pH变化对中性土壤硝化过程N2O释放的影响

通过人为调节获得pH5．82、pH6．95和pH7．55的3种pH土壤,采用室内培养方法,研究了pH变化对土壤硝化过程N2O产生以及双氰胺（OCD）对硝化过程抑制作用的影响。结果表明,在好气培养2d内,土壤硝化速率与pH呈正相关关系;在12d的培养期间,土壤N2O释放总量随pH增大而增大,最大N2O释放量占施氮量的0．363％;pH变化影响土壤硝化作用的强弱以及硝化过程中N2O／N2的比例;pH变化对DCD的抑制作用影响显著,DCD对N2O释放总量的抑制率为34．4％-72．2％,当pH5．82时抑制作用最强。     

碳源和氧对设施菜田土壤N_2O排放的影响

利用在线自动监测培养系统(Robot系统),研究不同氧分压、碳源投入以及不同氧分压和碳源投入组合下,添加硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)对设施菜田土壤N_2O排放的影响。结果表明:随着土壤氧分压的升高,N_2O排放量呈指数下降(P0.001),土壤氧分压大于等于3%O_2后,N_2O排放量不足于无氧和微量氧(1%氧)处理的30%。添加碳源降低了有氧条件下土壤N_2O和N_2产生量,显著增加了微量氧下异养反硝化途径对N_2O的贡献量(P0.01)。在微量氧和3%O_2下,与未添加DCD的处理相比,无碳源添加且施用DCD后,N_2O的排放分别降低了64.4%和88.8%,同时N_2排放分别降低了23.4%和18.6%。从微量氧至3%O_2,虽然无碳源添加的处理硝化细菌反硝化作用对N_2O排放的贡献从17.2%增加至42.6%,但由于排放总量的急剧下降,硝化细菌反硝化作用对设施菜田土壤N_2O排放的贡献较小。本研究所用土壤pH较高,且添加DCD的处理培养前后硝酸盐基本平衡,异养的同步硝化-反硝化过程可能很弱。总之,设施菜田土壤N_2O排放主要发生在无氧和微量氧条件下。异养反硝化菌对土壤N_2O排放的直接贡献最大,尤其是在碳源较为充足的条件下。     

NaCl浓度对SBBR同步脱氮及N2O释放的影响

盐度是影响生物脱氮过程的重要因素。盐度增加会导致生物硝化和反硝化过程中N_2O的产生并释放。该文以添加NaCl的生活污水为研究对象,采用固定填料序批式生物膜反应器(sequencing batch biofilm reactor,SBBR),考察了不同NaCl浓度(0、5、10、15和20g/L)对SBBR脱氮性能及N_2O释放的影响。结果表明,试验NaCl浓度范围内,SBBR出水COD稳定在40～60mg/L。硝化过程NO_2~-/NO_3~-随NaCl浓度增加而增加。NaCl浓度≤10g/L时,NH_4~+-N去除率大于95%,N_2O产率由4.08%(NaCl浓度为0)增至6.72%(NaCl浓度为10 g/L)。NaCl浓度为20 g/L时,驯化后SBBR内平均NH_4~+-N去除率为70%,平均N_2O产率为13.60%。无添加NaCl时,N_2O主要产生于硝化阶段的AOB好氧反硝化过程,SBBR内缺氧区有助于减少N_2O释放;高NaCl浓度条件下,N_2O主要产生于AOB好氧反硝化过程和内源同步反硝化过程,高盐度加剧内源反硝化阶段NO_2~-和N_2O之间电子竞争,抑制N_2O还原,其活性抑制性能与电子受体和初始C/N有关。与硝态氮还原速率和亚硝态氮还原速率相比,氧化亚氮还原速率受NaCl抑制最为明显,是导致高盐度条件下N_2O释放量增加的重要因素。     

