Effect of oxic and anoxic conditions on nitrous oxide emissions from nitrification and denitrification processes

A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor fed with real municipal wastewater was used to study nitrous oxide (N(2)O) emissions from simulated wastewater treatment processes. The experiments were performed under four different controlled conditions as follows: (1) fully aerobic, (2) anoxic-aerobic with high dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, (3) anoxic-aerobic with low DO concentration, and 4) intermittent aeration. The results indicated that N(2)O production can occur from both incomplete nitrification and incomplete denitrification. N(2)O production from denitrification was observed in both aerobic and anoxic phases. However, N(2)O production from aerobic conditions occurred only when both low DO concentrations and high nitrite concentration existed simultaneously. The magnitude of N(2) O produced via anoxic denitrification was lower than via oxic denitrification and required the presence of nitrite. Changes in DO, ammonium, and nitrite concentrations influenced the magnitude of N(2)O production through denitrification. The results also suggested that N(2)O can be produced from incomplete denitrification and then released to the atmosphere during aeration phase due to air stripping. Therefore, biological nitrogen removal systems should be optimized to promote complete nitrification and denitrification to minimize N(2)O emissions.     

Nitrous oxide production by lithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and implications for engineered nitrogen-removal systems

Chemolithoautotrophic AOB (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria) form a crucial component in microbial nitrogen cycling in both natural and engineered systems. Under specific conditions, including transitions from anoxic to oxic conditions and/or excessive ammonia loading, and the presence of high nitrite (NO??) concentrations, these bacteria are also documented to produce nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N?O) gases. Essentially, ammonia oxidation in the presence of non-limiting substrate concentrations (ammonia and O?) is associated with N?O production. An exceptional scenario that leads to such conditions is the periodical switch between anoxic and oxic conditions, which is rather common in engineered nitrogen-removal systems. In particular, the recovery from, rather than imposition of, anoxic conditions has been demonstrated to result in N?O production. However, applied engineering perspectives, so far, have largely ignored the contribution of nitrification to N?O emissions in greenhouse gas inventories from wastewater-treatment plants. Recent field-scale measurements have revealed that nitrification-related N?O emissions are generally far higher than emissions assigned to heterotrophic denitrification. In the present paper, the metabolic pathways, which could potentially contribute to NO and N?O production by AOB have been conceptually reconstructed under conditions especially relevant to engineered nitrogen-removal systems. Taken together, the reconstructed pathways, field- and laboratory-scale results suggest that engineering designs that achieve low effluent aqueous nitrogen concentrations also minimize gaseous nitrogen emissions.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from denitrifying activated sludge of urban wastewater treatment plants, under anoxia and low oxygenation

Batch experiments were made to better understand the mechanisms of N2O emissions from activated sludge in denitrifying conditions found in urban WWTPs, i.e. under anoxic and low oxygenation conditions. The results showed that in completely anoxic conditions, denitrification, related to a periplasmic nitrate reductase activity, is the major producer of N2O (100% of the N2O production), whereas the nitrate ammonifying activity is not significant. In a gradient of low oxygenation, the highest N2O emissions (49.7+/-3.8 microg N2O-N/g SS/h on average) occurred at a dissolved-oxygen concentration of around 0.3mg O2/L. Below 0.3mg O2/L, heterotrophic denitrification appeared to be the major process responsible for the N2O emission (100% at zero oxygenation). From 0.4 to 1.1mg O2/L, N2O emissions were due to two processes: (i) heterotrophic denitrification that represented about 40% of the N2O production, and (ii) autotrophic nitrifier denitrification that accounted for about 60%. The N2O emissions from activated sludge represented on average 0.4% of reduced NO3(-) in anoxic conditions. The N2O emissions associated with denitrification of entire nitrogen load would amount to 155 T N2O-N/year, if all the Paris wastewater was treated by a process using activated sludge.     

