Potential rates of nitrification and denitrification in an oligotrophic freshwater sediment system

Potential rates of nitrification and denitrification were measured in an oligotrophic sediment system. Nitrification potential was estimated using the CO oxidation technique, and potential denitrification was measured by the acetylene blockage technique. The sediments demonstrated both nitrifying and denitrifying activity. E_h, O₂, and organic C profiles showed two distinct types of sediment. One type was low in organic C, had high O₂ and E_h, and had rates of denitrification 1,000 times lower than the other which had high organic C, low O₂, and low E_h. Potential nitrification and denitrification rates were negatively correlated with E_h. This suggests that environmental heterogeneity in denitrifier and nitrifier populations in oligotrophic sediment systems may be assessed using E_h before sampling protocols for nitrification or denitrification rates are established. There was no correlation between denitrification and nitrification rates or between either of these processes and NH₄ ⁺ or NO₃ ^– concentrations. The maximum rate of denitrification was 0.969 nmole N cm^–3 hour^–1, and the maximum rate of nitrification was 23.6 nmole cm^–3 hour^–1, suggesting nitrification does not limit denitrification in these oligotrophic sediments. Some sediment cores had mean concentrations of 6.0 mg O₂/liter and still showed both nitrification and denitrification activity.     

Measurement of nitrification rates in lake sediments: Comparison of the nitrification inhibitors nitrapyrin and allylthiourea

A method for measuring rates of nitrification in intact marine sediment cores has been modified and adapted for use in freshwater sediments. The technique involves subsampling a sediment core into minicores. Half of these cores are treated with an inhibitor of chemolithotrophic nitrification and, after incubation, differences in ammonia and nitrate concentration between inhibited and uninhibited systems are calculated. The within-treatment variability of ammonia and nitrate concentrations could be reduced by storing the cores overnight prior to subsampling. Estimates of the nitrification rate using the difference in ammonia concentrations between the inhibited and uninhibited mini-cores were always greater than the rate estimate using the difference in nitrate concentrations. Comparison between the results using the nitrification inhibitors allylthiourea (ATU) and nitrapyrin (N-Serve) indicated that the former appeared to give larger values for the nitrification rate than did the latter. Differences in the efficiency of these inhibitors in the control of nitrification under the conditions used partly explain these results. Data are also presented on the effect of N-Serve and ATU on some other nitrogen transformations affecting ammonia and nitrate concentrations.     

Acetylene inhibition technique underestimates in situ denitrification rates in intact cores of freshwater sediment

Abstract Denitrification in intact sediment cores was measured by the acetylene inhibition technique and compared with the nitrate flux between water and sediment. Less than half of the nitrate-N consumed by the sediment could be recovered as nitrous oxide-N. The low recovery rate of nitrous oxide from intact sediment cores indicated losses of nitrous oxide by diffusion down to nitrate-free sediment layers, where reduction of nitrous oxide may take place. In sediment slurries 100% of nitrate-N could be recovered as nitrous oxide-N as long as the nitrate concentration in the liquid phase was above 10 μM. Nitrous oxide added to nitrate-free sediment slurries was reduced regardless of whether acetylene was present or not. Therefore denitrification may be significantly underestimated by this method.     

Estimation of nitrification rates in flooded soils

Three techniques for estimating nitrification rates in flooded soils were evaluated in short-term incubation experiments using three soils. The techniques were based on inhibition of either ammonium or nitrite oxidation and ¹³N isotope dilution. Of four inhibitors of ammonium oxidation evaluated, one (allylthiourea) was ineffective and two (2-ethynylpyridine or phenyl acetylene dissolved in ethanol) promoted immobilization of ammonium. Emulsified 2-ethynylpyridine and acetylene were equally effective inhibitors of ammonium oxidation and had little or no effect on gross rates of N mineralization and immobilization. Four inhibitors of nitrite oxidation were evaluated, but this approach was compromised by the nonspecificity of three of the compounds—potassium cyanide, 2-ethylamino-4-isopropylamino-6-methylthio-s-triazine (ametryne) and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (DMU)—and by the partial effectiveness of another (potassium chlorate). Two methods based on isotope dilution gave similar estimates of nitrification rates. These rates were similar to those estimated by inhibition of ammonium oxidation in one soil but were lower in the other two soils. In the latter two soils, nitrification of labeled ammonium derived from dissimilatory nitrate reduction resulted in underestimation of nitrification rates by isotope dilution.     