添加水铁矿对水稻土N_2O释放及反硝化微生物的影响

水稻土氧化还原状态的变化与N_2O的释放有密切关系。为揭示水稻土中Fe对N_2O释放及反硝化功能微生物的影响,本研究选取第四纪红壤发育的水稻土,设置3个水铁矿添加水平(Fe 0,10,40μmol g~(-1)土)和两个土壤质量含水量(50%,80%)进行土壤培养试验,利用实时荧光定量PCR(real time flourescent quantification polymerase chain reaction,q PCR)和末端限制性片段长度多态性(terminal-restricted fragment length polymorphism,T-RFLP)分析技术开展研究。结果表明,N_2O排放速率升至高峰期的过程中,外源铁处理尤其是添加高量铁(40μmol g~(-1))处理导致硝态氮含量显著高于对照,而N_2O排放速率却明显低于对照;然而,高峰期后添加高量铁处理却维持了较对照显著高的N_2O排放速率;与此同时,添加水铁矿对硝酸还原酶基因(narG)和氧化亚氮还原酶基因(nosZ)丰度的影响表现出与N_2O排放相同的趋势,即N_2O排放速率升至高峰期的过程中,外源铁处理明显抑制了反硝化微生物的生长与繁殖,而高峰期后外源铁对反硝化微生物的抑制作用不明显。因此,水稻土中添加Fe(Ⅲ)对N_2O释放影响的主要原因可能是前期抑制了反硝化功能微生物的种群数量,从而减少了硝酸根的还原和N_2O的产生,而后期由于反硝化微生物数量的恢复和NO_3~-等含氮化合物的残留,使得外源铁处理的N_2O释放量明显高于对照。     

硝化抑制剂和通气调节对土壤N2O排放的影响

采用室内培养方法,研究了土壤水分含量和温度对硝化反应速度、N2O排放及施用硝化抑制剂(N-Serve)和土壤掺砂对N2O排放的影响。结果表明,硝化反应速度随温度升高而加快,30℃时反应进行最快;水分对硝化反应速度的影响不显著。N2O排放通量随温度和水分含量升高而加大,最高排放通量出现在水分含量28.5%,20℃或30℃时。30℃、低水分(14.2%)时,N2O排放量较低,15d累积排放量为126.4.mg/kg,且主要来自硝化反应,施用N-Serve可使总排放量减少65.0%;水分含量增加到28.5%,反硝化反应发生,N2O排放量急剧增加,15d累积排放量达764.4.mg/kg;施用砂子或N-Serve,总排放量分别减少82.9%、62.1%。因此,低水分时,施用N-Serve可抑制硝化反应;高水分时,施用砂子或砂子与N-Serve配合,可有效抑制N2O排放。     

林地改为茶园对土壤净硝化速率及N2O排放的影响

以我国江南茶区(安徽、浙江)和华南茶区(福建)典型茶园土壤及各自相邻的林地土壤为研究对象,在25oC和60%田间持水量条件下,通过28 d的室内培养试验,研究了林地改为茶园后对土壤净硝化速率及N_2O排放规律的影响。结果表明:安徽地区林地改种茶园显著抑制了净硝化速率;与安徽地区的林地和茶园土壤相比,浙江和福建地区林地和茶园土壤净硝化速率很低(N,0.2 mg/(kg·d)),且林地改为茶园后对土壤净硝化速率没有显著影响。安徽地区植茶年限超过10 a的茶园土壤N_2O累积排放量均显著低于邻近的林地土壤,而植茶年限为10 a的茶园土壤与邻近的林地土壤差异不显著。浙江和福建茶园土壤N_2O累积排放量均高于各自对照的林地土壤。安徽地区土壤的N_2O累积排放量与p H呈显著的正相关关系,这表明林地改为茶园后,随着植茶年限的增加和氮肥的施用,p H降低抑制了净硝化速率,进而降低N_2O排放。     

土壤温度、水分和NH4+-N浓度对土壤硝化反应速度及N2O排放的影响

硝化反应是土壤、特别是干旱半干旱地区农业土壤N2O产生的重要途径之一。但是,目前环境条件对硝化反应中N2O排放的影响研究较少,而在国内外通用的几个模型中均用固定比例估算硝化反应过程中N2O的排放。本文通过砂壤土培养试验,研究了土壤温度、水分和NH4+-N浓度对硝化反应速度及硝化反应中N2O排放的影响,并用数学模型定量表示了各因素对硝化反应的作用,用最小二乘法最优拟合求得该土壤的最大硝化反应速度及N2O最大排放比例。结果表明,随着温度升高,硝化反应速度呈指数增长;水分含量由20%充水孔隙度(WFPS)增加到40%WFPS时,反应速度增加,水分含量增加到60%WFPS时反应速度略有降低;NH4+-N浓度增加对硝化反应速度起抑制作用。用米氏方程描述该土壤的硝化反应过程,其最大硝化反应速度为6.67mg·kg?1·d?1。硝化反应中N2O排放比例随温度升高而降低;随NH4+-N浓度增加而略有增加;20%和40%WFPS水分含量时,硝化反应中N2O排放比例为0.43%～1.50%,最小二乘法求得的最大比例为3.03%,60%WFPS时可能由于反硝化作用,N2O排放比例急剧增加,还需进一步研究水分对硝化反应中N2O排放的影响。     

