Effect of peat samples drying on measured content of carbon and nitrogen fractions

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the content of carbon and nitrogen fractions in fresh and dried samples of peat. The samples were extracted in 0.25 mol KCl·dm.-3, 0.25 mol H2SO4·dm.-3 and 2.5 mol H2SO4·dm.-3. Based on the extractions and analysis of total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) following fractions of carbon and nitrogen were isolated: nonhydrolyzable carbon (NHC) and nitrogen (NHN), hardly hydrolyzable carbon (HHC) and nitrogen (HHN), easy hydrolyzable carbon (EHC) and nitrogen (EHN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and its ammonium (NH4.-N) and nitrate (NO3.-N) form. Large differences between fresh and dried samples were observed in the content of some analyzed fractions . especially NO3.-N, NH4.-N, DON and HHC. 1.6.3.5 times higher concentrations of NO3.-N were observed in dry samples in comparison with fresh. In dried samples were also observed higher concentrations of NH4.-N and DON. In general lower concentrations of EHN, NHN, HHC and higher of HHN and EHC were observed in dried samples in comparison to fresh. Higher content of mineral nitrogen, as well as DON and DOC in dried samples, is probably an effect of mineralization of carbon and nitrogen compounds during initial stage of drying. The obtained data suggest, that the content of NO3.-N, NH4.-N, DON and EHC analyzed in dried samples of peat is overestimated. Extractions of the fractions from organic samples should be done based on fresh samples, just after sampling