METHODS FOR MEASURING DENITRIFICATION: DIVERSE APPROACHES TO A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

作者：Peter M. Groffman, Mark A. Altabet, J. K. Böhlke, Klaus Butterbach‐Bahl, Mark B. David, Mary K. Firestone, Anne E. Giblin, Todd M. Kana, Lars Peter Nielsen, Mary A. Voytek · 发表于：Ecological Applications · 年份：2006 · DOI：10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[2091:mfmdda]2.0.co;2 · 被引用次数：957 · 研究领域：Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics、Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry、Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal

Denitrification, the reduction of the nitrogen (N) oxides, nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-), to the gases nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and dinitrogen (N2), is important to primary production, water quality, and the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere at ecosystem, landscape, regional, and global scales. Unfortunately, this process is very difficult to measure, and existing methods are problematic for different reasons in different places at different times. In this paper, we review the major approaches that have been taken to measure denitrification in terrestrial and aquatic environments and discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and future prospects for the different methods. Methodological approaches covered include (1) acetylene-based methods, (2) 15N tracers, (3) direct N2 quantification, (4) N2:Ar ratio quantification, (5) mass balance approaches, (6) stoichiometric approaches, (7) methods based on stable isotopes, (8) in situ gradients with atmospheric environmental tracers, and (9) molecular approaches. Our review makes it clear that the prospects for improved quantification of denitrification vary greatly in different environments and at different scales. While current methodology allows for the production of accurate estimates of denitrification at scales relevant to water and air quality and ecosystem fertility questions in some systems (e.g., aquatic sediments, well-defined aquifers), methodology for other systems, especially upland terrestrial areas, ...