Effect of chlorides of cobalt, nickel and copper on nitrification in peat

Abstract

Mineralization of N in ihe presence ofO to 2000 mg kg ' each of Co. Ni and Cu as chlorides in peat was studied. Tliese s;dts of metals did not produce any significant change in tlie proccss of niLrificalion and ammonificalion up to 40 and 50 days respectively. However, lliereafter tlie general trend was forNH^-N to decrease up to 110 days as (NOj+NOj)- N accumulated. Nitrificaiion was increasingly sujipressed as tlie Co, Ni and Cu were increa.<ed, cs[x;cially with the highest level of Cu where NH^-N remained high and (N0j+N0j)-N remained at about the initial level suggesting tliat niliificalion was virtually prevented. Between 110 and 130 days of incubation ammonificalion increased slightly in all Irealjnetits but nitrification showed an unexplained flush at the highest level of applied Cu.