more dependent on nitrate availability. Similar
observations have been made by Davidsson and
Leonardson (1996) using peaty and sandy soil
in which NO−
3 has been shown to be a stronger
regulator of denitrification than organic carbon.
Potential denitrification rates decreased with
depth and were 15–38 times higher (within
0–10 cm core) than in situ denitrification activity
when both nitrate and organic carbon were
in excess. Highest activity of up to 304.09
(±47.6) μmol N2O-N m−2 h−1 (Fig. 7) was
recorded at 2–4 cm. At 8–10 cm, the activity decreased
to 81.25 (±22.58) μmol N2O-N m−2 h−1.
Flemer et al. (1998) have reported relatively
high potential denitrification rates in estuarine