Accumulation of nitrate in fresh soils after gamma irradiation

Abstract

SUMMARYIncreases in nitrate have been found in eight out of ten soils irradiated over the range 0·25–2·5 Mrad, with maximum accumulation between 0·25–0·75 Mrad. Oxidation of ammonium added to normal soils was poor at low pH, and showed a highly significant correlation with nitrate produced after 0·25 Mrad. It is suggested that radiation-released ammonium is less limiting to nitrate formation than the original population or activity of nitrifying organisms, which are favoured by alkaline conditions.