Measurement of in situ growth rates of phytoplankton under conditions of simulated turbulence

In situ measurement of the growth rates of planktonic populationscan be improved by using dialysis chambers (‘cage cultures’)to avoid shifts in the chemical environment during incubation.Vertical mixing and small-scale turbulence affect the growthof planktonic populations, there fore natural mixing conditionsshould be simulated as closely as possible during the incubation.A new device is described here which combines the advantagesof a dialysis chamber with a programmable vertical mixing regime.Realistic phytoplankton growth rates can thus be measured insitu under con ditions of vertical mixing and small-scale turbulence.The chamber made of transparent, UV-transmitting acrylic glasswas fitted at both ends with permeable polycarbonate membranes.It was moved vertically through the water column by a pocket-sizedlift and rotated simultaneously on its central axis. The methodwas applied to two typos of experiments on growth and lossesof phytoplankton in the River Severn, UK. The first one comparedchanges in biovolume of phytoplankton in a water parcel flowingdownstream (6% h^–1 decline) with those in a simultaneouslyincubated dialysis chamber moved between water surface and riverbottom (7% h^–1 increase). The difference equates to algallosses prevented in the chamber but suffered along the river(mainly sedimentation and grazing of benthic filter feeders).Loss rate of diatoms was three times higher than those of chlorophytes.In another experiment growth of phytoplankton from the mainstream and lateral dead zone was compared under different mixingconditions. Algae from the main stream grew faster than fromthe dead zone. Only cryptophytes preferred calm conditions,all the other algal groups grew faster in chambers moved throughthe water column than in stationary ones. Further possible applicationsin both standing and flowing waters are discussed.     

A comparison of two nitrification inhibitors used to measure nitrification rates in estuarine sediments

Abstract: Nitrification rates were measured using intact sediment cores from South San Francisco Bay and two different nitrification inhibitors: acetylene and methyl fluoride. Sediment oxygen consumption and ammonium and nitrate fluxes were also measured in these cores. Four experiments were conducted in the spring, and one in the fall of 1993. There was no significant difference in nitrification rates measured using the two inhibitors, which suggests that methyl fluoride can be used as an effective inhibitor of nitrification. Nitrification was positively correlated with sediment oxygen consumption and numbers of macrofauna. This suggests that bioturbation by macrofauna is an important control of nitrification rates. Irrigation by the tube-dwelling polychaete, Asychis elongata , which dominates the benthic biomass at this location, appears particularly important. Ammonium fluxes out of the sediment were greatest about one week after the spring bloom, while nitrification peaked about one month later.     

Effect of carbon dioxide on nitrification rates

Lab-scale ideal mixed, aerated reactors were employed to test the influence of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) on the growth rate of a nitrifier community. The buffer medium used did not contain any carbon sources. Reactors were inoculated alternatively with sludge from a nitrifying membrane assisted bioreactor, reflecting autotrophic material, or with sludge from a plant having denitrification and nitrification steps, which reflects mixed heterotrophic and autotrophic material. CO(2) was added as a gas with the intake air supply. Nitrification rates were related to the CO(2) in the intake air as well as to the total inorganic carbon in the medium. The batch experiments show a relationship between CO(2) concentration and growth rate. The optimum growth rate occurred at 5 mg CO(2)/L, corresponding to 0.4% (V/V) CO(2) in the inlet air. Different CO(2) optima for autotrophic and mixed sludges were found. In the case of the autotrophic sludge, the observed optimum growth rate was about 0.47/d and the optimum for the mixed sludge was about 0.75/d. Higher CO(2) concentrations lead to a decreasing growth rate. The first part of the kinetic graph can be described by Monod kinetics. Overall, the resulting graph can be described by Haldane kinetics.     

