This paper describes a very sensitive method for the evaluation of nitrification rates requiring only short incubation times (3–6 h) and applicable to all aquatic media. It is based on the measurement of dark [14C]-bicarbonate incorporation inhibited by N-serve, an inhibitor of nitrification. Although this substance has been shown to have a high specificity towards nitrifying bacteria, it does cause an inhibition of bicarbonate incorporation by sulfate-reducing bacteria at the concentration used to inhibit nitrification. Because of this, physico-chemical conditions must be determined when performing measurements of nitrification rates to ensure that sulfate-reducing bacteria are not active. An illustration of this method is provided by measurements in the Scheldt estuary.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy
