Use of NMR spectroscopy to study transformations of nitrogenous substances during incubation of peat |
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| Authors: | M.V. Cheshire B.L. Williams L.M. Benzing-Purdie C.I. Ratcliffe J.A. Ripmeester |
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| Affiliation: | Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen AB9 2QJ, UK.;Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada K1A OC6.;National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada KA1 OR6. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. Samples of peat were incubated with 15N-labelled ammonium sulphate, urea, wheat straw and glycine and divided into six size fractions of solid components and a water-soluble fraction. The fractions were analysed by NMR spectroscopy to study the formation of humic substances and rind how fertilizer nitrogen is immobilized in peaty soils. After six months' incubation about half of the ammonium sulphate nitrogen was still present as ammonium in the soluble fraction, the urea had been entirely metabolized to ammonium and various organic compounds, about half the straw had been decomposed to ammonium and amino acid or peptide materials, and most of the glycine had been transformed to ammonium, amide and aliphatic amine. |
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