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Variation in Natural N‐15 Abundance of Central Saskatchewan Soils
Author(s) -
Karamanos R. E.,
Voroney R. P.,
Rennie D. A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500040031x
Subject(s) - pasture , soil water , abundance (ecology) , environmental science , mean value , spatial variability , soil test , hydrology (agriculture) , agronomy , soil science , zoology , biology , ecology , geology , mathematics , statistics , geotechnical engineering
Natural 15 N abundance data from 38 well‐drained cultivated, 11 native pasture, and 9 saline seep soil profiles from Saskatchewan were compiled. The mean δ a 15 N value (per mill 15 N excess) for all surface soil samples was 9.4 with a standard deviation of 3.0. Land use was not a factor determining δ a 15 N values as there was no differences in the δ a 15 N values of surface soil samples from cultivated and native pasture areas; the mean δ a 15 N value for both these types of profiles was 8.6 with a standard deviation of 1.9. However, the mean δ a 15 N value for saline seeps (13.8 ± 3.8) was significantly higher than that of either well‐drained cultivated or pasture soils. Spatial variability does not appear to unduly limit use of natural variations in 15 N abundance to study important agronomic processes in Chernozemic soils.