RESUMEN
The nitrous oxide fluxes and ammonia-oxidizing bacterium in two typical constructed wetlands, i.e. subsurface flow (SF) and free water surface (FWS) were studied by the method of static chamber-gas chromatography. The results showed that the mean N2O fluxes were 296.5 microg x (m2 x h)(-1) and 28.2 microg x (m2 x h)(-1) respectively, and two typical wetlands were all the sources of atmosphere nitrous oxide as a whole. SF wetland exhibited a higher risk of N2O emissions, and the mean N2O flux in this system was higher than the values reported in the literature for ecosystems, e.g. farmland, forest, grassland and marsh. The nitrous oxide fluxes in test wetlands presented obvious seasonal and diurnal variation, and the highest N2O emission flux was in July. The highest flux was (762.9 +/- 239.3) microg x (m2 x h)(-1) and (91.9 +/- 20.3) microg x (m2 x h)(-1) in SF and FWS wetlands, respectively. The peak flux mostly occurred around midday, whereas the minimum flux likely occurred in the early morning. The results indicated that the growth of Phragmites australis and temperature were the key factors controlling the variation of N2O fluxes. The average N2O emission from the microsites above the inflow zones was higher than that above the outflow microsites. High influent strength promoted nitrification and denitrification, and high fluxes were obtained. The clone results showed that Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira were the main ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms contributing to N2O production in constructed wetlands.