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Non-biological Reduction of Nitrite in Soil
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  • Published: 14 February 1970

Non-biological Reduction of Nitrite in Soil

  • L. A. BULLA JUN.1 nAff2,
  • C. M. GILMOUR1 nAff3 &
  • W. B. BOLLEN1 

Nature volume 225, page 664 (1970)Cite this article

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  • 20 Citations

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Abstract

CHEMICAL decomposition of nitrite in soil1–7 resembles microbial denitrification by producing gaseous end-products, N2 and N2O (refs. 8–11). NO and N2 are formed in sterile soil over a wide pH range12, and N2 is also formed in sterile aqueous solutions containing nitrite and iron13,14. We show here that NO, N2 and N2O are products of non-biological nitrite decomposition in soil.

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Author information

Author notes
  1. L. A. BULLA JUN.

    Present address: Northern Regional Research Laboratory, USDA, Peoria, Illinois, 61604

  2. C. M. GILMOUR

    Present address: Center for Environmental Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

    L. A. BULLA JUN., C. M. GILMOUR & W. B. BOLLEN

Authors
  1. L. A. BULLA JUN.
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  2. C. M. GILMOUR
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  3. W. B. BOLLEN
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Cite this article

BULLA, L., GILMOUR, C. & BOLLEN, W. Non-biological Reduction of Nitrite in Soil. Nature 225, 664 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/225664a0

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  • Received: 22 September 1969

  • Revised: 01 January 1970

  • Issue date: 14 February 1970

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/225664a0

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