Nitrate enhancement of nitrification depth in sediment/water microcosms

Manipulation and disposal techniques

Nitrate enhancement of nitrification depth in sediment/water microcosms     

Measurement and verification of rates of sediment phosphorus release for a hypereutrophic urban lake

The contribution of sediment release to the phosphorus budget of hypereutrophic Onondaga Lake was determined through laboratory measurements made on intact cores. Rates ranged from 9–21 mg P m^–2 d^–1 with a mean of 13 mg P m^–2 d^–1, values similar to those observed in other lakes of comparable trophic state. There was no statistically significant trend in rates in time (July versus September) or in space (location along the major N/S axis of the lake). Rates of sediment phosphorus release measured in the laboratory compared favorably with the observed rate of soluble reactive phosphorus accumulation in the lake's hypolimnion. The sediments are the second largest source of phosphorus for Onondaga Lake, contributing 24% of the overall phosphorus load to the system.     

Factors affecting nitrification in situ in a heated stream.

Nitrification, previously shown to occur in the stream under study, ensued only when the stream received heated (28 degree C or above) discharges and was negligible when water temperatures were 17 degree C or lower. The most probable number os ammonium oxidizer in stream bed sediments exceeded intrite oxidizers by ratios of 43:1 to 1,113:1, and the average rate of ammonium oxidation in this stream, 0.50 mg of NH4-N/liter per h exceeded the rate of nitrite oxidation, 0.29 mg of NO2-N/liter per h, resulting in an accumulation of nitrite. Nitrification rates were influenced by the dissolved oxygen concentration, increasing during daylight hours and exhibiting maximum rates during the summer months.     

Experimental measurement of sediment nitrification and denitrification in Hamilton Harbour,Canada

This research examines the role of sediment nitrification and denitrification in the nitrogen cycle of Hamilton Harbour. The Harbour is subject to large ammonia and carbon loadings from a waste-water treatment plant and from steel industries. Spring ammonia concentrations rapidly decrease from 4.5 to 0.5 mg 1⁻¹, while spring nitrate concentrations increase from 1 to 2 mg l⁻¹, by mid-summer. A three-layer sediment model was developed. The first layer is aerobic; in it, oxidation of organics and nitrification occurs. The second layer is for denitrification, and the third layer is for anaerobic processes. Ammonia sources for nitrification include diffusion from the water column, sources associated with the oxidation of organics, sources from denitrification and from anaerobic processes. Diffusion of oxygen, ammonia and nitrate across the sediment-water interface occurs. Temperature effects are modelled using the Arrhenius concept. A combination of zero-order kinetics for nitrate or ammonia consumption with diffusion results in a half-order reaction, with respect to the water column loss rate to sediments. From experimental measurement, the rate of nitrification is 200 mg N 1⁻¹ sediment per day, while that of denitrification is 85 mg N 1–1 sediment per day at 20 °C. The Arrhenius activation energy is estimated as 15 000 cal/ mole-K and 17 000 cal/ mole-K for nitrification and denitrification, respectively, between 10 °C and 20 °C. Calculations of the flux of ammonia with the sediments, using the biofilm model, compare favourably with experimental observations. The ammonia flux from the water column is estimated to account for 20% of the observed decrease in water column stocks of ammonia, while the nitrate flux from the water column is estimated to account for 25% of the total nitrogen produced by the sediments.     

Effect of organic loading on nitrification and denitrification in a marine sediment microcosm

Abstract The effects of organic additions on nitrification and dentrification were examined in sediment microcosms. The organic material, heat killed yeast, had a C/N ratio of 7.5 and was added to sieved, homogenized sediments. Four treatments were compared: no addition (control), 30 g dry weight (dw) m⁻² mixed throughout the 10 cm sediment column (30M), 100 g dw m⁻² mixed throughout sediments (100M), and 100 g dw m⁻² mixed into top 1 cm (100S). After the microcosms had been established for 7–11 days, depth of O₂ penetration, sediment-water fluxes and nitrification rates were measured. Nitrification rates were measured using three different techniques: N-serve and acetylene inhibition in intact cores, and nitrification potentials in slurris. Increased organic additions decreased O₂ penetration from 2.7 to 0.2 mm while increasing both O₂ consumption, from 30 to 70 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, and NO₃⁻ flux into sediments. Nitrification rates in intact cores were similar for the two methods. Highest rates occurred in the 30M treatment, while the lowest rate was measured in the 100S treatment. Total denitrification rates (estimated from nitrification and nitrate fluxes) increased with increased organic addition, because of the high concentrations of NO₃⁻ (40 μM) in the overlaying water. The ratio of nitrification: denitrification was used as an indication of the importance of nitrification as the NO₃⁻ supply for denitrificaion. This ratio decreased from 1.55 to 0.05 iwth increase organic addition.     

