Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Field scale temporal and spatial variability of δ13C, δ15N, TC and TN soil properties: Implications for sediment source tracing

Adrian L. Collins, Emma Burak, Paul Harris, Simon Pulley, L. M. Cardenas, Qiang Tang

Geoderma · 2018

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Summary

This field-based study quantifies the temporal and spatial variability of stable isotope signatures (δ13C, δ15N) and bulk soil carbon and nitrogen properties across an agricultural landscape. The findings have implications for the reliability of using these soil properties as geochemical tracers in sediment source apportionment studies, as suggested by the paper's emphasis on variability characterisation at field scale.

UK applicability

The study was conducted in the United Kingdom and therefore directly reflects UK soil and agricultural conditions, making its findings directly applicable to UK erosion monitoring, sediment tracing research, and land management assessment practices.

Key measures

δ13C (carbon-13 stable isotope ratio), δ15N (nitrogen-15 stable isotope ratio), TC (total carbon), TN (total nitrogen), soil depth profiles, spatial and temporal variability

Outcomes reported

The study examined field-scale temporal and spatial variability of stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) and total carbon and nitrogen concentrations across soil profiles. The research assessed how this variability affects the reliability of using these soil properties as tracers for sediment source identification.

Theme
Measurement & metrics
Subject
Measurement methods & nutrient profiling
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United Kingdom
System type
Other
DOI
10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.019
Catalogue ID
BFmor3fy0h-sjbgzo

Topic tags

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