Analysis of Soil Total Nitrogen and Inorganic Nitrogen Content for Evaluating Nitrogen Dynamics

Abstract

Various methods for assessing soil total nitrogen (TN) and inorganic N content have been developed to manage nutrient and to understand N cycle in soil. This paper address the technical procedures in arable soil samples to conduct soil sampling, sample preparation, and measuring total N and inorganic N. Among various methods for measuring soil total nitrogen contents, Kjeldahl distillation and Indophenol blue method have widely used due to reliability and economic advances. Also, two methods can analyze more samples at the same time compared with other nitrogen measuring methods. For evaluating inorganic N content, mainly in forms of nitrate-N ( $NO_3{^-}-N$) and ammonium-N ( $NH_4{^+}-N$), extraction with a single reagent such as 2M KCl has been employed, followed by Kjeldahl distillation or indophenol blue methods.