• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.453-457
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• 2010

To investigate the difference in N isotope ratio ($^{15}N/^{14}N$, expressed as ${\delta}^{15}N$) among N sources (synthetic fertilizer, livestock manure, and manure compost), eight synthetic fertilizer, four livestock manure, and thirty-seven compost samples were collected and analyzed for ${\delta}^{15}N$. The mean ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of N sources were $-1.5{\pm}0.5$‰ (range: -3.9 to +0.5‰) for synthetic fertilizer, $+6.3{\pm}0.4$‰ (+5.3 to +7.2‰) for manure, and $+16.0{\pm}0.4$‰ (+9.3 to +20.9‰) for compost. The lower ${\delta}^{15}N$ of synthetic fertilizer was attributed to its N source, atmospheric $N_2$ of which ${\delta}^{15}N$ is 0‰ Meanwhile, more $^{15}N$-enrichment of compost than manure was assumed to be resulted from N isotopic fractionation (faster loss of $^{14}N$-bearing compound than $^{15}N$) associated with N loss particularly via $NH_3$ volatilization during composting. Therefore, our study shows that ${\delta}^{15}N$ values could successfully serve in discriminating two major N sources (synthetic fertilizer and compost) in agricultural system.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

Deposition of atmospheric N that is depleted in $^{15}N$ has shown to decrease N isotope ratio ($^{15}N/^{14}N$,expressed as ${\delta}^{15}N$) of forest samples such as tree rings, foliage, and total soil-N. However, its effect on ${\delta}^{15}N$ of mineral soil-N which is biologically active N pool has never been tested. In this study, ${\delta}^{15}N$ of mineral N($NH{_4}^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$) in forest soils from organic and two depths of mineral soil layers (0 to 20 cm and 20 to 40cm depth) of Pinus densiflora stands located at two distinct areas (rural and industrial areas) in southern Korea was analyzed to investigate if there is any difference in ${\delta}^{15}N$ of mineral N between these areas. We also evaluated potential N loss of the study sites using ${\delta}^{15}N$ of mineral N. Across the soil layers, the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of $NH{_4}^+$ ranged from +8.9 to +24.8‰ in the rural area and from +4.4 to +13.8‰ in the industrial area. Soils from organic layer (+4.4‰) and mineral layer between 0 and 20 cm (+13.8‰) of industrial area showed significantly lower ${\delta}^{15}N$ of $NH{_4}^+$ than those of rural area (+8.9 and +24.3‰, respectively), probably indicating the greater contribution of $^{15}N$-depleted $NH{_4}^+$ from atmospheric deposition to forest in the industrial area than in the rural area. Meanwhile, ${\delta}^{15}N$ of $NO_3{^-}$ was not different between the rural and industrial areas, probably because ${\delta}^{15}N$ of $NO_3{^-}$ is more likely to be altered by the N loss that causes $^{15}N$ enrichment of the remaining soil N pool. Compared with the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of soil mineral N reported by other studies (from -10.9 to +15.6‰ for $NH{_4}^+$ and -14.8 to +5.6‰ for $NO_3{^-}$), the ${\delta}^{15}N$ observed in our study was substantially high, suggesting that the study sites are more subject to the N loss. It was concluded that $NH{_4}^+$ rather than $NO_3{^-}$ can conserve the ${\delta}^{15}N$ signature of atmospheric N deposition in forest ecosystems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.513-518
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• 2000

It has been acknowledged that fertilizer, natural soil nitrogen and animal waste, municipal waste have different mass ratio of nitrogen which is presented as a symbol of $\delta^{15}$N. and that the values of $\delta^{15}$N for fertilizer and natural soil nitrogen and animal waste are placed less than +5$\textperthousand$ and higher than +10$\textperthousand$, respectively. thus, Nitrogen pollution sources and contribution can be interpreted in watershed through $\delta^{15}$N analysis and then, analysis is performed with Kjeldhl-Dumas method. In this study, The values of $\delta^{15}$N are between +1.46$\textperthousand$ and +8.97$\textperthousand$, and the nitrate concentration is placed less than 3.31mg/L and higher than 0.19mg/L, respectively. Thus, this watershed is noncontamination area at the present time. But as a result of $\delta^{15}$N, contribution of natural soil nitrogen be discovered in this watershed, presently.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 1995

Nitrate concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N$ value in the groundwater in Miyakojima Island, Okinawa, were measured during 1992-1993. Water from the shallow and the deep wells at the ten separate sites were sampled. Mineral contents and natural nitrogen isotope abundance(${\delta}^{15}N$) were analyzed using a liquid chromatography and a mass spectrometry (Finnigan MAT 252). Except for waters which were directly influenced by sea water invasion, most of the groundwater showed small variations among their mineral contents and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values. The average nitrate nitrogen concentrations were $1.4{\sim}11.5mgL^{-1}$ and average ${\delta}^{15}N$ values were +4.3${\sim}$+9.7$%_o$. From the nitrate concentration and ${\delta}^{15}N$ value observed, the types of the groundwater could be categorized into four groups, such as high ${\delta}^{15}N$ and high nitrate, high ${\delta}^{15}N$ and medium nitrate, low ${\delta}^{15}N$ and medium nitrate, and low ${\delta}^{15}N$ and low nitrate, reflecting the main source of nitrate contamination, such as animal and domestic waste, animal waste and soil organic matter, soil organic matter and chemical fertilizer, and chemical fertilizer, respectively. It was discussed that the lowest ${\delta}^{15}N$ value was higher than the ${\delta}^{15}N$ value of the chemical fertilizers used in this island(-3.9${\sim}$-1.4$%_o$), then considerable amounts of nitrogen must be lost by ammonium evaporation or denitrification after fertilization.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.284-291
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• 2001

To study whether N isotope composition (${\delta}^{15}N$) of crop reflects the kind of fertilizer (chemical or organic) applied to field, a pot experiment was conducted. Corn (Zea mays L.) was cultivated under greenhouse conditions for 70 days. Composted pig manure and urea were applied at 0 and 0 (C0U0), at 0 and 300 (COU2), at 300 and 0 (C2U0) and at 150 and $150kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ (C1U1), respectively. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of composted pig manure and urea were + 13.9‰ and -2.3‰, respectively. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of whole parts (roots + stems + leaves + grains) were + 12.7, + 12.9, + 14.0 and + 13.0‰ for C0U0, C0U2, C2U0 and C1U1 treatments, and were not significantly affected by the application of isotopically different N sources (P<0.05). However, leaves or grains showed significantly (P<0.05) different ${\delta}^{15}N$ values between treatments. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of leaves and grains were + 14.3 and + 16.2‰ for C2U0, +13.2 and +13.9‰ for C0U0, +10.1 and + 12.6‰ for C1U1 and +10.1 and +12.4‰ for C0U2 treatments. The different ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of corn from the values of N sources (compost and urea) applied to soil showed that the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of corn were affected not only by the isotope composition of N source, but also by N pool mixing and isotope fractionation accompanying N transformation. This study suggests that although the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of crop are not identical to the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of N sources applied to fields, the application of isotopically different N sources such as compost and chemical fertilizer may result in qualitative difference in ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of crop.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.262-271
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• 2008

Natural abundances of stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon (${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{13}C$) are being widely used to study N and C cycle processes in plant and soil systems. Variations in ${\delta}^{15}N$ of the soil and the plant reflect the potentially variable isotope signature of the external N sources and the isotope fractionation during the N cycle process. $N_2$ fixation and N fertilizer supply the nitrogen, whose ${\delta}^{15}N$ is close to 0%o, whereas the compost as. an organic input generally provides the nitrogen enriched in $^{15}N$ compared to the atmospheric $N_2$. The isotope fractionation during the N cycle process decreases the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of the substrate and increases the ${\delta}^{15}N$ of the product. N transformations such as N mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, assimilation, and the $NH_3$ volatilization have a specific isotope fractionation factor (${\alpha}$) for each N process. Variation in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of plants reflects the photosynthetic type of plant, which affects the isotope fractionation during photosynthesis. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ of C3 plant is significantly lower than, whereas the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of C4 plant is similar to that of the atmospheric $CO_2$. Variation in the isotope fractionation of carbon and nitrogen can be observed under different environmental conditions. The effect of environmental factors on the stomatal conductance and the carboxylation rate affects the carbon isotope fractionation during photosynthesis. Changes in the environmental factors such as temperature and salt concentration affect the nitrogen isotope fractionation during the N cycle processes; however, the mechanism of variation in the nitrogen isotope fractionation has not been studied as much as that in the carbon isotope fractionation. Isotope fractionation factors of carbon and nitrogen could be the integrated factors for interpreting the effects of the environmental factors on plants and soils.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2013

Differences in rates and patterns of nitrogen cycling have been correlated with nitrogen stable isotope measurements in forest ecosystems of tropical and temperate regions, but limited similar work has been conducted in sub-tropical forests. This study investigated patterns in stable N isotopic composition in a subtropical forest in Taiwan by sampling three soil profiles and overstory and understory foliage. Soil ${\delta}^{15}N$ in the forest floor ranged from -1.8 to -1.8‰. Mineral soils had higher ${\delta}^{15}N$ (4.1 to 6.0‰). Foliage ${\delta}^{15}N$ in overstory trees ranged from -6.6 to -2.0‰, and understory foliage ${\delta}^{15}N$ ranged from -5.0 to -1.2‰. There was a weak correlation between foliar % N and ${\delta}^{15}N$ ($r^2=0.214$). Compared to results from similar surveys in tropical and temperate forests, foliar ${\delta}^{15}N$ values were generally lower. These results help highlight the need for improved knowledge regarding the relationships between patterns in N stable isotopes and processes affecting rates of N cycling, especially as related to wider scale patterns in forest ecosystems within the east-Asia region.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2015

The organic matter sources of phytoplankton and related environmental factors influencing algal bloom in Paldang reservoir were studied using nitrogen and carbon isotope ratio(${\delta}^{15}N$, ${\delta}^{13}C$). Phytoplankton samples for stable isotope analysis were collected from four points in reservoir using a plankton net. Physicochemical water quality, algal taxa and hydrological data were collected from published monitoring material. Phytoplankton samples were analyzed by IRMS. CN ratio of each sample was very similar to that of phytoplankton from literature cited. ${\delta}^{15}N$ of each sample was decreased during July. Mixing and dilution of nitrogen sources due to increment of influx by concentrated rainfall were considered as the main reason for the decline of ${\delta}^{15}N$. Based on analyzed ${\delta}^{15}N$ value of each sample, nitrogen source of Bughan river sample was presumed to come from soil. The nitrogen sources of Namhan river and Kyeongan stream samples seemed to be sewage or animal waste. Low ${\delta}^{15}N$ value in August (2012) seemed to be influenced by isotope fractionation due to the blooming of nitrogen-fixation blue-green algae (Anabaena spp.). Variation in ${\delta}^{15}N$ values particularly by blue-green algal bloom was considered the important factor for estimating the organic matter sources of phytoplankton.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.459-462
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• 2003

충청북도 증평에 위치한 문화마을 인근의 19개 지하수 관측정에서 시료를 채취하여 질산성질소 농도와 $\delta$$^{15}$ N 값, 암모니아성질소 농도와 $\delta$$^{15}$ N 값을 정량하였다. 그 결과 질산성질소에 의한 심각한 오염은 관찰되지 않으며, 질산성질소내 $\delta$$^{15}$ N이 +9.4~+36.8%0의 범위를 갖는 것으로 보아 계분이나 생활하수 혹은 두 가지 이상의 오염원이 동시에 작용함을 나타낸다. 연구지역의 $^{15}$ N 부화지수($\varepsilon$)은 -6.697%0로 탈질에 의한 범위를 만족한다. 암모늄의 질산화가 주요한 반응기작일 경우에 나타나는 암모늄 농도 감소에 따른 $^{15}$ N의 부화는 관찰할 수 없다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.412-417
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• 2007

An experiment was conducted to determine the distribution of nitrogen-15 in tissues of laying hens receiving different levels of $^{15}N$-CCC in diets. Twenty brown laying hens were divided into four groups and randomly assigned into one of four dietary treatment groups consisting of 0, 5, 50 and 100 ppm $^{15}N$-CCC inclusion. The hens were individually fed with the $^{15}N$-CCC diets in battery cages for 11 days and then all hens restored to feeding on the control diet for 7 days. After eleven days, eight hens were slaughtered, and the others were slaughtered seven days after $^{15}N$-CCC diets withdrawal. Samples of blood, liver, heart and meat were collected and their $^{15}N$ contents were determined. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ excess (${\delta}^{15}N$-ex) and atom percentage excess in $^{15}N$ were calculated. The ${\delta}^{15}N$-ex and atom percentage excess $^{15}N$ increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of $^{15}N$-CCC in diets in all tissues after feeding $^{15}N$-CCC diets for eleven days. The highest concentration of ${\delta}^{15}N$-ex and atom percentage excess $^{15}N$ were detected in blood, followed in order by liver, heart and thigh meat. The concentrations reduced significantly (p<0.05) after $^{15}N$-CCC diets were withdrawn. Comparison between treatment groups showed that ${\delta}^{15}N$-ex and atom percentage excess $^{15}N$ were still higher in hens that had been fed diets with higher levels of $^{15}N$-CCC. This study showed that nitrogen-15 was distributed in blood, liver, heart and meat of laying hens.