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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle01:26

Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...
2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO201:20

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview01:26

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview

Nitrous acid and nitric acids are two types of acids containing nitrogen, among which nitrous acid is weaker than nitric acid. Nitrous acid with a pKa value of 3.37 ionizes in water to give a nitrite ion and the hydronium ion.
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by water loss...

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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
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Nitrate production and availability in residential soils.

Steve M Raciti1, Peter M Groffman, Jennifer C Jenkins

  • 1Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. raciti@bu.edu

Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America
|November 12, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Residential land use increases nitrogen, impacting water quality. However, nitrate levels in lawns are lower than expected, with housing density and past agriculture being key factors for potential pollution.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Soil Science
  • Water Quality Research

Background:

  • Residential land expansion raises concerns about nitrogen fertilizer pollution.
  • Nitrate (NO3-) is a key pollutant, necessitating understanding of its cycling in urban soils.
  • Limited research exists on how land use history, housing density, and soil age affect nitrate pools and fluxes at depth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of residential land use on soil nitrogen pools and nitrification.
  • To compare nitrogen dynamics in residential lawns versus forested reference sites.
  • To identify factors influencing nitrate availability and potential for leaching and runoff in residential soils.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 1m deep soil cores from 32 residential lawns and 8 forested sites.
  • Measured potential net nitrification, mineralization, microbial respiration, biomass, and soil nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) pools.
  • Compared residential soils with varying land use history and age to forested controls.

Main Results:

  • Residential land use increased reactive nitrogen pools and production compared to forests.
  • Net nitrification and exchangeable nitrate were significantly higher in residential soils but still low overall.
  • Neither homeowner management practices nor soil age predicted nitrate availability; higher housing density and prior agricultural use did.

Conclusions:

  • Residential land conversion alters nitrogen cycling, with implications for water quality.
  • Nitrate availability in residential soils is lower than often assumed, comparable to some forest soils.
  • Housing density and agricultural history are key indicators of nitrate availability and potential water pollution risk in residential landscapes.