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NH4+ 2e-1
NH2OH 2e- [NOH] 2e-
NO2-
Chemical
Dismutation Denitrifying
Nitrite reductase
N2O
Why nitrite does not usually accumulate in soil? If do, then under what
condition nitrite accumulate in soil?
NO2- does not usually accumulate in soil but when it
does, it can adversely affect plants and microorganisms.
Ammonium also does not accumulate in soil. But, under
same condition, it does .
----- Temperature is very low
----- Water saturated soil condition
When NH4+ accumulates in soil , a portion of it is utilized
by microorganisms and plants. Another portion undergoes volatilization.
According to J.P Robertson nitrification is NH4+ limited;
the amount of NH4+ accumulated, is immediately transformed to nitrate
(NO3-) by nitrifiers.
From this, we can say that microbial bacteria, although
they are small in number, they are efficient (Nitrosomonas, nitrobactor,
nitrosococcus, etc. bacteria convert NH4+ to NO3-). But when pH is above
9.0, then some nitrite can accumulate in soil.
Thus, we can conclude that nitrifiers are much more
efficient than ammonifiers.