生物炭施用下中国农田土壤N2O排放的Meta分析

为明确施加生物炭对中国农田土壤N_2O排放的影响和主要控制因素,以公开发表的试验数据为研究对象,采用Meta-analysis法定量分析了施加生物炭条件下,气候、土壤性质、田间管理方式、生物炭性质与施加量对土壤N_2O排放的影响,并对各影响因素进行通径分析。结果表明,当年降雨量≥600 mm时,生物炭显著降低土壤N_2O排放量(P0.05),且随年降雨量的增加而增强;当年日照时数大于1 000 h时,生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随年日照时数的增加而减弱。当土壤p H≥6.5时,生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随土壤p H的增加呈先增后减趋势;在壤土中施加生物炭对N_2O的减排效果显著(P0.05),而砂土和黏土不显著(P0.05)。生物炭对覆膜土壤N_2O的减排效果优于不覆膜土壤;生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随施氮肥量增加而减弱,而随生物炭比表面积的增加而增强。当生物炭C/N处于30~500时,生物炭施用下土壤N_2O排放量显著降低(P0.05);当生物炭施加量处于20~160 t×hm-2时,生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果随施加量增加而增强。生物炭对土壤N_2O减排的影响存在显著的区域性特征,对华南、华东、华中和东北地区影响显著(P0.05),而对西北地区不显著(P0.05);施氮肥量、生物炭施加量、年均温和年降雨量是影响生物炭减排效果的最主要因素,这些因素的相互作用共同影响生物炭对土壤N_2O的减排效果。该研究可为生物炭在我国农区的推广应用和农田N_2O减排提供参考。     

有机无机肥配施对酸性菜地土壤硝化作用的影响

通过室内培养和田间试验, 研究了有机无机肥配施对酸性菜地土硝化作用的影响。培养试验条件为60%土壤最大持水量和25 ℃。 结果表明,土壤硝化作用模式为指数方程,延滞期10天。与纯化肥处理（NPK）相比,鲜猪粪配施无机肥（FPM+NPK）和猪粪堆肥配施无机肥（CPM+NPK）均能降低土壤硝化势和氨氧化潜势,猪粪堆肥配施无机肥还能增加土壤微生物量碳、 氮。鲜猪粪配施无机肥和猪粪堆肥配施无机肥处理在硝化培养和田间试验期间N2O释放量均没有差异,但硝化培养期间鲜猪粪配施无机肥的N2O释放量显著低于纯化肥处理,田间试验期间猪粪堆肥配施无机肥的N2O释放量显著低于纯化肥处理。培养试验结束后的土壤pH值与土壤硝化势间,以及硝化培养期间N2O累积释放量与土壤硝化势间均存在显著正相关关系。本研究表明, 有机无机肥配施显著影响土壤硝化作用以及硝化培养期间和田间N2O释放。     

不同施氮量对设施甜椒温室气体排放及净温室效应的影响

本研究在华北地区进行温室甜椒(Capsicum)栽培肥料试验,通过测定不同施氮处理土壤N_2O和CH_4排放量、排放特征和土壤呼吸强度,估算化肥投入、灌溉能源消耗、机械燃油、农药施用等生产投入产生的CO_2当量进而计算净温室效应,探讨了氮肥用量对当地温室蔬菜栽培温室气体排放、净温室效应的影响。田间试验设当地农民传统施肥量(C)、不施氮肥(CK)、推荐施氮量(T1)、推荐施氮量+硝化抑制剂(NP)(T1+NP)4个处理,土壤排放的温室气体用静态箱法采集、Agilent 6820型气相色谱仪测定,土壤呼吸用LI-8100土壤碳通量自动监测系统监测。结果表明,与传统施肥量处理相比,推荐施肥量处理,N_2O排放量明显下降;而4个处理的土壤CO_2累积排放量分别为3.36、3.19、3.25、3.07 thm~(-2),处理间无明显差异,CH_4累积排放量表现出随施氮量升高而下降的趋势;4个处理的净温室效应分别为5460.91、3439.28、4873.21、4622.85 kghm~(-2),因此,可以认为N_2O排放和土壤CO_2当量随施氮量的增加而升高,减少氮肥投入使之保持在适当水平,可降低N_2O、CH_4等温室气体的排放;而在等氮肥投入量的条件添加硝化抑制剂也能,减少温室气体排放和减轻净温室效应。     