Nitrous oxide production by Alcaligenes faecalis under transient and dynamic aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Nitrous oxide can be a harmful by-product in nitrogen removal from wastewater. Since wastewater treatment systems operate under different aeration regimens, the influence of different oxygen concentrations and oxygen fluctuations on denitrification was studied. Continuous cultures of Alcaligenes faecalis TUD produced N2O under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions. Below a dissolved oxygen concentration of 5% air saturation, the relatively highest N2O production was observed. Under these conditions, significant activities of nitrite reductase could be measured. After transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions, there was insufficient nitrite reductase present to sustain growth and the culture began to wash out. After 20 h, nitrite reductase became detectable and the culture started to recover. Nitrous oxide reductase became measurable only after 27 h, suggesting sequential induction of the denitrification reductases, causing the transient accumulation of N2O. After transition from anaerobic conditions to aerobic conditions, nitrite reduction continued (at a lower rate) for several hours. N2O reduction appeared to stop immediately after the switch, indicating inhibition of nitrous oxide reductase, resulting in high N2O emissions (maximum, 1.4 mmol liter-1 h-1). The nitrite reductase was not inactivated by oxygen, but its synthesis was repressed. A half-life of 16 to 22 h for nitrite reductase under these conditions was calculated. In a dynamic aerobic-anaerobic culture of A. faecalis, a semisteady state in which most of the N2O production took place after the transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions was obtained. The nitrite consumption rate in this culture was equal to that in an anaerobic culture (0.95 and 0.92 mmol liter-1 h-1, respectively), but the production of N2O was higher in the dynamic culture (28 and 26% of nitrite consumption, respectively).     

What plant functional traits can reduce nitrous oxide emissions from intensively managed grasslands?

Plant species exert a dominant control over the nitrogen (N) cycle of natural and managed grasslands. Although in intensively managed systems that receive large external N inputs the emission of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a crucial component of this cycle, a mechanistic relationship between plant species and N₂O emissions has not yet been established. Here we use a plant functional trait approach to study the relation between plant species strategies and N₂O emissions from soils. Compared to species with conservative strategies, species with acquisitive strategies have higher N uptake when there is ample N in the soil, but also trigger N mineralization when soil N is limiting. Therefore, we hypothesized that (1) compared to conservative species, species with acquisitive traits reduce N₂O emissions after a high N addition; and (2) species with conservative traits have lower N₂O emissions than acquisitive plants if there is no high N addition. This was tested in a greenhouse experiment using monocultures of six grass species with differing above‐ and below‐ground traits, growing across a gradient of soil N availability. We found that acquisitive species reduced N₂O emissions at all levels of N availability, produced higher biomass and showed larger N uptake. As such, acquisitive species had 87% lower N₂O emissions per unit of N uptake than conservative species (p < .05). Structural equation modelling revealed that specific leaf area and root length density were key traits regulating the effects of plants on N₂O emission and biomass productivity. These results provide the first framework to understand the mechanisms through which plants modulate N₂O emissions, pointing the way to develop productive grasslands that contribute optimally to climate change mitigation.     

NH3, N2O and CH4 emissions during passively aerated composting of straw-rich pig manure

Straw-rich manure from organic pig farming systems was composted in passively aerated static piles to estimate the effect of monthly turning on organic matter degradation and NH(3), N(2)O and CH(4) emissions. Turning enhanced the rate of drying and degradation. The four-month treatment degraded 57+/-3% of the initial organic matter in the turned piles, while only 40+/-5% in the static piles. The turned piles showed low ammonia and N(2)O emissions, 3.9+/-0.2% and 2.5+/-0.1% of total initial nitrogen, respectively. Static piles gave low ammonia (2.4+/-0.1% N(initial)), but high (9.9+/-0.5% N(initial)) N(2)O emissions. Prevalence of anaerobic regions in the static system was supported by the higher CH(4) emissions, 12.6+/-0.6% VS(degraded) for the static vs. 0.4+/-0.0% VS(degraded) for the turned system. It was shown, that straw-rich pig manure with very low C/N ratios could be composted directly without significant NH(3) and N(2)O emissions if turned on a monthly basis.     

