“Nitrous oxide is the world’s third largest greenhouse gas which, in high concentrations, can negatively affect both plant and animal health. It is released into the atmosphere by a process known as the Nitrogen Cycle. This is a natural process where nitrogen is reduced with hydrogen to yield ammonia, a form of nitrogen commonly used by most living species to synthesize proteins, nucleic acids and other nitrogen containing compounds. The residual nitrogen is then converted into nitrous oxide mostly by bacteria found in both soil and plant roots. This presentation is based on a preliminary study for larger research concerning the ratio of nitrogen ions and nitrous oxide in the marsh ecosystem of the Meadowlands region. Sediment from eight various sites have been sampled twice in a two week period and analyzed for anions, mainly nitrate and nitrite. Two sites with the highest total nitrate + nitrite concentration, one landfill and one naturally occurring wetland, will be selected and sampled repeatedly next year for both nitrous oxide concentrations and soil. The data will be analyzed to explore 1) the impact of varying levels of nitrate concentrations in soil and their relationship to nitrous oxide, 2) how this relationship differs between a landfill site and a man-made wetland, and 3) the seasonal impact on nitrous oxide admission.”