Heterotrophic nitrification in a health soil demonstrated by anin situ method

Summary Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in the leaves of two subspecies ofHypochaeris radicata was taken as a parameter for nitrate production in the soilin situ. Ammonium addition to the soil ofH. radicata ssp.radicata (soil pH 6.2) resulted in an increase of NRA, thus indicating nitrate formation by chemolithotrophic nitrifiers after a certain time-lag. Addition of ammonium to the soil ofH. radicata ssp.ericetorum (soil pH 4.3) dit not affect NRA in the leaves. Tests based on the MPN method failed to demonstrate the occurrence of chemolithotrophic nitrifiers in this soil. However, the addition of peptone led to an increase of NRA within seven days, which indicates the presence of heterotrophic nitrifying organisms. The results obtainedin situ were confirmed in a laboratory experiment, where soil samples were incubated in the presence and absence of (NH₄)₂SO₄ or peptone. The addition of ammonium led to a decrease in the production of nitrate to zero as compared with the control in the acid soil of ssp.ericetorum, whereas the addition of peptone resulted in nitrate levels amounting to about twice the control value. In the soil of ssp.radicata nitrate formation showed a rapid increase, compared with the control, after the addition of ammonium as well as after the addition of peptone.Grassland species research group, publication no27     

硝化抑制剂DCD、 DMPP对褐土氮总矿化速率和硝化速率的影响

采用15N库稀释-原位培养法研究了硝化抑制剂DCD、DMPP对华北盐碱性褐土氮总矿化速率和硝化速率的影响.试验在山西省运城市种植玉米的盐碱性土壤上进行,设单施尿素、尿素+DCD、尿素+DMPP 3个处理.结果表明:施肥后2周,DCD、DMPP分别使氮总矿化速率和氮总硝化速率减少了25.5％、7.3％和60.3％、59.1％,DCD对氮总矿化速率的影响显著高于DMPP,两者对氮总硝化速率的影响无显著差异;而在施肥后7周,不同硝化抑制剂对氮总硝化速率的影响存在差异.施肥后2周,3个处理的土壤氮总矿化速率和硝化速率分别是施肥前的7.2 ～10.0倍和5.5 ～21.5倍;NH4+和NO3-消耗速率分别是施肥前的9.1 ～12.2倍和5.1 ～8.4倍,这是由氮肥对土壤的激发效应所致.硝化抑制剂使氮肥更多地以NH4+形式保持在土壤中,减少了NO3-的积累.土壤氮总矿化速率和总硝化速率受硝化抑制剂的抑制是N2O减排的主要原因.     

Degradation rates of organic phosphorus in lake sediment

Phosphorus (P) binding groups were identified in phytoplankton, settling particles, and sediment profiles by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy from the Swedish mesotrophic Lake Erken. The ³¹P NMR analysis revealed that polyphosphates and pyrophosphates were abundant in the water column, but rapidly mineralized in the sediment. Orthophosphate monoesters and teichoic acids degraded more slowly than DNA-P, polyphosphates, and P lipids. Humic acids and organic acids from phytoplankton were precipitated from the NaOH extract by acidification and identified by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The precipitated P was significantly more recalcitrant than the P compound groups remaining in solution, but does not constitute a major sink of P as it did not reach a stable concentration with depth, which indicates that it may eventually be degraded. Since P also precipitated from phytoplankton, the origin of humic-P can not be related solely to allochthonous P.     

