Influence of lime and soil infusion treatments on nitrification of native and added ammonium nitrogen in peat

Abstract

Nitrification under acid conditions in peat was studied. Application of lime increased nitrification in commercial peat. Release of mineral nitrogen increased rapidly with pH. A significant amount of NH4-N was released up to 40 days of incubation followed by a rapid decline with the accumulation of (N0 2 +N03>-N with time. In contrast, liming had little or no effect on nitrrfic&tion in Red Moss peat. Only after a long lag period of 24 days, a sudden flush in NO2 + N O 3-N (0.5— 1.6 to 28.5—35.0 [ig g-') occurred in all the treatments. Soil infusion showed no significant additive effect on nitrogen release. Results provide evidence that nitrification can proceed at low pH (3.4 to 4.0) where an acid-adapted strain may be active.