Denitrification and nitrate reduction to ammonium in Taihu Lake and Yellow Sea inter-tidal marinesediments were studied. The sediment samples were made into slurry containing 150 g dry matter per liter.Various amounts of glucose and 5 mmol L-1 of potassium nitrate were added in order to achieve differentratios of glucose-C to nitrate-N. Acetylene inhibition technique was applied to measure denitrification in theslumes. All samples were incubated anaerobically under argon atmosphere. Data showed that Taihu Lakesediment produced more N2O than marine sediment. Denitrification potential was higher in Taihu Lakesediment than in marne one. Glucose added increased denitrification activity but not the denitrification po-tential of the sediments. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium seemed to occur in marine sediment,but not in freshwater one. When the marine sediment was treated with 25 mmol L-1 glucose, its denitrification poteatial, as indicated by maximum N2O production by acetylene blockage, was lower than that treatedwith no or 2.5 mmol L-l glucose. Acetylene was suspected to have inhibitory effect on dissimilatory nitratereduction to ammonium. Denitrification and nitrate reduction to ammonium in Taihu Lake and Yellow Sea inter-tidal marinesediments were studied. The sediment samples were made into slurry containing 150 g dry matter per liter. Verily amounts of glucose and 5 mmol L-1 of potassium nitrate were added in Order to achieve differentratios of glucose-C to nitrate-N. Acetylene inhibition technique was applied to measure denitrification in theslumes. All samples were incubated anaerobically under argon atmosphere. Data showed that Taihu Lakesediment produced more N2O than marine sediment. Denitrification potential was higher in Taihu Lakesediment than in marne one. Glucose added increased denitrification activity but not the denitrification po-tential of the sediments. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium seemed to occur in marine sediment, but not in freshwater one. When the marine sediment was treated with 25 mmol L-1 glucose, its denitrification poteatial, as indicated by maximum N2O production by acetylene blockage, was lower than that treated with no or 2.5 mmol L-1 glucose. Acetylene was suspected to have inhibitory effect on dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium.