N2O emission from mineral soils – Reviews
Increasing deposition of N-compounds cause environmental problems such as leaching of nitrate or enhanced emission of N<sub>2</sub>O. Most N<sub>2</sub>O is formed from dissimilatory reduction of nitrate in oxygen deficient environment, although it can also be produced from chemolitotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification and assimilatory reduction of nitrate in aerobic conditions. N<sub>2</sub>O production is affected by many physical and biochemical factors, such as: the nature and amount of organic matter available as energy sources to the denitrifiers and heterotrophic nitrifiers, the aeration/moisture status of the soil, the soil nitrate concentration, soil pH, and the soil texture. These factors interact in a complicated manner with microorganisms on a microscale level in the soil, creating the large spatial and temporal variability in denitrification and and influenced on N<sub>2</sub>O/N ratio. The N<sub>2</sub>O emission increased linearly with NO<sub>3</sub><sup>–</sup> reduction and curvilinearly with organic matter content, dehydrogenase activity and pH value and decreased curvilinearly with oxygen content.