Denitrification requires anoxic conditions, organic matter, and NO₃^-.

Gleysols are anoxic soils formed in wetlands. Waterlogged wetland soils are generally both anaerobic and high in organic matter. For a given concentration of NO₃^-. Thus, denitrification rates should be higher in Gleysols than similar soils that are aerobic soils (because there will be less organic substrate and less anaerobic habitat).

Notably, even in aerobic soils, denitrification can occur within anaerobic microsites.

references:

• Bedard-Haughn 2010. Prairie Wetland Soils in Prairie Soils and Crops Journal (pdf)
• Schlesinger and Bernhardt 2013 Biogeochemistry 3rd Edition p 205-208

Denitrification requires anoxic conditions, organic matter, and NO₃^-.

Gleysols are anoxic soils formed in wetlands. Waterlogged wetland soils are generally both anaerobic and high in organic matter. For a given concentration of NO₃^-, denitrification rates should be higher in Gleysols than similar soils that are aerobic soils (because there will be less organic substrate and less anaerobic habitat).

Notably, even in aerobic soils, denitrification can occur within anaerobic microsites.

references:

• Bedard-Haughn 2010. Prairie Wetland Soils in Prairie Soils and Crops Journal (pdf)
• Schlesinger and Bernhardt 2013 Biogeochemistry 3rd Edition p 205-208