Full ¹⁵N tracer accounting to revisit major assumptions of ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution approaches for gross nitrogen mineralization.

ABSTRACT: The ¹⁵N isotope pool dilution (IPD) technique is the only available method for measuring gross ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) production and consumption rates. Rapid consumption of the added ¹⁵N-NH₄ ⁺ tracer is commonly observed, but the processes responsible for this consumption are not well understood. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the relative roles of biotic and abiotic processes in ¹⁵N-NH₄ ⁺ sconsumption and to investigate the validity of one of the main assumptions of IPD experiments, i.e., that no reflux of the consumed ¹⁵N tracer occurs during the course of the experiments. We added a ¹⁵N-NH₄ ⁺ tracer to live and sterile (autoclav

SUBMITTER: Braun J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6774780 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature