitrite, Stable isotopes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

The role of nitrifier denitrification in the production of nitrous oxide revisited. / Wrage-Mönnig, Nicole; Horn, Marcus A.; Well, Reinhard et al.
In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Vol. 123, 08.2018, p. A3-A16.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearch

Wrage-Mönnig N, Horn MA, Well R, Müller C, Velthof G, Oenema O. The role of nitrifier denitrification in the production of nitrous oxide revisited. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2018 Aug;123:A3-A16. doi: 10.15488/15945, 10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.03.020
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abstract = "Nitrifier denitrification is the reduction of nitrite (NO2 −) by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. This process may account for up to 100% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from ammonium (NH4 +) in soils and is more significant than classical denitrification under some conditions. Investigations of nitrifier denitrification have expanded in the last decade but many aspects are still not understood. In this review, we revisit our 2001 paper, present a comprehensive summary of current knowledge concerning nitrifier denitrification, and identify the many research needs. Nitrifier denitrification can be distinguished from other routes of N2O production using isotopic methods: either isotopomer techniques or a combination of 15N and 18O tracers. Our understanding of the regulation and conditions favouring nitrifier denitrification has improved over the last decade as a result of adopting molecular and modelling approaches. Environments low in oxygen, and especially those with fluctuating aerobic-anaerobic conditions, promote N2O production by nitrifier denitrification. Also, large NO2 − concentrations, which often arise following inputs of ammonium or urea, may be linked to changes in aerobicity and high pH and favour nitrifier denitrification. The effects of temperature and carbon contents on nitrifier denitrification are incompletely understood and future research needs include: the study of pathways similar to nitrifier denitrification in archaea and nitrite oxidizers; the effects of interactions among microorganisms and between microorganism and plants; and the regulation and importance of the enzymes involved. A comparison and evaluation of the methods used for differentiating the sources of N2O is urgently needed. Furthermore, results from studies of freshwater and marine environments as well as wastewater treatment, where nitrifier denitrification is also known as nitrous aerobic denitritation (up to N2O) or aerobic denitritation (up to N2), will further advance our understanding.",
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note = "Funding Information: We thank Richard Burns for his great patience with us during the development of this manuscript and his many constructive comments. NWM, MAH, RW and CM gratefully acknowledge funding of the DASIM project (Denitrification in Agricultural Soils: Integrated Control and Modelling at Various Scales; FOR2337 ) by the German Science Foundation (DFG) . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
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AU - Wrage-Mönnig, Nicole

AU - Horn, Marcus A.

AU - Well, Reinhard

AU - Müller, Christoph

AU - Velthof, Gerard

AU - Oenema, Oene

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Richard Burns for his great patience with us during the development of this manuscript and his many constructive comments. NWM, MAH, RW and CM gratefully acknowledge funding of the DASIM project (Denitrification in Agricultural Soils: Integrated Control and Modelling at Various Scales; FOR2337 ) by the German Science Foundation (DFG) . Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Ltd Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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N2 - Nitrifier denitrification is the reduction of nitrite (NO2 −) by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. This process may account for up to 100% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from ammonium (NH4 +) in soils and is more significant than classical denitrification under some conditions. Investigations of nitrifier denitrification have expanded in the last decade but many aspects are still not understood. In this review, we revisit our 2001 paper, present a comprehensive summary of current knowledge concerning nitrifier denitrification, and identify the many research needs. Nitrifier denitrification can be distinguished from other routes of N2O production using isotopic methods: either isotopomer techniques or a combination of 15N and 18O tracers. Our understanding of the regulation and conditions favouring nitrifier denitrification has improved over the last decade as a result of adopting molecular and modelling approaches. Environments low in oxygen, and especially those with fluctuating aerobic-anaerobic conditions, promote N2O production by nitrifier denitrification. Also, large NO2 − concentrations, which often arise following inputs of ammonium or urea, may be linked to changes in aerobicity and high pH and favour nitrifier denitrification. The effects of temperature and carbon contents on nitrifier denitrification are incompletely understood and future research needs include: the study of pathways similar to nitrifier denitrification in archaea and nitrite oxidizers; the effects of interactions among microorganisms and between microorganism and plants; and the regulation and importance of the enzymes involved. A comparison and evaluation of the methods used for differentiating the sources of N2O is urgently needed. Furthermore, results from studies of freshwater and marine environments as well as wastewater treatment, where nitrifier denitrification is also known as nitrous aerobic denitritation (up to N2O) or aerobic denitritation (up to N2), will further advance our understanding.

AB - Nitrifier denitrification is the reduction of nitrite (NO2 −) by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. This process may account for up to 100% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from ammonium (NH4 +) in soils and is more significant than classical denitrification under some conditions. Investigations of nitrifier denitrification have expanded in the last decade but many aspects are still not understood. In this review, we revisit our 2001 paper, present a comprehensive summary of current knowledge concerning nitrifier denitrification, and identify the many research needs. Nitrifier denitrification can be distinguished from other routes of N2O production using isotopic methods: either isotopomer techniques or a combination of 15N and 18O tracers. Our understanding of the regulation and conditions favouring nitrifier denitrification has improved over the last decade as a result of adopting molecular and modelling approaches. Environments low in oxygen, and especially those with fluctuating aerobic-anaerobic conditions, promote N2O production by nitrifier denitrification. Also, large NO2 − concentrations, which often arise following inputs of ammonium or urea, may be linked to changes in aerobicity and high pH and favour nitrifier denitrification. The effects of temperature and carbon contents on nitrifier denitrification are incompletely understood and future research needs include: the study of pathways similar to nitrifier denitrification in archaea and nitrite oxidizers; the effects of interactions among microorganisms and between microorganism and plants; and the regulation and importance of the enzymes involved. A comparison and evaluation of the methods used for differentiating the sources of N2O is urgently needed. Furthermore, results from studies of freshwater and marine environments as well as wastewater treatment, where nitrifier denitrification is also known as nitrous aerobic denitritation (up to N2O) or aerobic denitritation (up to N2), will further advance our understanding.

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