Theory 107/Soil Science
Nitrous Oxide Is an Anaerobic Share
The claim
Nitrous oxide flux is set by the ratio of anaerobic to total soil volume rather than by nitrogen application.
01The mechanism
Denitrification requires anaerobic microsites; the share of the soil that is anaerobic sets how much applied nitrogen is converted.
02Predictions
- P1Flux should track the anaerobic share.
- P2Nitrogen application alone should mispredict.
03Refutation
Flux tracking application would remove the aeration term.