Soil microbial diversity, community structure and
denitrification in a temperate riparian zone Authors: Martin
T.L.; Trevors J.T.; Kaushik N.K. Source: Biodiversity and
Conservation, Volume 8, Number 8, August 1999 , pp.
1057-1078(22) Nitrate (NO_3^−) removal in riparian zones
bordering agricultural areas occurs via plant uptake, microbial
immobilisation and bacterial denitrification. Denitrification is
a desirable mechanism for removal because the bacterial
conversion of NO_3^− to N gases permanently removes NO_3^− from
the watershed. A field and laboratory study was conducted in
riparian soils adjacent to Carroll Creek, Ontario, Canada, to
assess the spatial distribution of denitrification relative to
microbial community structure and microbial functional
diversity. Soil samples were collected in March, June, and
August 1997 at varying soil depths and distances from the
stream. Denitrification measurements made using the acetylene
block technique on intact soil cores were highly variable and
did not show an