Abstract:[Background] The activity of Nitrosomonas was significantly influenced by NH3-N concentration, but the inhibition kinetics of NH3-N concentration of the adhesive Nitrosomonas were still unknown. [Objective] The influence of NH3-N concentration on 3 strains of adhesive Nitrosomonas (Nitrosomonas eutropha CZ-4, Nitrosomonas halophila C-19 and Nitrosomonas europaea SH-3). [Methods] Three strains of Nitrosomonas (N. eutropha CZ-4, N. halophila C-19 and N. europaea SH-3) were cultured under different initial NH3-N concentrations (ranged from 25-1 000 NH3-N mg/L) with calcium carbonate as the adsorption matrix. The accumulation rate of NO2--N and the specific growth rate were measured, the inhibition kinetic equations of ammonia oxidation were also established by Edwares2 model. [Results] The accumulation of NO2--N of N. halophila C-19 was fastest when the initial NH3-N concentration was 50-100 mg/L, while the NO2--N accumulation rate was maximum when the initial NH3-N concentration was 50-200 mg/L for N. europaea SH-3 and 50-400 mg/L for N. eutropha CZ-4, respectively. The maximum specific growth rate of N. eutropha CZ-4 occurred at the initial NH3-N concentration of 50-400 mg/L, which was much higher than N. halophila C-19 (25-100 mg/L). There was no significant difference in growth rates for N. europaea SH-3 when the initial NH3-N concentration ranged from 50 mg/L to 800 mg/L. The KI of N. europaea SH-3 (922.76 mg/L) was significantly higher than N. eutropha CZ-4 (597.88 mg/L), and also the KI of N. eutropha CZ-4 was significantly higher than N. halophila C-19 (186.24 mg/L). Moreover, the Km (72.06 mg/L) of N. europaea SH-3 was significantly higher than N. halophila C-19 (23.23 mg/L). [Conclusion] The three strains of adhesive Nitrosomonas showed great differences both in ammonia oxidation activity and growth. The results may not only help to understand the functions of different Nitrosomonas in wastewaters with different NH3-N concentrations, but also contribute to develop corresponding engineering technologies.