生物硝化抑制剂对黔西南黄壤硝化作用及N2O排放的影响

为探索生物硝化抑制剂对贵州黔西南地区黄壤硝化作用及氧化亚氮(N2O)排放的影响,通过三周的室内培养试验,研究两种生物硝化抑制剂对羟基苯丙酸甲酯(MHPP)和丁香酸(SA)对黄壤中的无机态氮素含量、氨氧微生物功能基因以及N2O排放量的影响。结果表明,与对照CK相比,MHPP和SA在黄壤上均能明显抑制硝化作用,对土壤硝化速率的抑制率分别为6%~43%和5%~51%。MHPP和SA均抑制了黄壤氨氧化古菌AOA(12%~22%,27%~41%)与氨氧化细菌AOB(6%~19%,26%~46%)amoA基因的丰度。整个培养期内,黄壤的硝态氮含量与AOB的amoA基因丰度显著正相关,而与AOA的amoA基因丰度无显著相关,表明AOB对黄壤硝化作用起了主导作用。在N2O排放方面,MHPP和SA分别显著抑制了黄壤51%和21%的N2O排放积累量,MHPP的减排效果优于SA。MHPP降低了黄壤N2O排放的峰值,而SA主要延缓了黄壤N2O产生高峰的出现。总之,生物硝化抑制剂MHPP和SA在贵州黔西南黄壤上具有氮肥减施增效的潜力,这为今后烤烟新型绿色专用肥的开发提供了理论依据。     

N2O and NO production in various Chinese agricultural soils by nitrification

Eleven types of agricultural soils were collected from Chinese uplands and paddy fields to compare their N₂O and NO production by nitrification under identical laboratory conditions. Before starting the assays, all air-dried soils were preincubated for 4 weeks at 25 °C and 40% WFPS (water-filled pore space). The nitrification activities of soils were determined by adding (NH₄)₂SO₄ (200 mg N kg⁻¹ soil) and incubating for 3 weeks at 25 °C and 60% WFPS. The net nitrification rates obtained fitted one of two types of models, depending on the soil pH: a zero-order reaction model for acidic soils and one neutral soil (Group 0); or a first-order reaction model for one neutral soil and alkaline soils (Group 1). The results suggest that pH is the most important factor in determining the kinetics of soil nitrification from ammonium. In the Group 1 soils, initial emissions (i.e. during the first week) of N₂O and NO were 82.6 and 83.6%, respectively, of the total emissions during 3 weeks of incubation; in the Group 0 soils, initial emissions of N₂O and NO were 54.7 and 59.9%, respectively, of the total emissions. The net nitrification rate in the first week and second-third weeks were highly correlated with the initial and subsequent emissions (i.e. during the second and third weeks), respectively, of N₂O and NO. The average percentages of emitted (N₂O+NO)-N relative to net nitrification N in initial and subsequent periods were 2.76 and 0.59 for Group 0, and 1.47 and 0.44 for the Group 1, respectively. The initial and subsequent emission ratios of NO/N₂O from Group 0 (acidic) soils were 3.77 and 2.52 times, respectively, higher than those from Group 1 soils (P<0.05).     

Effect of wax-coated calcium carbide and nitrapyrin on nitrogen loss and methane emission from dry-seeded flooded rice

Summary The effectiveness of wax-coated calcium carbide (as a slow-release source of acetylene) and nitrapyrin in inhibiting nitrification and emission of the greenhouse gases N₂O and CH₄ was evaluated in a microplot study with dry-seeded flooded rice grown on a grey clay near Griffith, NSW, Australia. The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of N levels with nitrification inhibitors (control, wax-coated calcium carbide, and nitrapyrin). The rate of nitrification was slowed considerably by the addition of wax-coated calcium carbide, but it was inhibited only slightly by the addition of nitrapyrin. As a result, the emission of N₂O was markedly reduced by the application of wax-coated calcium carbide, whereas there was no significant difference in rates of N₂O emission between the control and nitrapyrin treatments. Both nitrification inhibitors significantly reduced CH₄ emission, but the lowest emission rates were observed in the wax-coated calcium carbide treatment. At the end of the experiment 84% of the applied N was recovered from the wax-coated calcium carbide treatment compared with 43% for the nitrapyrin and control treatments.     

