Influence of flooding on delta15N, delta18O, 1delta15N and 2delta15N signatures of N2O released from estuarine soils--a laboratory experiment using tidal flooding chambers.
The influence of flooding on N2O fluxes, denitrification rates, dual isotope (delta18O and delta15N) and isotopomer (1delta15N and 2delta15N) ratios of emitted N2O from estuarine intertidal zones was examined in a laboratory study using tidal flooding incubation chambers. Five replicate soil cores were collected from two differently managed intertidal zones in the estuary of the River Torridge (North Devon, UK): (1) a natural salt marsh fringing the estuary, and 2 a managed retreat site, previous agricultural land to which flooding was restored in summer 2001. Gas samples from the incubated soil cores were collected from the tidal chamber headspaces over a range of flooding conditions, and analysed for the delta18O, delta15N, 1delta15N and 2delta15N values of the emitted N2O. Isotope signals did not differ between the two sites, and nitrate addition to the flooding water did not change the isotopic content of emitted N2O. Under non-flooded conditions, the isotopic composition of the emitted N2O displayed a moderate variability in delta18O and 2delta15N delta values that was expected for microbial activity associated with denitrification. However, under flooded conditions, half of the samples showed strong and simultaneous depletions in 1delta15N and delta18O values, but not in 2delta15N. Such an isotope signal has not been reported in the literature, and it could point towards an unidentified N2O production pathway. Its signature differed from denitrification, which was generally the N2O production pathway in the salt marsh and the managed retreat site.
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, UK, roland.bol@bbsrc.ac.uk.
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Bol
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Röckmann
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Blackwell
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Yamulki
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil; D006113:United Kingdom
D000393:Air Pollutants; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D012987:Soil; D009609:Nitrous Oxide