Nitrogen loss by anaerobic ammonium oxidation in unconfined aquifer soils.

ABSTRACT: Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is recognized as an important process for nitrogen cycling, yet little is known about its role in the subsurface biosphere. In this study, we investigated the presence, abundance, and role of anammox bacteria in upland soil cores from Tianjin, China (20 m depth) and Basel, Switzerland (10 m depth), using isotope-tracing techniques, (q)PCR assays, and 16 S rRNA &hzsB gene clone libraries, along with nutrient profiles of soil core samples. Anammox in the phreatic (water-saturated) zone contributed to 37.5-67.6% of the N-loss (up to 0.675 gN m^-2d^-1), with anammox activities of 0.005-0.74 nmolN g^-1soil h^-1, which were even higher than the denitrification rates. By contrast, no significant anammox was measured

SUBMITTER: Wang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5223210 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature