Variation in Natural N‐15 Abundance of Central Saskatchewan Soils

Abstract

Natural ¹⁵N abundance data from 38 well‐drained cultivated, 11 native pasture, and 9 saline seep soil profiles from Saskatchewan were compiled. The mean δ_a¹⁵N value (per mill ¹⁵N excess) for all surface soil samples was 9.4 with a standard deviation of 3.0. Land use was not a factor determining δ_a ¹⁵N values as there was no differences in the δ_a¹⁵N values of surface soil samples from cultivated and native pasture areas; the mean δ_a¹⁵N value for both these types of profiles was 8.6 with a standard deviation of 1.9. However, the mean δ_a¹⁵N value for saline seeps (13.8 ± 3.8) was significantly higher than that of either well‐drained cultivated or pasture soils.Spatial variability does not appear to unduly limit use of natural variations in ¹⁵N abundance to study important agronomic processes in Chernozemic soils.