The influence of acidic gas absorption on certain metabolic processes occurring in anaerobically incubated soils

Summary CH₄ accumulation was markedly reduced and acetate accumulation was enhanced by the presence of a vial of alkali in flasks containing soils incubated anaerobically at a moisture content of 80% of saturation. The presence of the vial of alkali had little effect on acetate accumulation until after the commencement of CH₄ formation. No hydrogen was found to accumulate in the soils studied regardless of whether acidic gases were absorbed during incubation. The effect of acidic gas absorption on other metabolic processes in two of the soils was studied. The absorption of acidic gases reduced the amounts of extractable Fe and S^2– (or volatile mercaptans), the soil pH, and in the more acid soil (Tetonka) net ammonification during anaerobic incubation. In a further experiment the effect of the presence of a vial of alkali on gas, acetate, NH ₄ ⁺ and S^2– accumulation as well as pH changes during anaerobic incubation of the Tetonka soil treated with CaCO₃ was studied. CH₄, acetate and S^2– accumulation were suppressed, net ammonification was little affected, and the soil pH values were higher as a result of the absorption of acidic gases. The rates of CO₂, CH₄, acetate and S^2– accumulation were increased as a result of the addition of CaCO₃ to the Tetonka soil.Published with the approval of the Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No.140.