Wet Soil Redox Chemistry as Affected by Organic Matter and Nitrate

Duane T. Gardiner, Stephanie James

Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, USA..

DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2012.14017                

Abstract

Wet soil microcosms were established to determine effects of organic matter and nitrate additions on microbial respiration and redox potentials. Organic matter (1%) and nitrate (100 ppm and 200 ppm) treatments were applied in factorial combination. Soil pH, redox potential, and CO₂ emissions were measured. Data were analyzed by ANOVA for repeated measures and separately by sampling day. Addition of organic matter significantly (P < 0.05) and consistently increased CO₂ emissions and decreased redox potentials. On Day 42 nitrate significantly (P < 0.05) increased redox values. This study indicates a tendency for organic matter to decrease soil redox potential both in absolute terms and relative to the suboxic-anoxic boundary. Our findings portend that additions of organic matter may quickly and markedly decrease soil redox potentials and increase CO₂ emissions in wetlands, whereas additions of nitrate may have complex and sporadic effects on redox potentials.

Keywords

Oxidation; Reduction; Wetlands; Carbon Dioxide Emission

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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