Factors Affecting Nitrification in Soils

Abstract

Nitrification in soil converts relatively immobile ammonium‐nitrogen (N) to highly mobile nitrate‐N (via nitrite), and this has implications for N‐use efficiency by agricultural systems as well as for environmental quality, especially in situations where the potential for loss of soil or added N is high following nitrate formation. The literature on various physical, environmental, and chemical factors and their interactions on nitrification in soil is reviewed and discussed with examples from natural and agro‐ecosystems. Among the various factors, soil matrix, water status, aeration, temperature, and pH have strong influence on nitrification. The information on factors that influence nitrification is useful when developing strategies for regulating nitrification in soils by employing chemical or biological nitrification inhibitors.