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Enrichment of N 2 and Ar in the atmosphere of CO 2 ‐consuming soils
Author(s) -
Prade Klaus,
Hagelgans Volker
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19931560508
Subject(s) - soil water , dissolution , precipitation , calcite , environmental chemistry , atmosphere (unit) , calcareous , chemistry , mineralogy , environmental science , soil science , geology , meteorology , paleontology , physics
The phenomenon of unexplained N 2 Ar‐enrichment in soil air is quite frequently to be encountered in soil air studies on anthropogenically influenced sites. In the present study two anthropogenic deposits and a calcareous fluvisol were investigated for their soil air composition. While in the alkaline deposits extreme enrichments of N 2 and Ar (N 2 + Ar: up to 99%, v/v) were found as persistent site characteristics, the fluvisol showed only slight (about 1%, v/v) transient N 2 /Ar‐enrichments in summer. All sites, which did not show substantial vertical seepage percolation, exhibited enhanced CO 2 ‐solubility‐either due to strong calcite precipitation or dissolution. So, it was concluded that intensive continuous depletion of CO 2 was responsible for the subsequent convective influx of atmospheric air. From the results obtained it was concluded that an encasement of the concerned soil volume rather impermeable to gas transport as well as intense dissolution of CO 2 in the pore water are prerequisites for substantial N 2 /Ar‐enrichments in soil air.