Biotic processes drive rapid cyanate turnover and dominate cyanate consumption in soils, according to an extensive soil survey and stable isotope tracer experiments

Jones, Stephen H.

Mooshammer, Maria

Richter, Andreas

Wagner, Michael

Wanek, Wolfgang

English

Maria Mooshammer

Wolfgang Wanek

Stephen H. Jones

Andreas Richter

Michael Wagner

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Cyanate is a low abundance but actively cycled nitrogen compound in soil

Cyanate can serve as a nitrogen and/or carbon source for different microorganisms and as an energy source for autotrophic ammonia oxidizers. However, the extent of cyanate availability and utilisation in terrestrial ecosystems and its role in biogeochemical cycles is poorly known. Here we analyse cyanate concentrations in soils across a range of soil types, land management practices and climates. Soil cyanate concentrations were three orders of magnitude lower than ammonium or nitrate. We determined cyanate consumption in a grassland and rice paddy soil using stable isotope tracer experiments. We find that cyanate turnover was rapid and dominated by biotic processes. We estimated that in-situ cyanate production rates were similar to those associated with urea fertilizer decomposition, a major source of cyanate in the environment. We provide evidence that cyanate is actively turned over in soils and represents a small but continuous nitrogen/energy source for soil microbes.<br/

https://vbn.aau.dk/files/472006297/s43247_021_00235_2.pdf

Cyanate is a low abundance but actively cycled nitrogen compound in soil

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