The N2O Years

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The Bremner Factor for Elucidation of Nitrous
Oxide Evolution from Soils
Gary Breitenbeck1 and Greg McCarty2 1School of
Plant, Environmental Soil Sciences Louisiana
State University 2USDA Hydrology Remote Sensing
Laboratory Beltsville MD
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The N2O Years
1977-1987
77 refereed articles and chapters
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Alfred Blackmer (1943-2006) A special synergy
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Sources of nitrous oxide in soils John M.
Bremner Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
497-16, 1997
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There is concern that nitrogen fertilization of
soils may pose a threat to the stratospheric
ozone layer and adversely affect our climate by
increasing emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from
soils to the atmosphere through anaerobic
reduction of nitrate by denitrifying
microorganisms. . .
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Measuring ambient N2O
Blackmer, A. M. and Bremner, J. M. Gas
chromatographic analysis of soil atmospheres.
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 41908-912 (1977).
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Measuring N2O Flux
Matthias, A. D. Blackmer, A. M., and Bremner, J.
M. A simple chamber technique for field
measurement of emissions of nitrous oxide from
soils. J. Environ. Qual. 9251-256 (1980).
H P Mobile Geochemistry, Inc
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Timing the N2O Flux
10 AM, all growing season
Matthias, A. D., Blackmer, A. M. and Bremner, J.
M. Diurnal variability in the concentration of
nitrous oxide in surface air. Geophys. Res. Lett.
6441-443 (1979)   Bremner, J. M., Robbins, S. G.
and Blackmer, A. M. Seasonal variability in
emission of nitrous oxide from soil. Geophys.
Res. Lett. 7641-644 (1980).
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Nitrification vs. Denitrification
Bremner, J. M and Blackmer, A. M. Nitrous oxide
Emission from soils during nitrification of
fertilizer nitrogen. Science 199295-296
(1978). Blackmer A M, Bremner J M Schmidt E L
(1980) Production of nitrous oxide by
ammonia-oxidizing chemoautotrophic microorganisms
in soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 40 10601066
Most N2O evolved from fertilized soils appeared
to evolve during nitrification
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Field studies
Breitenbeck, G. A., Blackmer, A. M. and Bremner,
J. M. Effects of different nitrogen fertilizers
on emission of nitrous oxide from soil. Geophys.
Res. Lett. 785-88 (1980). Breitenbeck, G. A.
and Bremner, J. M. Effects of rate and depth of
fertilizer application on emission of nitrous
oxide from soil fertilized with anhydrous
ammonia. Biol. Fert. Soils 2201-204 (1986).
Substantially greater emissions from ammonia
fertilizers than from nitrate
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Field studies
Bremner, J. M., Breitenbeck, G. A. and Blackmer,
A. M. Effect of anhydrous ammonia fertilization
on emission of nitrous oxide from soils. J.
Environ. Qual. 1077-80 (1981). Bremner, J. M.,
Breitenbeck, G. A. and Blackmer, A. M. Effect of
nitrapyrin on emission of nitrous oxide from soil
fertilized with anhydrous ammonia. Geophys. Res.
Lett. 8353-356 (1981).
Anhydrous NH3 produced substantially greater
emissions than other N fertilizers Addition of
nitrapyrin substantially reduced emissions
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Lab Studies
Bremner, J. M., Blackmer, A. M. and Waring, S. A.
Formation of nitrous oxide and dinitrogen by
chemical decomposition of hydroxylamine in soils.
Soil Biol. Biochem. 12263-269 (1980).
Abiotic/biotic production of N2O
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Lab Studies
Blackmer, A. M. and Bremner, J. M. Inhibitory
effect of nitrate on reduction of N2O to N2 by
soil microorganisms. Soil Biol. Biochem.
10187-191 (1978). Gaskell J F, Blackmer A M
Bremner J M (1981) Comparison off effects of
nitrate, nitrite, and nitric oxide on reduction
of nitrous oxide to dinitrogen by soil
microorganisms. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 45
11241127
Low nitrate delays High nitrate strongly inhibits
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N2O Reviews
Bremner, J. M. Effects of soil processes on the
atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide. In,
Nitrogen in the Environment (D. R. Nielsen and J.
G. McDonald, eds.), Vol. 1, pp. 477-491. Academic
Press, New York (1978). Bremner, J. M. Effects
of soil processes on the atmospheric
concentration of nitrous oxide. In, Nitrogen in
the Environment (D. R. Nielsen and J. G.
McDonald, eds.), Vol. 1, pp. 477-491. Academic
Press, New York (1978). Bremner, J. M. and
Blackmer, A. M. Natural and fertilizer-induced
emissions of nitrous oxide from soils. In,
Biogenic Emissions of Sulfur, Hydrocarbons, and
Nitrogen Gases into the Atmosphere pp. 1-12. APCA
Special Publication. Air Pollution Control
Association, Pittsburgh (1980). Bremner, J. M.
and Blackmer, A. M. Terrestrial nitrification as
a source of atmospheric nitrous oxide. In,
Denitrification, Nitrification, and Atmospheric
Nitrous Oxide (C. C. Delwiche, ed.). pp. 151-170.
John Wiley Sons, Inc., New York (1981).
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Current Trend in N2O Emissions
Nitrous oxide concentration measured at Baring
Head, New Zealand Source http//www.niwa.cri.nz/e
du/students/change
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Mentor
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Acclaim as a scientist of the 1st tier
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