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

Application of a triple 15N tracing technique to elucidate N transformations in a UK grassland soil

Nadine Loick, E. R. Dixon, G. Peter Matthews, Christoph Müller, Verónica Ciganda, María López‐Aizpún, Miguel A. Repullo, L. M. Cardenas

Geoderma · 2020

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Summary

This 2020 study presents application of a triple 15N isotopic tracing methodology to resolve concurrent nitrogen transformation processes in a UK grassland soil. The triple-tracer approach, as suggested by the title, provides improved mechanistic understanding of soil nitrogen cycling in temperate pasture systems, potentially informing nitrogen management in grassland agriculture.

UK applicability

As this research was conducted in UK grassland conditions, the findings directly inform nitrogen dynamics and cycling in British pasture soils used for livestock production. The methodology and results are directly applicable to UK grassland management and fertiliser recommendation development.

Key measures

15N-labelled tracer recovery; rates of nitrogen mineralisation, nitrification, and denitrification; soil nitrogen transformation pathways

Outcomes reported

The study applied a triple 15N isotopic tracing technique to quantify and distinguish different nitrogen transformation pathways (mineralisation, nitrification, denitrification) occurring simultaneously in UK grassland soil. This approach enabled differentiation of N fate and fluxes that are difficult to resolve using conventional single-tracer methods.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil fertility & nutrient management
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United Kingdom
System type
Pasture-based livestock
DOI
10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114844
Catalogue ID
MGmort8bve-tqskq8

Topic tags

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