Citation

Wood PM. Soil Use and Management 1990; 6(2): 78-79.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990)

DOI

10.1111/j.1475-2743.1990.tb00807.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Autotrophic nitrifiers such as Nitrosomonas use ammonia mono‐oxygenase for the initial stage of ammonia oxidation. Nitrification inhibitors have this enzyme as their site of action. Their mechanisms include alternative substrates, suicide substrates and cuprous copper chelators. In heterotrophs, organic nitrogen is normally in the fully reduced state, but a few cell metabolites contain N‐O bonds. The synthesis and breakdown of such compounds provides a mechanism for heterotrophic nitrification. A non‐enzymic mechanism for nitrogen‐oxidation involves hydroxyl radicals produced by the Fenton reaction. Heterotrophic nitrification is particularly important in woodland soils, where wood‐rotting fungi use free radicals to break down lignin. Tests for a radical mechanism are described. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Language: en

Keywords

oxidation; ammonia; Nitrosomonas