Nitrapyrin decreased nitrification of nitrogen released from soil organic matter but not amoA gene abundance at high soil temperature

Water pulses have a significant impact on nitrogen (N) cycling, making management of N challenging in agricultural soils that are exposed to episodic rainfall. In hot, dry environments, wetting of dry soil during summer fallow causes a rapid flush of organic matter mineralisation and subsequent nitrification, which may lead to N loss via nitrous oxide emission and nitrate leaching. Here we examined the potential for the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin to decrease gross nitrification at elevated temperature in soils with contrasting soil organic matter contents, and the consequent effects on ammonia oxidiser populations. Soil was collected during summer fallow while dry (water content 0.01 g g⁻¹ soil) from a research site with two management treatments (tilled soil and tilled soil with long-term additional crop residues) by three field replicates. The field dry soil (0–10 cm) was wet with or without nitrapyrin, and incubated (20 or 40 °C) at either constant soil water content or allowed to dry (to simulate summer drying after a rainfall event). Gross N transformation rates and inorganic N pools sizes were determined on six occasions during the 14 day incubation. Bacterial and archaeal amoA gene abundance was determined on days 0, 1, 7 and 14. Nitrapyrin increased ammonium retention and decreased gross nitrification rates even with soil drying at 40 °C. Nitrification was likely driven by bacterial ammonia oxidisers, as the archaeal amoA gene was below detection in the surface soil layer. Bacterial ammonia oxidiser gene abundances were not affected by nitrapyrin, despite the decrease in nitrifier activity. Increased soil organic matter from long-term additional crop residues diminished the effectiveness of nitrapyrin. The present study highlights the potential for nitrapyrin to decrease nitrification and the risk of N loss due to mineralisation of soil organic matter under summer fallow conditions.     

Effects of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin and tillage practices on yield-scaled nitrous oxide emission from a maize field in Iran

Nitrification inhibitors can effectively decrease nitrification rates and nitrous oxide(N₂O)emission while increasing crop yield under certain conditions.However,there is no information available on the effects of nitrification inhibitors and tillage practices on N₂O emissions from maize cropping in Iran.To study how tillage practices and nitrapyrin(a nitrification inhibitor)affect N₂O emission,a split factorial experiment using a completely randomized block design with three replications was carried out in Northeast Iran,which has a cold semiarid climate.Two main plots were created with conventional tillage and minimum tillage levels,and two nitrogen(N)fertilizer(urea)management systems(with and without nitrapyrin application)were created as subplots.Tillage level did not have any significant effect on soil ammonium(NH₄⁺)and nitrate(NO₃^-)concentrations,cumulative amount and yield-scaled N₂O emission,and aboveground biomass of maize,whereas nitrapyrin application showed significant effect.Nitrapyrin application significantly reduced the cumulative amount of N₂O emission by 41%and 32%in conventional tillage and minimum tillage practices,respectively.A reduction in soil NO₃^-concentration by nitrapyrin was also observed.The average yield-scaled N₂O emission was 13.6 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake in both tillage systems without nitrapyrin application and was significantly reduced to 7.9 and 8.2 g N₂O-N kg^-1N uptake upon the application of nitrapyrin in minimum tillage and conventional tillage practices,respectively.Additionally,nitrapyrin application increased maize biomass yield by 4%and 13%in the minimum tillage and conventional tillage systems,respectively.Our results indicate that nitrapyrin has a potential role in reducing N₂O emission from agricultural systems where urea fertilizers are broadcasted,which is common in Iran due to the practice of traditional farming.     

农田土壤硝化反硝化作用及其对生物炭添加响应的研究进展

氧化亚氮（N2O）是重要的温室气体之一,还会破坏大气臭氧层,影响全球气候变化。农田土壤是N2O最主要的排放源,由微生物主导的硝化和反硝化作用是其最主要的排放途径,因此,土壤的硝化和反硝化作用备受关注。在综合国内外相关研究的基础上,就区分硝化和反硝化作用对N2O排放贡献的研究方法、土壤N2O产生途径及其影响因素以及施用生物炭对N2O排放的影响机理进行归纳总结。结果表明：硝化和反硝化作用对生物炭的响应不同,在N2O减排效应上也存在很大的不确定性,其内在机理尚不明确。在此基础上,提出区分硝化和反硝化作用对N2O排放贡献的最佳研究方法,并就农田土壤硝化反硝化作用的影响因素以及对生物炭的响应机制进行研究展望。     

