Effect of long storage and soil type on the actual denitrification and denitrification capacity to N2O formation

The actual denitrification to N 2 O and denitri- fication capacity to N 2 O after flooding of different soil samples stored for over 25 years in air-dry conditions and fresh, air dried samples were compared in our study. Zero N 2 O release was ob- served from the stored soils but the fresh soil samples had very low actual denitrification to N 2 O. NO 3 - addition significantly increased the amount of N 2 O (denitrification capacity to N 2 O) released after flooding, which depended on the length of storage and type of soils and was much higher in stored soils. Prolonged exposure of the soils to drought conditions caused a greater decrease in the Eh value compared with the fresh soil. The total cumulative release of N 2 O from the stored and fresh soils was correlated with the reduced NO 3 - and organic C content in soils enriched with NO 3 - . Some soils showed the capability of N 2 O consumption. CO 2 release depended on the length of storage and type of soils under flooding after pro- longed drought. On average, CO 2 release was higher from the stored rather than fresh soils. The organic C content in the stored soils was generally lower than in the fresh soils, probably due to the storage effect. The cumulative CO 2 release from the stored soils was well correlated with the organic C while no correlation was observed for the fresh soil samples.