Topic
Nitrogen cycle research, explained
6 open-access nitrogen cycle studies, each with a flashcard deck and a quiz.
- Soil HONO flux depends on an equilibrium concentration
Soil–air nitrous acid exchange is set by an equilibrium gas-phase concentration over soil ([HONO]*) versus ambient HONO, so soils can emit or take up HONO as they dry.
- Intermittent aeration and anammox nitrogen
Switching oxygen on and off kept anammox working while wiping out nitrite-oxidizing bacteria.
- Vanadium nitrogenase fuels forest moss N fixation
Vanadium nitrogenase was active in most valid moss and lichen samples across three continents, averaging about 40% of moss N2 fixation.
- NH4NO3 N-addition overstates steppe microbe effects
In Inner Mongolian steppe, acidic NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4 shifted soil bacteria and carbon-gene profiles more than urea or NH4HCO3, so NH4NO3-only experiments can overestimate real N-deposition effects.
- Nitrogen deposition is slowing forest respiration
At Loobos, TER fell while GPP rose over 26 years; acid soils (pH 2.9) and N deposition appear to throttle decomposition.
- ‘Black’ nitrogen can form without fire
Twelve-year outdoor oxidation of pine around iron nails produced condensed aromatic nitrogen like ‘black N’, implying non-fire ConAN fluxes (≈3–63 Tg yr−1) comparable to pyrogenic estimates.