Comparison of nitrification rates in three branches of the lower river Rhine

The nitrogen cycle in the lower river Rhine was analysed, using data on concentrations of ammonium, nitrite and nitrate, measured in the period from 1972 to 1986. The massive discharge of ammonium in densely populated areas in the Federal Republic of Germany led to microbial nitrification, detectable as decreases in ammonium and nitrite concentrations in the lower river Rhine over reaches 85–133 km long. The distribution of the nitrogen-rich Rhine waters over three different branches in the Netherlands permits some of the factors governing microbial nitrification in the river bed to be discriminated. In the fast-flowing main channel, intensively used by ships, nitrification is more important than in the smaller branches, despite the short residence time of the water in the main channel. Differences in the flow rate of water, in grain size distribution of sediments, and in intensity of shipping (aeration, turbulence) seemed to be responsible for the different rates of nitrification.     

In situ treatment of Hamilton Harbour sediment

To enhance the biodegradation of organic contaminants, approximately 18.5 tonnes of oxidant (calcium nitrate) and 5 tonnes of nutrients were injected into sediments of the Dofasco Boatslip, Hamilton Harbour. In the laboratory 78% and 68% of the oil (TPHs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), respectively biodegraded in 197 days. In the 1992 treatment in the Ddofasco Boatslip, biodegradation of organic contaminants varied from 79% for low molecular weight compounds (BTXs), to 25/15 of the 16 priority pollutant PAHs. At first biodegraduation of large molecular weight PAHs resulted in the production of naphthalene (from 280 g/g to 549 g/g). In the 1993 treatments, 94% of the naphthalene, and 57% of the TPHs biodegraded. The in situ biotreatment of organic contamination takes time but for some sites the significantly lower cost relative to dredging and confinement makes in situ treatment a viable alternative.     

Measurement of mitochondrial pH in situ

In this article, we describe the advantages and disadvantages of procedures for monitoring mitochondrial pH in situ using optical microscopic techniques. The first method employs the combination of the fluorescent pH-sensitive indicator carboxy-SNARF and laser scanning confocal microscopy. Manipulation of the loading and post-loading conditions enables relatively specific accumulation of carboxy-SNARF into mitochondria. With the use of a mitochondrial-specific marker, mitochondrial pH can be accurately monitored. More recently, mitochondrial-targeted, pH-sensitive probes have been used to monitor mitochondrial pH. In particular, mitochondrial targeting of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mutant of green fluorescent protein (GFP) combines the advantages of specific mitochondrial localization, high-fluorophore quantum yield, and extinction coefficient with an appropriate pKa for measuring mitochondrial pH. The use of dual-excitation ratiometry with mitochondrially targeted YFP increases the dynamic range of mitochondrial pH measurements and corrects for differences in the amount of expression of mitochondrially targeted YFP at the level of individual mitochondria.     

Seasonal distribution of nitrifying bacteria and rates of nitrification in coastal marine sediments

The distribution of nitrification potential (NP) with depth in sediment and season was investigated in a shallow sandy sediment (0.5 m water) and a deeper muddy sediment (17m water). In both sediments, nitrifying bacteria were present in the anoxic strata (oxygen penetration was 5 mm below the surface). The NP at 6–8 cm depth in the sediment was 50% and 10% of the surface NP at the sandy and muddy sediment, respectively. It is suggested that bioturbation and physical disturbance of the sediment were the most likely reasons for this distribution. The NP increased as sediment temperature decreased. This effect was less marked in the muddy sediment. It is concluded that during the summer, the numbers or specific activity of nitrifying bacteria diminished for the following reasons: There was decreased O₂ penetration into the sediment and increased competition for O₂ by heterotrophs; there was increased competition for NH₄ ⁺ and there was inhibition by H₂S. These effects counteracted the potentially higher growth rates and increased rates of NH₄ ⁺ production at the elevated summer temperatures. The potential nitrification rates in the upper 1 cm, which were measured at 22°C, were converted to calculated rates at the in situ temperature (Q₁₀=2.5) and in situ oxygen penetration. These calculated rates were shown to closely resemble the measured in situ rates of nitrification. The relationship between the in situ rates of nitrification and the nitrification potential is discussed.