Nitrifier denitrification dominates nitrous oxide production in composting and can be inhibited by a bioelectrochemical nitrification inhibitor

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Cao, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Misselbrook, T. H., Bai, Z. and Ma, L. 2021. Nitrifier denitrification dominates nitrous oxide production in composting and can be inhibited by a bioelectrochemical nitrification inhibitor. Bioresource Technology. 341, p. 125851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125851

AuthorsCao, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Misselbrook, T. H., Bai, Z. and Ma, L.
Abstract

Targeted options to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from composting is scarce due to challenges in disentangling the complex N2O production pathways. Here, combined approaches of nitrogen form analysis, isotopocule mapping, quantitative PCR, and Illumina MiSeq sequencing were used to differentiate N2O production pathways and decipher the underlying biochemical mechanisms. Results suggested that most N2O was produced at the latter stage through nitrifier denitrification. The bioelectrochemical assistance through applying an electric potential reduced N2O emissions by 28.5–75.5%, and the underlying mitigation mechanism was ammonia oxidation repression, as evidenced by the observed reduction in the proportion of the amoA containing family Nitrosomonadaceae from 99% to 83% at the lower voltage and to a negligible level at the higher voltage assessed, which was attributed to their depressed competitiveness for oxygen with heterotrophs. The findings provide evidence that the bioelectrochemical assistance could function as a nitrification inhibitor to minimize compost derived N2O emissions.

KeywordsComposting; Bioelectrochemical assistance; Nitrifier denitrification; Nitrification inhibitor; N2O mitigation
Year of Publication2021
JournalBioresource Technology
Journal citation341, p. 125851
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125851
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderBBSRC Newton funding
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeUK - China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy (CINAG)
S2N - Soil to Nutrition - Work package 2 (WP2) - Adaptive management systems for improved efficiency and nutritional quality
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online28 Aug 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted24 Aug 2021
PublisherElsevier Sci Ltd
ISSN0960-8524

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