GES175, Science of Soils

Lecture 8
NITROGEN
Slide 8.2
Slide 8.3
 Slide 8.4

Oxidation States of Soil N

N Form Name Oxidation state

organic-N -3
NH4+ ammonium -3 
N2 dinitrogen gas 0 (oxidation) (reduction)
NO2- nitrite +3  
NO3- nitrate +5  
 Nitrogen Redox Processes
Oxidation: loss of e-
Reduction: gain of e-

-3 +5
NH4+  NO3-

8 e- transfer
 Slide 8.6
N-cycle
plant & animal residues

5
5
4 N2 organic-N
NO3-

2
3
1
NO2- 3 NH4+
Mineralization vs. Immobilization

Fate of N if added to soil???

 Slide 8.8
Low C:N (high N content)

Alfalfa, peas, grass

High C:N (low N) Slide 8.9

straw, bark, sawdust

Ammonia Volatilization
- gaseous loss of N
 Ammonia Volatilization
Urea:
CO(NH2)2  NH3 +CO2 + H2O
urea soil enzymes
& H2O

- Most volatilization when:

coarse or sandy-textured soils
low clay and low organic matter
(which adsorb NH4+)
dry alkaline surface
 Nitrification
NH4+  NO2-  NO3-
ammonium nitrite nitrate
- oxidation of N

* Autotrophic bacteria
• obtain energy from N oxidation
• Nitrosomonas
NH4+  NO2- + energy

• Nitrobacter
NO2-  NO3- + energy
 Nitrification (cont’d)
* Rapid in well-aerated,
warm, moist soils
• aerobic organisms
(O2 is required)

• little NO2- accumulation

* Acid-forming process
NH4+ +3/2O2 NO2- + 2H+ + H2O
Nitrogen (nitrate?) Leaching

 Eutrification
Denitrification
 Denitrification
Gaseous loss of N upon N reduction

+ e- + e- + e- + e-

nitric nitrous
oxide oxide
 Denitrification (cont’d)
* Microorganisms responsible:
• facultative anaerobes
- prefer O2 but will use N
for a terminal e- acceptor

• mostly heterotrophic
- use organic-C for energy source
(reductions require energy)
 Denitrification (cont’d)

* Denitrification enhanced by:

• low O2 (flooding)

• high O.M. (energy source)

• high NO3-
 Denitrification (cont’d)
* Metabolic reduction is not denitrification
(no N gas formation)

organisms

NO3- NO3- NH4+ organic-N

- N is reduced for use in protein formation

 Nitrogen Fixation
N2 (organisms) NH4+

* Symbiotic relation between

bacteria and plants:
- legumes
+
- rhizobium
 Nitrogen Fixation
Bacteria: Rhizobium genus
(species specific)
R. meliloti - alfalfa
R. trifolii - clover
R. phaseoli - beans

- bacteria require plant to function

- inoculation of seed
(coat seed with proper bacteria)
Process:
nodule

Rhizobium
 (b) Process:
organic-N N2

Rhizobium

organic-C

C from plant photosynthesis 

symbiosis
N from fixation of N2 
Quantity of N Fixed
 Alfalfa and clover provide
100 - 250 kg N/ha/yr
(mature stand, good fertility & pH)

 Beans and peas

less fixation but high protein food
with minimum N input
 added N fertilizer
 lowered N fixation
Symbiotic Nodules - Nonlegumes

* Organisms
actinomycetes - Frankia

* Plants
Alders and other trees

Symbiotic - without nodules
* Azolla/Anabaena complex
 
 blue-green algae (N-fixer)
 in leaves
floating fern in rice paddies

* Rhizosphere organisms
 use root exudates (C)
 large areas
 Nonsymbiotic N-fixation:
Free-living Organisms

* Bacteria and blue-green algae

 aerobic and anaerobic

 small amounts: 5 - 50 kg/ha/yr

 inhibited by available soil N