TY - JOUR

T1 - Nitrate reduction pathways and interactions with iron in the drainage water infiltration zone of a riparian wetland soil

AU - Petersen, Rasmus Jes

AU - Liang, Zhi

AU - Prinds, Christian

AU - Jéglot, Arnaud

AU - Thamdrup, Bo

AU - Kjærgaard, Charlotte

AU - Elsgaard, Lars

PY - 2020/9

Y1 - 2020/9

N2 - Eutrophication of natural water bodies is moderated by transformation of nitrate (NO 3 −) in riparian wetlands, which serve as filters of infiltrating drain water from upland agricultural areas. The present study comprised field observations, laboratory experiments and metagenomic studies to describe NO 3 − removing transformation pathways and interactions with the cycling of iron (Fe) in a temperate riparian wetland soil profile down to 1 m depth. Water samples from piezometers showed a distinct plume of NO 3 − in the subsurface soil where agricultural drain water was infiltrating. However, within a distance of few meters in the water flow direction, NO 3 − was depleted from the percolating water. Sampling and analyses of soil from the active zone of the biogeochemical NO 3 − removal showed that denitrifying enzyme activity was ~ tenfold higher in the upper 0–25 cm than in the lower 25–100 cm. Yet, net transformation of NO 3 − was substantial also at 25–100 cm when assayed with relatively undisturbed soil samples and by 15N tracer techniques in soil slurries. Transformation pathways of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and anaerobic ammonium oxidation were identified, but were quantitatively minor as compared to denitrification. Heterotrophic denitrification and denitrification mediated by oxidation of ferrous iron, Fe(II), were identified as important processes in the wetland soil. The latter was substantiated by geochemical observations, by rates of NO 3 − depletion in slurry incubations with added FeCl 2, and by identification of microorganisms with known capacity of NO 3 − reduction coupled to Fe(II) oxidation (Acidovorax sp.). The transformation pathway of iron-mediated NO 3 − reduction could involve biotic and abiotic reactions, and N 2O, which is a potent greenhouse gas, was a major product of the process. It remains to be seen under field conditions if N 2O emission hotspots are linked to specific sites of dynamic NO 3 − reduction coupled to Fe(II) oxidation.

AB - Eutrophication of natural water bodies is moderated by transformation of nitrate (NO 3 −) in riparian wetlands, which serve as filters of infiltrating drain water from upland agricultural areas. The present study comprised field observations, laboratory experiments and metagenomic studies to describe NO 3 − removing transformation pathways and interactions with the cycling of iron (Fe) in a temperate riparian wetland soil profile down to 1 m depth. Water samples from piezometers showed a distinct plume of NO 3 − in the subsurface soil where agricultural drain water was infiltrating. However, within a distance of few meters in the water flow direction, NO 3 − was depleted from the percolating water. Sampling and analyses of soil from the active zone of the biogeochemical NO 3 − removal showed that denitrifying enzyme activity was ~ tenfold higher in the upper 0–25 cm than in the lower 25–100 cm. Yet, net transformation of NO 3 − was substantial also at 25–100 cm when assayed with relatively undisturbed soil samples and by 15N tracer techniques in soil slurries. Transformation pathways of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and anaerobic ammonium oxidation were identified, but were quantitatively minor as compared to denitrification. Heterotrophic denitrification and denitrification mediated by oxidation of ferrous iron, Fe(II), were identified as important processes in the wetland soil. The latter was substantiated by geochemical observations, by rates of NO 3 − depletion in slurry incubations with added FeCl 2, and by identification of microorganisms with known capacity of NO 3 − reduction coupled to Fe(II) oxidation (Acidovorax sp.). The transformation pathway of iron-mediated NO 3 − reduction could involve biotic and abiotic reactions, and N 2O, which is a potent greenhouse gas, was a major product of the process. It remains to be seen under field conditions if N 2O emission hotspots are linked to specific sites of dynamic NO 3 − reduction coupled to Fe(II) oxidation.

KW - Denitrification

KW - Iron

KW - Microorganisms

KW - Nitrate

KW - Subsurface

KW - Wetland

U2 - 10.1007/s10533-020-00695-2

DO - 10.1007/s10533-020-00695-2

M3 - Journal article

VL - 150

SP - 235

EP - 255

JO - Biogeochemistry

JF - Biogeochemistry

SN - 0168-2563

ER -