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Diffusion of Soil Extracts for Nitrogen and Nitrogen‐15 Analyses by Automated Combustion/Mass Spectrometry
Author(s) -
Burke Ingrid C.,
O'Deen Louise A.,
Mosier Arvin R.,
Porter Lynn K.
Publication year - 1990
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/sssaj1990.03615995005400040047x
Subject(s) - combustion , mass spectrometry , repeatability , chemistry , nitrogen , ammonium , soil test , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , soil water , environmental science , organic chemistry , soil science
Abstract The coupling of automated combustion instruments with mass spectrometry has streamlined total N and 15 N analyses of soil and plant materials. New methods are needed for analysis of soil NH 4 and NO 3 15 N to take advantage of the efficiency in automated combustion analysis. We have developed a method to quantitatively determine NO 3 , NH 4 , and 15 N content of soil extracts by automated combustion/mass spectrometry. Soil extracts are made basic, and diffused into acid‐washed zeolite in tin combustion cups. Zeolite samples are then analyzed on the automated combustion/mass spectrometry system for N and 15 N. Ammonium‐ and NO 3 ‐N and 15 N can be quantitatively recovered and analyzed during this procedure, reliably collecting 97% of the N and 15 N in the extract, with a repeatability of ±2%.