县域农田土壤氮素空间分布特征及其影响因素

采用地统计学与GIS相结合的方法,研究了四川省双流县土壤氮素空间分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明：土壤全氮和碱解氮含量具有中等空间相关性,其空间相关距离分别为15480 m和26980 m.土壤全氮含量高值区主要位于北边的九江、新兴两镇,低值区主要位于东南方向的合江、三星两镇;土壤碱解氮含量从北向南递减趋势比较明显.灰色冲积物上发育的土壤全氮和碱解氮含量均显著或极显著高于紫色岩风化物和老冲积物;水稻土全氮和碱解氮含量均极显著高于黄壤和紫色土;地形条件对土壤全氮和碱解氮含量的影响程度不同,但均以丘陵最低;不同土地利用方式下,水田全氮和碱解氮含量均显著或极显著高于旱地和果园;土壤氮素高值区施肥量明显高于低值区.     

北京松山自然保护区不同母质油松林土壤氮、磷、钾含量垂直分布

以北京市松山自然保护区同海拔油松林下两种母质(花岗岩和石灰岩)上发育的土壤为对象,研究了土壤的全氮、有效磷、速效钾含量在剖面的垂直变化.结果表明:花岗岩母质发育的土壤0～20cm土层的全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量分别为1.61～2.35g·kg-1、5.84～10.74mg·kg-1和39.33～93.66mg·kg-1,石灰岩母质发育的土壤分别为1.69～2.36g·kg-1、4.45～8.57mg·kg-1和60.66～124.00mg·kg-1.两种母质发育的土壤0～10cm土层的全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量均最大,且与各土层之间差异均极显著,并随土层深度的增加而下降,说明土壤全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量的分布有很强的表聚性,而且石灰岩母质发育的土壤的表聚性更强.对同土层土壤进行配对t检验,全氮含量在各土层之间无显著性差异,有效磷含量在0～10cm土层差异极显著,速效钾含量在10～20cm土层之间差异显著.     

喀斯特地区不同土地利用方式对土壤有机碳、全氮以及微生物生物量碳和氮的影响

以广西环江大才为代表,选择亚热带典型喀斯特峰林谷地样区,通过对样区土壤进行密集采样和测定分析,研究了土地利用方式对土壤有机碳（O_C）和全氮（TN）含量及土壤微生物生物量碳（B_C）和氮（B_N）含量的影响.结果表明,3种土地利用方式下,土壤有机碳含量在稻田和林地中基本相同,而旱地显著低于稻田和林地.土壤全氮含量为稻田显著高于林地,而林地显著高于旱地.土壤微生物生物量碳含量为稻田显著高于林地,林地显著高于旱地.土壤微生物生物量氮含量在稻田和林地中基本相同,而旱地显著低于稻田和林地.旱地土壤pH值显著低于稻田和林地土壤.3种土地利用方式下,土壤微生物生物量碳与土壤有机碳、土壤微生物生物量氮与全氮含量之间均呈显著的正相关关系.土壤微生物生物量碳和氮含量可以作为评价喀斯特地区土壤质量和肥力的指标之一,对土地利用方式响应较为敏感.     

洞庭湖区不同利用方式对土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷的影响

以湖南省沅江市典型湖垸为代表,通过密集取样分析,研究了洞庭湖区不同利用方式条件下农田土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷的变化及其和土壤碳、氮、磷的关系,发现水田土壤碳、氮和微生物生物量碳、氮明显高于旱地,水田土壤中双季稻高于一季稻;土壤磷的含量旱地稍高于水田,但土壤微生物生物量磷水田稍高于旱地.尽管在水田土壤中微生物生物量碳、氮有明显的不同,但水田土壤微生物生物量磷维持在相对稳定的水平.典型样区土壤微生物生物量碳占有机碳的比例为0.65%～7.24%,平均3.00%;土壤微生物生物量氮占全氮的比例为0.98%～7.41%,平均3.81%;土壤微生物生物量磷占全磷的比例为0.16%～7.54%,平均2.80%.土壤C/N为3.87～17.31,平均9.15;BC/BN为4.06～9.29,平均7.26.土壤微生物生物量碳、氮与土壤碳、氮之间存在极其显著的线性相关关系,但土壤微生物生物量磷占全磷之间相关关系不显著.土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷之间的相关关系达到了极显著水平.不同的利用方式和耕作制度导致了土壤碳、氮和微生物生物量碳、氮的差异,土壤微生物生物量碳、氮能够很好地反映洞庭湖区农田土壤碳、氮水平.     

磷矿采空区恢复林地土壤养分——以云南昆阳磷矿为实例研究

矿山开采引起了矿区生态环境恶化,进行植被恢复是解决矿区生态破坏问题的有效措施。采用野外调查和室内分析相结合,对昆阳磷矿采空区人工恢复林地的土壤养分进行研究。结果表明:恢复林地的土壤呈酸性;10龄及以下的恢复林地间土壤养分含量无显著差异,10龄及以下的恢复林地与25龄恢复林地间差异则达显著水平;25龄以上的林地土壤有机质含量接近原生林水平;与桉树(Eucalyptus spp.)纯林比,旱冬瓜(Alnus nepalensis)-柏树(Cupressus spp.)混交林能更有效地促进氮素积累;自然状态下,土壤磷素和全钾含量随恢复年限的延长逐渐增加;土壤有机质与水解氮、全氮间呈极显著正相关;土壤水解氮与全氮、有效磷与全磷间表现为极显著正相关。总体上,植被恢复区土壤有机质普遍偏低,氮素普遍缺乏,磷素水平较高,钾素含量适中。从而为建立科学的矿区植被恢复模式提供参考。     

