Agricultural activities are a significant source of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), accounting for approximately 60% of global emissions, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies to mitigate N 2 O emissions. Microbes conserve nearly as much energy with nitrate (NO 3 − ) as oxygen (O 2 ) respiration under limited O 2 availability. Thus, microorganisms prioritize NO 3 − , limiting exploration of alternative electron accepto...