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Fast, Automated Analysis of Nitrogen‐15 Nitrate from Plant and Soil Extracts
Author(s) -
Prosser Simon J.,
Barrie Andrew,
Gojon Alain
Publication year - 1993
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/sssaj1993.03615995005700020021x
Subject(s) - nitrogen , chemistry , nitrification , nitrate , isotopes of nitrogen , mass spectrometry , soil test , isotope analysis , isotope , soil water , δ15n , analytical chemistry (journal) , natural abundance , stable isotope ratio , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chromatography , soil science , ecology , biology , δ13c , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
A batch procedure that selectively reduces NO 3 from plant tissue and soil extracts to NO for 15 N analysis has been adapted for continuous‐flow, isotope ratio mass spectrometry. this provides a fast and simple method of analyzing large numbers of samples; a batch of 50 samples can be prepared and analyzed in under 4 h. The technique is much faster and requires smaller samples than manual determination using conventional mass spectrometry. Samples containing from 20 to 200 µg NO 3 ‐N were analyzed with a precision (standard deviation) of ≤0.001 atom % at natural abundance and ≈0.005 atom % at 10 atom % 15 N; the precision is limited more by sample preparation than analysis. The ability to easily determine 15 N‐NO 3 in whole extracts is of great help in performing 15 N labeling experiments, allowing short‐term measurements of the N flues through key processes such as NO 3 transport and assimilation in plants or nitrification in soils.