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Potassium modulating aquatic microbial processes: dynamics of nitrogen cycling and nitrous oxide.

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Title: Potassium modulating aquatic microbial processes: dynamics of nitrogen cycling and nitrous oxide.
Authors: Ayaz, Muhammad1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Oon, Yoong-Ling1 (AUTHOR), Oon, Yoong-Sin1 (AUTHOR), Deng, Min1 (AUTHOR), Li, Lu1,3,4,5 (AUTHOR), Song, Kang1,3 (AUTHOR) sk@ihb.ac.cn
Source: Environmental Reviews. 12/16/2025, Vol. 33, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Potassium, *Nitrogen cycle, *Aquatic ecology, *Nitrous oxide, *Microbiology, *Greenhouse gases, *Denitrification, *Nitrification
Abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from aquatic ecosystems, governed by microbial nitrogen cycling, significantly contribute to greenhouse gases (GHGs). Although the role of nitrogen and carbon in this process are well-documented, the influence of potassium has remained under-reviewed despite its ecological abundance and physiological importance. This review synthesizes the central yet complex role of potassium in regulating aquatic N2O fluxes. Potassium acts through two key mechanisms: serving as an essential cofactor for enzymes such as nitrate reductase and nitrous oxide reductase, and modulating the expression of denitrification genes (e.g., nirS, nirK, and nosZ). This dual regulatory role allows potassium to influence the efficiency of nitrification and denitrification pathways, often determining the critical N2O:N2 product ratio. We emphasize the paradoxical nature of potassium: it can stimulate N2O production under high nitrate conditions, notably by enhancing l-arginine metabolism which facilitates the synthesis of nitric oxide via nitric oxide synthases, while also promoting the reduction of N2O by enzymatic processes to N2 under optimal availability. The net effect depends on environmental co-factors like pH, temperature, and oxygen levels. Given increasing anthropogenic inputs from agricultural runoff, potassium must be integrated as a key predictive variable in nitrogen cycle models. This review offers a comprehensive mechanistic perspective of potassium's role in microbial nitrogen cycling and its implications for GHG emissions, positioning it as a novel tool in the nexus of achieving climate and water quality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: GreenFILE
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Abstract:Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from aquatic ecosystems, governed by microbial nitrogen cycling, significantly contribute to greenhouse gases (GHGs). Although the role of nitrogen and carbon in this process are well-documented, the influence of potassium has remained under-reviewed despite its ecological abundance and physiological importance. This review synthesizes the central yet complex role of potassium in regulating aquatic N2O fluxes. Potassium acts through two key mechanisms: serving as an essential cofactor for enzymes such as nitrate reductase and nitrous oxide reductase, and modulating the expression of denitrification genes (e.g., nirS, nirK, and nosZ). This dual regulatory role allows potassium to influence the efficiency of nitrification and denitrification pathways, often determining the critical N2O:N2 product ratio. We emphasize the paradoxical nature of potassium: it can stimulate N2O production under high nitrate conditions, notably by enhancing l-arginine metabolism which facilitates the synthesis of nitric oxide via nitric oxide synthases, while also promoting the reduction of N2O by enzymatic processes to N2 under optimal availability. The net effect depends on environmental co-factors like pH, temperature, and oxygen levels. Given increasing anthropogenic inputs from agricultural runoff, potassium must be integrated as a key predictive variable in nitrogen cycle models. This review offers a comprehensive mechanistic perspective of potassium's role in microbial nitrogen cycling and its implications for GHG emissions, positioning it as a novel tool in the nexus of achieving climate and water quality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:11818700
DOI:10.1139/er-2025-0148