Some Observations on the Nature of Non-Biological Nitrification in Tropics

Influence of solar heat of tropics on the oxidation of ammonium sulphate in sterilized distilled water and sand is reported. About 2 to 90 per cent of the ammoniacal nitrogen introduced was oxidized to nitrate. The nitrification was accompanied by high nitrogen losses varying from 34 to 68 per cent which may be as nitrous or nitric oxide. Temperature of cultures, length of exposure to sunlight, season, and initial nitrogen content influence the nonbiological nitrification and catalytic oxidation of ammonium sulphate.