紫色土菜地生态系统土壤N2O排放及其主要影响因素

应用静态箱/气相色谱法对种菜历史超过20a的紫色土菜地进行了一年N2O排放的定位观测, 分析了菜地N2O排放特征及施氮、土壤温度、土壤湿度和蔬菜参与对N2O排放的影响. 结果表明, 紫色土菜地生态系统在不施氮和施氮（N150kg?hm-2）情况下N2O平均排放通量为50.713.3和168.437.3g?m-2?h-1, N2O排放系数为1.86%. 菜地生态系统N2O排放强度高于当地粮食作物农田,其主要原因在于菜地较高的养分水平和频繁的施肥、浇水等田间管理措施. 从菜地N2O排放总量的季节分配来看, 有64%的N2O排放量来自于土壤水热条件较好的夏秋季蔬菜生长期, 冬春季蔬菜生长期N2O排放量较少, 仅占34%. 因此, 土壤水热条件不同是造成菜地N2O排放量季节分配差异的重要原因. 氮肥对增加N2O排放的效应因蔬菜生育期内单位时间施肥强度不同而异, 蔬菜生育期越短, 施氮对增加N2O排放的效应越明显.不施氮和常规施氮菜地N2O排放通量与地下5cm处土壤温度呈显著的正相关, 但不种蔬菜的空地两者之间的关系不显著, 并且常规施氮菜地土壤温度（T）对N2O排放通量（F）的影响可用指数方程F＝11.465e0.032T（R＝0.26, p<0.01）表示. 土壤湿度对菜地N2O排放的影响存在阈值效应, 当土壤含水空隙率（WFPS）介于60%-75％时更易引发N2O高排放. 因此, 依据蔬菜生育期特点, 结合土壤水分状况调节施肥量与施肥时间可能会减少菜地N2O排放.     

黄河上游灌区稻田N2O排放特征

黄河上游灌区稻田高产区过量施肥现象十分突出,氮肥过量施用引起土壤氮素盈余,导致N₂O排放量增大,由此引起的温室效应引起广泛关注。采用静态箱-气相色谱法研究黄河上游灌区稻田不同施肥处理下N₂O排放特征。试验设置5个施肥处理,包括常规氮肥300 kg/hm²下单施尿素和有机肥配施2个处理,分别用N300和N300-OM代表;优化氮肥240 kg/hm²下单施尿素和有机肥配施2个处理,分别用N240和N240-OM代表;对照不施氮肥用N0代表。试验结果得出,灌区水稻生长季稻田土壤N₂O排放主要集中在水稻分蘖前及水稻生长的中后期,稻田氮肥施用、灌水及土壤温度的变化对N₂O排放通量影响较大,不同处理水稻各生育阶段N₂O累积排放量与稻田土壤耕层NO^-₃-N含量动态变化显著相关。稻田N₂O排放不是黄河上游灌区稻田氮素损失的主要途径,但灌区稻田N₂O排放的增温潜势较大;稻田氮肥过量施用会显著增加N₂O排放量,在相同氮素水平下,有机肥配施会显著增加稻田土壤N₂O的排放量(P＜0.01)。优化施氮能有效减少灌区稻田水稻生长季N₂O排放量。稻田不同处理的水稻整个生长季土壤N₂O排放总量为2.69-3.87 kg/hm²,肥料氮通过N₂O排放损失的百分率仅为0.43%-0.64%。在灌区习惯灌水和高氮肥300 kg/hm²时,N300-OM处理的稻田N₂O排放量达3.87 kg/hm²,在100 a时间尺度上的全球增温潜势(GWPs)为20.76×10⁷ kg CO₂/hm²;优化施氮240 kg/hm²水平下,N240和N240-OM处理的N₂O累计排放量较N300-OM处理,分别降低了1.18 kg/hm²和0.57 kg/hm²,在100 a尺度上每年由稻田N₂O排放引起的GWPs分别降低了6.33×10⁷ kg CO₂/hm²和3.06×10⁷ kg CO₂/hm²。     

地表UV-B辐射增强对土壤-大豆系统N2O排放的影响

通过大田试验和室外盆栽试验,采用人工增加紫外辐射的方法模拟UV-B辐射增强,用静态箱-气相色谱法测定N_2O排放通量,研究地表UV-B辐射增强对土壤-大豆系统N_2O排放的影响.结果表明:在相同的气象条件和田间管理措施下,UV-B辐射增强没有改变土壤-大豆系统N_2O排放通量的季节性变化规律.但从植株结荚到成熟,UV-B辐射增强降低了土壤-大豆系统N_2O排放通量,进而降低了N_2O的累积排放量.收割实验发现,在分枝开花期,UV-B辐射增强对土壤N_2O排放影响明显,降低了土壤N_2O排放通量;从结荚至鼓粒期,UV-B辐射增强主要通过降低植株地上部分N_2O排放通量来降低土壤-大豆系统的N_2O排放.UV-B辐射增强显著降低了植株的生物量,并影响到植株的氮代谢和土壤NH_4~+-N与微生物氮.UV-B辐射增强可能会导致农田生态系统N_2O排放量降低.     

Calibration and validation of an activated sludge model for greenhouse gases no. 1 (ASMG1): prediction of temperature-dependent N2O emission dynamics

An activated sludge model for greenhouse gases no. 1 was calibrated with data from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) without control systems and validated with data from three similar plants equipped with control systems. Special about the calibration/validation approach adopted in this paper is that the data are obtained from simulations with a mathematical model that is widely accepted to describe effluent quality and operating costs of actual WWTPs, the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2 (BSM2). The calibration also aimed at fitting the model to typical observed nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission data, i.e., a yearly average of 0.5 % of the influent total nitrogen load emitted as N₂O-N. Model validation was performed by challenging the model in configurations with different control strategies. The kinetic term describing the dissolved oxygen effect on the denitrification by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was modified into a Haldane term. Both original and Haldane-modified models passed calibration and validation. Even though their yearly averaged values were similar, the two models presented different dynamic N₂O emissions under cold temperature conditions and control. Therefore, data collected in such situations can potentially permit model discrimination. Observed seasonal trends in N₂O emissions are simulated well with both original and Haldane-modified models. A mechanistic explanation based on the temperature-dependent interaction between heterotrophic and autotrophic N₂O pathways was provided. Finally, while adding the AOB denitrification pathway to a model with only heterotrophic N₂O production showed little impact on effluent quality and operating cost criteria, it clearly affected N₂O emission productions.     

Enhancing mainstream nitrogen removal by employing nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation processes

Due to serious eutrophication in water bodies, nitrogen removal has become a critical stage for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) over past decades. Conventional biological nitrogen removal processes are based on nitrification and denitrification (N/DN), and are suffering from several major drawbacks, including substantial aeration consumption, high fugitive greenhouse gas emissions, a requirement for external carbon sources, excessive sludge production and low energy recovery efficiency, and thus unable to satisfy the escalating public needs. Recently, the discovery of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria has promoted an update of conventional N/DN-based processes to autotrophic nitrogen removal. However, the application of anammox to treat domestic wastewater has been hindered mainly by unsatisfactory effluent quality with nitrogen removal efficiency below 80%. The discovery of nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-DAMO) during the last decade has provided new opportunities to remove this barrier and to achieve a robust system with high-level nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater, by utilizing methane as an alternative carbon source. In the present review, opportunities and challenges for nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation are discussed. Particularly, the prospective technologies driven by the cooperation of anammox and n-DAMO microorganisms are put forward based on previous experimental and modeling studies. Finally, a novel WWTP system acting as an energy exporter is delineated.     

Estimate of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland and conventional wastewater treatment plants: A case study in China

This study aims to estimate the three greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (i.e. CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) from a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSF CW, 1000 m²) and a cluster of conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the city of Changzhou, China. The two estimated emissions are set up for comparison. The results show that the WWTP system emits 7.3 kg CO₂-eq to remove 1 kg BOD in the studied life cycle, while the VSSF system only emits 3.18 kg CO₂-eq, which is only half of the amount given off by the WWTP system. Especially at the treatment stage, the WWTP system's GHG emissions are almost 7 times higher than the VSSF system's. N₂O emissions in both systems are only a minor fraction of the total emissions. Therefore, this study has concluded that the VSSF system is an effective option for GHG emissions mitigation in the wastewater sector. The study further suggests that developing countries like China should extensively build up VSSF systems for decentralized wastewater treatment, which could also potentially reduce GHG emissions by 8-17 million ton CO₂-eq per year compared with the centralized scenario.     

Simulation of Effects of Soils,Climate and Management on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Emission from Grasslands

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas with a high contribution from agricultural soils and emissions that depend on soil type, climate, crops and management practices. The N₂O emissions therefore need to be included as an integral part of environmental assessments of agricultural production systems. An algorithm for N₂O production and emission from agricultural soils was developed and included in the FASSET whole-farm model. The model simulated carbon and nitrogen (N) turnover on a daily basis. Both nitrification and denitrification was included in the model as sources for N₂O production, and the N₂O emissions depended on soil microbial and physical conditions. The model was tested on experimental data of N₂O emissions from grasslands in UK, Finland and Denmark, differing in climatic conditions, soil properties and management. The model simulated the general time course of N₂O emissions and captured the observed effects of fertiliser and manure management on emissions. Scenario analyses for grazed and cut grasslands were conducted to evaluate the effects of soil texture, climatic conditions, grassland management and N fertilisation on N₂O emissions. The soils varied from coarse sand to sandy loam and the climatic variation was taken to represent the climatic variation within Denmark. N fertiliser rates were varied from 0 to 500 kg N ha⁻¹. The simulated N₂O emissions showed a non-linear response to increasing N rates with increasing emission factors at higher N rates. The simulated emissions increased with increasing soil clay contents. N₂O emissions were slightly increased at higher temperatures, whereas increasing annual rainfall generally lead to decreasing emissions. Emissions were slightly higher from grazed grasslands compared with cut grasslands at similar rates of total N input (fertiliser and animal excreta). The results indicate higher emission factors and thus higher potentials for reducing N₂O emissions for intensively grazed grasslands on fine textured soils than for extensive cut-based grasslands on sandy soils.     

Nitrogen removal in a wastewater treatment plant through biofilters: nitrous oxide emissions during nitrification and denitrification

In order to estimate N₂O emissions from immersed biofilters during nitrogen removal in tertiary treatments at urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), a fixed culture from the WWTP of “Seine Centre” (Paris conurbation) was subjected to lab-scale batch experiments under various conditions of oxygenation and a gradient of methanol addition. The results show that during nitrification, N₂O emissions are positively related to oxygenation (R ² = 0.99). However, compared to the rates of ammonium oxidation, the percentage of emitted N₂O is greater when oxygenation is low (0.5–1 mgO₂ L⁻¹), representing up to 1% of the oxidized ammonium (0.4% on average). During denitrification, the N₂O emission reaches a significant peak when the quantity of methanol allows denitrification of between 66% and 88%. When methanol concentrations lead to a denitrification of close to 100%, the flows of N₂O are much lower and represent on average 0.2% of the reduced nitrate. By considering these results, we can estimate, the emissions of N₂O during nitrogen removal, at the “Seine Centre” WWTP, to approximately 38 kgN-N₂O day⁻¹.     

Optimizing rice yields while minimizing yield‐scaled global warming potential

To meet growing global food demand with limited land and reduced environmental impact, agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are increasingly evaluated with respect to crop productivity, i.e., on a yield‐scaled as opposed to area basis. Here, we compiled available field data on CH₄ and N₂O emissions from rice production systems to test the hypothesis that in response to fertilizer nitrogen (N) addition, yield‐scaled global warming potential (GWP) will be minimized at N rates that maximize yields. Within each study, yield N surplus was calculated to estimate deficit or excess N application rates with respect to the optimal N rate (defined as the N rate at which maximum yield was achieved). Relationships between yield N surplus and GHG emissions were assessed using linear and nonlinear mixed‐effects models. Results indicate that yields increased in response to increasing N surplus when moving from deficit to optimal N rates. At N rates contributing to a yield N surplus, N₂O and yield‐scaled N₂O emissions increased exponentially. In contrast, CH₄ emissions were not impacted by N inputs. Accordingly, yield‐scaled CH₄ emissions decreased with N addition. Overall, yield‐scaled GWP was minimized at optimal N rates, decreasing by 21% compared to treatments without N addition. These results are unique compared to aerobic cropping systems in which N₂O emissions are the primary contributor to GWP, meaning yield‐scaled GWP may not necessarily decrease for aerobic crops when yields are optimized by N fertilizer addition. Balancing gains in agricultural productivity with climate change concerns, this work supports the concept that high rice yields can be achieved with minimal yield‐scaled GWP through optimal N application rates. Moreover, additional improvements in N use efficiency may further reduce yield‐scaled GWP, thereby strengthening the economic and environmental sustainability of rice systems.     

