Determination of dissolved organic nitrogen using persulfate oxidation and conductimetric quantification of nitrate‐nitrogen

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) in forest soil extracts and surface waters may be dominantly in organic compounds as dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Due to various difficulties associated with measuring total N (as TKN) by the Rjeldahl digest, this important vehicle for nutrient movement is rarely monitored. By coupling two relatively new methods and optimizing them for use in soil studies, we developed an alternative method for measuring DON. Analysis of pure compounds and field samples shows that persulfate oxidation combined with conductimetric quantification of nitrate (NO₃) provides a highly accurate measure of dissolved N content. With relatively inexpensive equipment and reagents, a single technician can digest and assay over a hundred samples a day. This rapid, simple, and accurate assay may make it possible to routinely monitor DON where it had previously been impractical. This in turn could substantially enhance understanding about the form and quantity of N involved in nutrient fluxes.