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Direct field measurement of N 2 and N 2 O evolution from soil
Author(s) -
LIMMER A. W.,
STEELE K. W.,
WILSON A. T.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1982.tb01784.x
Subject(s) - lysimeter , mass spectrometry , atmosphere (unit) , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , isotope , diffusion , environmental science , soil science , soil water , environmental chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , meteorology , chromatography , thermodynamics
Summary A gas lysimeter has been designed and used to measure directly the evolution of N 2 and N 2 O in a soil profile under field conditions. Concentrations of N 2 in the soil atmosphere within the lysimeter as low as 2000–5000 p.p.m. have been achieved by flushing with N‐free gas. A flow of gas into the base of the lysimeter forms a barrier against diffusion of soil air into the lysimeter during measurements. After reducing the N 2 concentration in the soil core, a low concentration of N 2 enriched in N‐15 is introduced. By monitoring changes in the 8 N value using a high‐precision isotope mass spectrometer, rates of N 2 evolution down to 6 kg N 2 ‐N ha −1 a −1 can be detected. N 2 O evolution was determined at the same time using the mass spectrometer in the single‐beam mode.