Abstract
The estimated gaseous loss of nitrogen from cow dung during 4 weeks was almost unaffected by the activity of the dung beetle, Onthophagus lenzii H. The loss of gaseous N was the result primarily of NH 3 volatilization during the first week. However, the beetles had a negative effect on NH 3 volatilization by lowering the pH and the NH 4 +-N concentration in colonized cow dung and dung balls. Once NH 3 volatilization had ceased, denitrification became prominent and was the cause of 23.6% or more of the loss of N from the dung balls. N 2-fixation (acetylene reduction assay) had only a negligible role in the estimated N balance. Denitrifying activity was limited by a deficiency in available endogenous NO 3 −-N. The action of dung beetles altered environmental conditions and increased ammonification, nitrification and denitrification, as well as N 2-fixation.
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