Relay cropping for improved air and water quality

Using plants to extract excess nitrate from soil is important in protecting against eutrophication of standing water, hypoxic conditions in lakes and oceans, or elevated nitrate concentrations in domestic water supplies Global climate change issues have raised new concerns about nitrogen (N) management as it relates to crop production even though there may not be an immediate threat to water quality. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are frequently considered the primary cause of global climate change, but under anaerobic conditions, animals can contribute by expelling methane (CH4) as do soil microbes. In terms of the potential for global climate change, CH4 is approximately 25 times more harmful than CO2. This differential effect is minuscule compared to when nitrous oxide (N2O) is released into the atmosphere because it is approximately 300 times more harmful than CO2. N2O losses from soil have been positively correlated with residual N (nitrate, NO3-) concentrations in soil. It stands to reason that phytoremediation via nitrate scavenger crops is one approach to help protect air quality, as well as soil and water quality. Winter wheat was inserted into a seed corn/soybean rotation to utilize soil nitrate and thereby reduce the potential for nitrate leaching and N2O emissions. The net effect of the 2001-2003 relay cropping sequence was to produce three crops in two years, scavenge 130 kg N/ha from the root zone, produce an extra 2 Mg residue/ha, and increase producer profitability by approximately 250 dollars/ha.     

Annual emissions of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide from rice-wheat rotation and vegetable fields: a case study in the Tai-Lake region, China

Background and aims

Knowledge on nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions from typical cropping systems in the Tai-Lake region is important for estimating regional inventory and proposing effective N₂O and NO mitigation options. This study aimed at a) characterizing the seasonal and annual emissions of both gases from the major cropping systems, and b) determining their direct emission factors (EF_ds) as the key parameters for inventory compilation.

Methods

Measurements of N₂O and NO emissions were conducted year-round in the Tai-Lake region using a static opaque chamber method. The measurements involved a typical rice-wheat rotation ecosystem and a vegetable field. The two types of croplands were subjected to both a fertilized treatment and a control treatment without nitrogen addition. In the rice-wheat ecosystem, N₂O emissions were measured throughout an entire year-round rotation spanning from June 2003 to June 2004, whereas NO emissions were measured only during the non-rice period. In the vegetable field, both N₂O and NO emissions were measured from November 2003 to November 2004.

Results

During the investigation period, the average cumulative N₂O and NO emissions under the fertilized conditions amounted to 3.80 and 0.80 (during the non-rice period for NO) kg?N?ha^?1, respectively, in the rice-wheat field, and 20.81 and 47.13?kg?N ha^?1, respectively, in the vegetable field. The average total N₂O and NO emissions under the control conditions were 1.39 and 0.29 (during the non-rice period for NO) kg?N?ha^?1, respectively, in the rice?wheat rotation, and 2.98 and 0.80?kg?N ha^?1, respectively, in the vegetable field. The direct emission factor (EF_d, which is defined as the loss rate of applied nitrogen via N₂O or NO emissions in the current season or year) of N₂O was annually determined to be 0.56?% in the rice-wheat field, while the seasonal EF_d of NO was 0.34?% during the non-rice period of the rotation cycle. In the vegetable field, the seasonal EF_ds of N₂O and NO varied from 0.15?% to 14.50?% and 0.80?% to 28.21?%, respectively, among different crop seasons; and the annual EF_ds were 1.38?% and 3.59?%, respectively.

Conclusions

This study suggests that conventional vegetable fields associated with intensive synthetic nitrogen application, as well as addition of manure slurry, may substantially contribute to the regional N₂O and NO emissions though they account for a relatively small portion of the farmlands in the Tai-Lake region. However, further studies to be conducted at multiple field sites with conventional vegetable and rice-based fields are needed to test this conclusion.     

