Emission of NO2 Gas Causing Damage to Plants in an Acid Soil under Conditions Favorable for Denitrification

Nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) gas damage on vegetable crops commonly occurs in plastic film houses where relatively large amounts of $NO_3{^-}$ are applied in acid soils. In acid soils, $HNO_2$ can be formed from the $NO_2{^-}$ accumulated during denitrification, and $NO_2$ can be evolved from the chemical self-decomposition of $HNO_2$. In this study, $NO_2$ gas production and its detrimental effects on plants were investigated in soils of various conditions to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the gas production. A silty loam soil was amended with $NO_3{^-}$ (500 mg N $kg^{-1}$) and glucose, and pH and moisture of the soil were adjusted respectively to 5.0 and 34.6% water holding capacity (WHC) with 0.01 M phosphate buffer. The soil was placed in a 0.5-L glass jar with strawberry leaf or $NO_2$ gas absorption badge in air space of the jar, and the jar was incubated at $30^{\circ}C$. After 4-5 days of incubation, dark burning was observed along the outside edge of strawberry leaf and $NO_2$ production was confirmed in the air space of jar. However, when the soil was sterilized, $NO_2$ emission was minimal and any visible damage was not found in strawberry leaf. In the soil where water or $NO_3{^-}$ content was reduced to 17.3% WHC or 250 mg N $kg^{-1}$, $NO_2$ production was greatly reduced and toxicity symptom was not found in strawberry leaf. Also in the soil where glucose was not amended, $NO_2$ production was significantly reduced. In soil with pH of 6.5, $NO_2$ was evolved to the level causing damage to strawberry leaf when the soil conditions were favorable for denitrification. However, compared to the soil of pH 5.0, the $NO_2$ production and its damage to plants were much less serious in pH 6.5. Therefore, the production of $NO_2$ damaging plants might be occurred in acid soils when the conditions are favorable for denitrification.