Abstract
Gas chromatographic studies showed that soils have a substantial capacity for sorption of N/sub 2/O and may represent an important natural sink for atmospheric N/sub 2/O. Sorption of N/sub 2/O by soils is a microbial process involving reduction of N/sub 2/O to N/sub 2/. It is promoted by anaerobic conditions and by organic substances that promote growth of soil microorganisms. Nitrogen isotope discrimination during denitrification of nitrate in soils was found to be of sufficient magnitude to invalidate the use of N isotope-ratio analyses for assessment of the contributions of soil and fertilizer N to nitrate in surface and ground waters or to N/sub 2/O in the atmosphere. Studies with 24 soils selected to obtain a wide range in properties showed that the SO/sub 2/ sorption capacity of air-dry samples was significantly correlated (1 percent level) with clay content and surface area (positive correlations) and with sand content (negative correlation), but not with pH or organic-matter content. The SO/sub 2/ sorption capacity of moist samples was significantly correlated with CaCO/sub 3/ equivalent (1 percent level) and with pH (5 percent level), but not with other soil properties studied. Most of the S taken up by soils exposed to SO/sub 2/more » could be accounted for by analyses for sulfate S and sulfite S.« less
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