Managing the excessive proliferation of glycogen accumulating organisms in industrial activated sludge by nitrogen supplementation: A FISH-NanoSIMS approach

Defluviicoccus vanus-related glycogen accumulating organisms (GAO) regularly proliferate in industrial wastewater treatment plants handling high carbon but nitrogen deficient wastes. When GAO dominate, they are associated with poor performance, characterised by slow settling biomass and turbid effluents. Although their ecophysiology has been studied thoroughly in domestic waste treatment plants, little attention has been paid to them in aerobic industrial systems.In this study, the effect of nitrogen addition on GAO carbon metabolism was investigated during an 8 h cycle. Activated sludge dominated by GAO from a winery wastewater sequencing batch reactor was incubated under different carbon to nitrogen (COD:N) ratios (100:1, 60:1 and 20:1) using ¹³C — acetate and ¹⁵N — urea. GAO cell assimilation was quantified using FISH-NanoSIMS. The activated sludge community was assessed by 16S rRNA gene profiling, DNA and storage polymer production. Carbon and nitrogen quantification at the cellular level by NanoSIMS revealed that low (COD:N of 100:1) or null nitrogen concentrations enhanced GAO carbon uptake. COD:N ratios of 60:1 and 20:1 reduced GAO carbon uptake and promoted whole microbial community DNA production. Nitrogen dosing at COD:N ratios of 60:1 or higher was demonstrated as feasible strategy for controlling the excessive GAO growth in high COD waste treatment plants.     

Influence of nutrient solution pH on N2O and N2 emissions from a soilless culture system

The influence of nutrient solution pH on the emission of N2O and N2 was investigated during cultivation of cucumbers in a closed-loop rockwool system. Between pH 4 and 7 these gaseous nitrogen losses increased from 1.6 to 21.1% of the N fertilizer input. This was equivalent to average flux rates of 0.06 and 0.85 kg nitrogen per hectare greenhouse area and day, respectively. The N2O/N2 ratio was inversely related to the total gaseous nitrogen losses. At neutral pH dinitrogen was the main emission product, whereas more acidic conditions favoured the emission of nitrous oxide. The pH effects were probably not indirectly affected by root respiration or exudation as much as by a direct inhibition of the activity of denitrifying microorganisms due to high H+ concentrations since similar results were obtained in unplanted nutrient solution systems with the addition of glucose as carbon source. Despite the low microbial denitrification activity under acidic conditions, nitrogen balance deficits of up to one-fifth of the N input still occurred. It is suggested these losses were predominantly caused by chemodenitrification.     

Nitrogen Behaviour and Nitrous Oxide Emission in the Tidal Seine River Estuary (France) as Influenced by Human Activities in the Upstream Watershed

The Seine River estuary (France) is the receptacle of a drainage basin characterised by high population density, heavy industrial activity and intensive agriculture. Whereas nitrate concentrations are high due to diffuse sources in the upstream drainage basin, ammonium mainly originates from the effluents of the Achères wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) downstream from Paris and its suburbs (6.5 million equivalent-inhabitants). Ammonium is mostly nitrified in the tidal freshwater estuary and nitrification causes a strong summer oxygen deficit. Average longitudinal summer profiles of oxygen and nitrogen concentrations for two periods, between 1993–1997 and 1998–2003 in dry hydrological conditions (excluding the wet years 2000 and 2001) clearly reflect the changes due to the improved treatment of wastewater from Paris and its suburbs. On the basis of daily water flux data and twice monthly nitrogen measurements at the boundaries of the upstream freshwater estuarine section (108 km), we calculated nitrification and denitrification fluxes, whose annual averages were 43 and 71 × 10³ kg N d⁻¹ respectively from 1993 to 2003, with summer values (July–September) representing 73 and 57% of the annual fluxes, respectively. The degree of denitrification in the upper estuary appears to be closely related to the nitrification, itself more loosely related to the amount of reduced nitrogen (Kjeldahl) brought by the treated effluents from the Achères WWTP. We estimated the total N₂O emissions to about 40 kg N d⁻¹ (25–60 kg N d⁻¹) in the same sector.