In Situ Quantification of Biological N₂ Production Using Naturally Occurring ¹⁵N¹⁵N.

ABSTRACT: We describe an approach for determining biological N₂ production in soils based on the proportions of naturally occurring ¹⁵N¹⁵N in N₂. Laboratory incubation experiments reveal that biological N₂ production, whether by denitrification or anaerobic ammonia oxidation, yields proportions of ¹⁵N¹⁵N in N₂ that are within 1‰ of that predicted for a random distribution of ¹⁵N and ¹⁴N atoms. This relatively invariant isotopic signature contrasts with that of the atmosphere, which has ¹⁵N¹⁵N proportions in excess of the random distribution by 19.1 ± 0.1‰. Depth profiles of gases in agricultural soils from the Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research sit

SUBMITTER: Yeung LY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6506800 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature