Denitrification from nitrogen-fixing biologically crusted soils in a cool desert environment, southeast Utah, USA

Ecological Processes

Table 2 Estimates of N gas loss from biocrusts

Nitrogen fixation and gas loss from biocrusts	Light crust*	Dark crust*
	Early successional†	Later successional†
	μg N m^-2day^-1	μg N m^-2day^-1
*Denitrification*
This study*	48	418
(Colorado Plateau)	48	418
Johnson et al. 2007*	5	7
(Colorado Plateau)	5	7
Strauss et al. 2012*	672	Not reported
(Colorado Plateau)	672	Not reported
Brankatschk et al. 2013†	3,360	6,720
(Germany inland dune)	3,360	6,720
*Nitric oxide*
Barger et al. 2005*	229	335
(Colorado Plateau)	229	335
*Ammonia volatilization*
Evans and Johansen 1999	Not reported	15
Barger 2003*	302	173
(Colorado Plateau)

Values were converted to mean N loss in μg N m^-2 day^-1. A * indicates that the light and dark biocrust characterization was used to characterize biocrust type, whereas a † indicates an early and late successional biocrust.