Standardization of Automated Vario EL III CHNS Analyzer for Total Carbon and Nitrogen Determination in Soils

摘要

The traditional methods for determination of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are cumbersome and time-consuming. With the development of automated methods, the time taken to analyze a sample has been reduced considerably. However, these need to be standardized with respect to the type and weight of soil sample used. A study on the determination of soil C and N was carried out to evaluate sample particle size and weight effects on C and N determined by a CHNS analyzer and conventional methods. Three texturally different soils were analyzed for C and N with the CHNS analyzer and traditional methods. The C and N contents measured with the CHNS analyzer were greater than those measured with traditional methods. With finer (0.25-mm) fractioned samples, C and N contents were greater than in the coarse-fractioned. Carbon and N contents were greater with a sample weight of 10 than with 25 mg.