Abiotic nitrous oxide production from hydroxylamine in soils and their dependence on soil properties

Despite the fact that microbial nitrification and denitrification are considered the major soil N₂O emission sources, especially from agricultural soils, several abiotic reactions involving the nitrification intermediate hydroxylamine (NH₂OH) have been identified leading to N₂O emissions, but are being neglected in most current studies. Here, we studied N₂O formation from NH₂OH in cropland, grassland, and forest soils in laboratory incubation experiments. Incubations were conducted with and without the addition of NH₂OH to non-sterile and sterile soil samples. N₂O evolution was quantified with gas chromatography and further analyzed with online laser absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, the isotopic signature of the produced N₂O (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and ¹⁵N site preference) was analyzed with isotope ratio mass spectrometry. While the forest soil samples showed hardly any N₂O evolution upon the addition of NH₂OH, immediate and very large formation of N₂O was observed in the cropland soil, also in sterilized samples. Correlation analysis revealed soil parameters that might explain the variability of NH₂OH-induced N₂O production to be: soil pH, C/N ratio, and Mn content. Our results suggest a coupled biotic–abiotic production of N₂O during nitrification, e.g. due to leakage of the nitrification intermediate NH₂OH with subsequent reaction with the soil matrix.     

水分状况对水田土壤N2O排放的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究了不同水分含量下水稻土的Ｎ２Ｏ排放,结果表明,在水分含量相当于田间持水量时,土壤具有最大的Ｎ２Ｏ排放速率,当水分含量在田间持水量之上时,反硝化作用是Ｎ２Ｏ的主要来源。水分含量在田间持水量之下时,尽管硝倾作用强烈,但Ｎ２Ｏ排放量较小。通过温室盆栽试验研究了不同水分管理措施下,水稻土Ｎ２Ｏ和ＣＨ４的排放,同常规水分管理方式相比,长期淹水显著增加ＣＨ４的排放而减少了Ｎ２Ｏ的排放。相反,湿润灌溉的处理在整个水稻生长期内没有明显的ＣＨ４排放,但其Ｎ２Ｏ排放对水分状况敏感,出现数次峰值,从而总排放量远高于其它两处理。     

The N2O product ratio of nitrification and its dependence on long-term changes in soil pH

The contribution of nitrification to the emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soils may be large, but its regulation is not well understood. The soil pH appears to play a central role for controlling N₂O emissions from soil, partly by affecting the N₂O product ratios of both denitrification (N₂O/(N₂+N₂O)) and nitrification (N₂O/(NO₂⁻+NO₃⁻). Mechanisms responsible for apparently high N₂O product ratios of nitrification in acid soils are uncertain. We have investigated the pH regulation of the N₂O product ratio of nitrification in a series of experiments with slurries of soils from long-term liming experiments, spanning a pH range from 4.1 to 7.8. ¹⁵N labelled nitrate (NO₃⁻) was added to assess nitrification rates by pool dilution and to distinguish between N₂O from NO₃⁻ reduction and NH₃ oxidation. Sterilized soil slurries were used to determine the rates of chemodenitrification (i.e. the production of nitric oxide (NO) and N₂O from the chemical decomposition of nitrite (NO₂⁻)) as a function of NO₂⁻ concentrations. Additions of NO₂⁻ to aerobic soil slurries (with ¹⁵N labelled NO₃⁻ added) were used to assess its potential for inducing denitrification at aerobic conditions. For soils with pH?5, we found that the N₂O product ratios for nitrification were low (0.2-0.9‰) and comparable to values found in pure cultures of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. In mineral soils we found only a minor increase in the N₂O product ratio with increasing soil pH, but the effect was so weak that it justifies a constant N₂O product ratio of nitrification for N₂O emission models. For the soils with pH 4.1 and 4.2, the apparent N₂O product ratio of nitrification was 2 orders of magnitude higher than above pH 5 (76‰ and 14‰). This could partly be accounted for by the rates of chemodenitrification of NO₂⁻. We further found convincing evidence for NO₂⁻-induction of aerobic denitrification in acid soils. The study underlines the role of NO₂⁻, both for regulating denitrification and for the apparent nitrifier-derived N₂O emission.