Soil gaseous nitrogen losses: Development and applications of nitrogen isotope approaches in China
Huanhuan Wei , Di Wu , Haoming Yu , Jin Li , Yunting Fang
Soil Ecology Letters ›› 2027, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (1) : 260496
Soil gaseous nitrogen (N) losses, including nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O) and dinitrogen (N2), constitute an important component of ecosystem N budgets and strongly influence climate change. However, precisely distinguishing their highly complex production pathways remains a major challenge. Stable N isotope techniques, including 15N tracing and natural-abundance isotopocule approaches, provide critical tools for disentangling these pathways. Over the past two decades, Chinese researchers have developed and refined four major isotope-based source-partitioning methods, mainly including the three-pool source partitioning approach based on paired 15N labeling of NH4+, NO3−, and organic N, the combined 15N paired-labeling and isotope-pairing technique, the 15NO3− labeling and pairing approach coupled with nitrification inhibitors, and the N2O isotopocule site preference (SP) approach. These approaches have been applied in forests and croplands, improving understanding of the relative contributions of denitrification, nitrification, heterotrophic nitrification, codenitrification, and anammox to gaseous N production. This review summarizes the principles, designs, strengths, limitations, and applications of these four N isotope approaches in Chinese ecosystems, highlighting contributions of Chinese researchers to methodological innovation and in situ applications, and providing a China-based perspective for global studies of soil gaseous N losses and methodological support for N cycle model optimization and mitigation strategies.
nitrous oxide (N2O) / 15N tracing / isotope pairing technique / site preference (SP) / stable nitrogen isotopes
| ● Four representative nitrogen isotope approaches for soil gaseous N losses are systematically reviewed. | |
| ● Chinese studies have advanced source partitioning of soil NO, N2O, and N2 production pathways. | |
| ● Isotope approaches have improved quantification of denitrification, nitrification, heterotrophic nitrification, anammox, and codenitrification. | |
| ● Future progress depends on in situ applications, low-disturbance labeling strategies, and better integration of methods, instruments, and models. |
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