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Use of Interfaced Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for Detection of Concurrent Mineralization and Denitrification in Soil¹

ABSTRACT

A method using an interfaced gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) is described for measuring the amount of N₂O and N₂ derived during denitrification from tagged ¹⁵NO₃^– and from ¹⁴NO₃^–, the latter of which is produced during mineralization of soil organic matter. More mineralization and less denitrification was noted with the respective order related to air-filled pore content: 10%, 5%, 0 (saturated). Denitrification measured directly from the cumulative emissions of N₂O and N₂ was considerably underestimated by comparison to measuring denitrification by loss of ¹⁵NO₃^–.

Key Words: nitrate • ¹⁵N • nitrous oxide • soil gases

¹ Contribution of the Dep. of Soil and Environ. Sci., Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521. This research was supported by the Natl. Sci. Found. RANN, Grant no. GI-34733X.

² Associate Professor of Soil Science, Staff Research Associate, and Professor of Soil Physics, respectively.

Received for publication August 15, 1978.