We examine how converting forests to oil palm alters N cycling in tropical soil.
Mineralisation is conserved, nitrification decreases and immobilisation increases.
These changes disrupt the N cycle balance and the pathway to N<sub>2sub> production.
Denitrification-N<sub>2sub> production is reduced but partially recovers with time.
N<sub>2sub>O production remains unchanged potentially resulting in high N<sub>2sub>O:N<sub>2sub> emission.