ePrints

Interference by amino acids during the determination of 15N ammonium in soil

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Anke Herrmann, Dr Elizabeth Stockdale

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

In the study of terrestrial N cycling, NH4+ concentration and 15N enrichment are routinely determined by colorimetric continuous flow analysis and microdiffusion methods. Amino acids can interfere in these determinations; consequently the aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of the interference. Glycine and glutamine are key amino acids in soil and were therefore used as 'models'. Both glycine and glutamine interfered during continuous flow analysis, whereas interference during microdiffusion was of little importance. The effects of interference can be significant, e.g. estimates of gross mineralisation rate were reduced up to 33%, where we allowed for amino acid interference during determination of NH4+ concentration. The potential influence of amino acid interference emphasises that development of continuous flow analysis to increase NH4+ specificity is needed. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Herrmann A, Willett VB, Stockdale EA, Jones DL

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Year: 2005

Volume: 37

Issue: 9

Pages: 1747-1750

ISSN (print): 0038-0717

ISSN (electronic): 1879-3428

Publisher: Pergamon

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.02.008

DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.02.008

Altmetrics

Share