Limitations of using delta O-18 for the source identification of nitrate in agricultural soils

The stable isotopic composition (delta N-15 and delta O-18) of nitrate was analyzed in two lysimeter field experiments in order to identify the condit ions under which the dual isotope approach can be applied to identify the m ain source of nitrate in agricultural soils. The first field experiment inv olved six lysimeters beneath fields that had been fertilized for 10 yr with the same type of fertilizer (NH4NO3; delta N-15 = +1.2 parts per thousand, delta O-18 = +18.6 parts per thousand). The isotope ratios of NO3- in the leachate (delta N-15 approximate to 0 parts per thousand; delta O-18 +2 par ts per thousand) could not be interpreted in a conventional way with either fertilizer or soil organic nitrogen as main sources. These results provide d clear evidence for the microbial immobilization and subsequent mineraliza tion and nitrification to NO3- (mineralization-immobilization turnover conc ept). This process masked the original oxygen isotope ratio of the fertiliz er source during the summer when microbial activity was high. A second expe riment involving the application of Ca(NO3)(2) to three lysimeters during t he winter confirmed that the dual isotope approach remains valid for the so urce identification of nitrate under conditions of low microbial activity. The study reveals the limitation of the dual isotope approach to characteri ze nitrate sources under biologically active conditions and the ability to quantify microbial processes when the main sources can be controlled.