Acetylene reduction (dinitrogen fixation) and nitrification in soil as affected by the structural aggregate size.
The effect of size of structural aggregates on the intensity of nitrification and nitrogenase (nitrogen: acetylene oxidoreductase) activity was investigated in three soils. In two of them the nitrogenase activity was limited by addition of glucose. Aggregates of a larger diameter (2-4 mm) exhibited a considerably higher nitrogenase activity than those with a diameter smaller than 2 mm. This effect was even more pronounced when the soil samples were repeatedly intensively aerated. On the contrary, smaller aggregates (0.5-2 mm) exhibited more intensive nitrification.
D000114:Acetylene / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D009566:Nitrates; D012987:Soil; D009591:Nitrogenase; D000114:Acetylene