祁连山中段土壤有机碳和氮素的剖面分布

以祁连山中段地区主要土壤类型(棕钙土、灰褐土、栗钙土、高山草甸土)为对象,研究了不同土壤剖面上有机碳、全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮含量的分布规律.结果表明:在祁连山中段地区,随剖面深度增加,不同土壤类型的有机碳、全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮含量均逐渐降低,且其有机碳、氮素的累积和分解存在差异.其中,有机碳含量的全剖面平均值在14.01～41.17g·kg-1,大小顺序为灰褐土＞高山草甸土＞栗钙土＞棕钙土;全氮含量在1.28～2.73 g·kg-1,为高山草甸土＞灰褐土＞栗钙土＞棕钙土;铵态氮含量在5.80～8.40 mg·kg-1,为棕钙土＞高山草甸土＞栗钙土＞灰褐土;硝态氮含量在6.57～15.11 mg·kg-1,为栗钙土＞高山草甸土＞棕钙土＞灰褐土;土壤C/N在11.33～19.22,为灰褐土＞栗钙土＞高山草甸土＞棕钙土;硝铵比在1.00～2.69,为灰褐土＞栗钙土＞高山草甸土＞棕钙土.在不同的气候、植被和地形(坡位、坡向等)条件下,同一土壤类型的有机碳和氮素含量有很大差别.土壤有机碳、全氮和铵态氮含量之间存在极显著正相关,而这三者与硝态氮之间相关性不显著.土壤速效钾含量与铵态氮、硝态氮呈极显著正相关,速效磷含量与土壤有机碳、全氮和铵态氮呈极显著、显著正相关,而pH值、全钾、全磷含量与有机碳和氮素之间无明显相关性.     

不同林龄云南松林土壤有机碳和全氮积累特征

以贵州省盘县3种林龄(19、28和45年生)云南松林为对象,研究了林地土壤有机碳和全氮含量的垂直分布、积累特征及其与土壤容重的关系.结果表明: 不同林龄云南松林土壤剖面的有机碳和全氮含量变化规律一致,表层呈富集现象,随着土层的加深而逐渐减少.随着林龄的增加,林地土壤的有机碳和全氮储量增加,19、28和45年生林地土壤有机碳储量分别为96.24、121.65和148.13 t·hm^-2,全氮储量分别为10.76、12.96和13.08 t·hm^-2.土壤有机碳与全氮含量呈极显著正相关,二者均与土壤容重呈极显著负相关.不同生长阶段林地土壤有机碳和全氮的积累速率有所差异,其中19～28年生林地的土壤有机碳和全氮含量积累速率高于28～45年生林地.
     

基于137Cs示踪技术的土壤侵蚀及养分流失特征评价

研究不同土地利用方式对小流域土壤侵蚀及其养分流失特征的影响有助于更好的理解土地利用方式变化引发的环境效应问题,对区域生态保护和高质量发展具有重要意义。选择陕北延安市湫沟小流域为研究对象,利用¹³⁷Cs示踪技术,定量评价了不同土地利用方式的土壤侵蚀和养分流失状况及其相互变化关系,结果表明：（1）土地利用方式显著影响小流域土壤侵蚀状况。土壤侵蚀模数介于-18.67-151.27 t km^-2 a^-1之间,大小顺序为沟道 > 苹果园 > 林地 > 草地 > 灌木,均为微度侵蚀。其中,除灌木地发生沉积以外,其它土地利用方式均发生了土壤侵蚀现象。（2）不同土地利用方式下的土壤侵蚀模数空间变异明显,除沟道为轻度变异以外,其它土地利用均为中等变异。（3）土壤全氮含量、有机质含量、N/P比和C/P比在不同土地利用方式下的变化特征表现一致,大小顺序均为灌木 > 草地 > 林地 > 沟道 > 苹果园,且在不同利用方式间均存在显著性差异。但全磷含量表现为灌木>苹果园>沟道>草地>林地,且与土壤全氮含量和有机质含量极显著正相关。同全国平均水平相比,土壤全氮含量偏低,全磷含量适中;C/N超过全国平均水平,而N/P和C/P远低于全国平均水平,小流域土壤氮限制严重。（4）土壤侵蚀是该小流域养分流失的重要诱因。不同土地利用方式土壤养分流失变化特征与土壤侵蚀模数表现一致,且两者呈极显著正相关关系;但与土壤全氮、全磷、有机质、N/P比及C/P比呈极显著负相关关系,与C/N比关系不显著。     

岷江上游半干旱河谷区3种林型土壤氮素的比较

比较研究了岷江上游半干旱河谷区辐射松人工林、油松人工林与邻近灌丛0-20cm、20-40cm、40-60cm土层土壤氮素和氮循环过程相关酶的特征,包括土壤有机碳、全氮、碳氮比、硝态氮、铵态氮、无机氮、微生物量氮含量及蛋白酶、脲酶、硝酸盐还原酶活性。结果表明,辐射松林和油松林各土层土壤有机碳含量、碳氮比和硝酸盐还原酶活性无显著差异,油松林土壤无机氮含量和脲酶活性显著高于辐射松林土壤,而辐射松林土壤微生物量氮含量是3种林型土壤中最高的,灌丛0-20cm土层土壤有机碳、全氮含量最高。此外,有机碳、全氮含量、脲酶活性随土层深度增加而降低;而硝酸盐还原酶活性却随土层深度的增加而增强;同时,各土层间蛋白酶活性差异较小。因此,植被类型对土壤氮素转化有一定影响,而从目前的土壤氮素状况来看,油松林土壤中植物可直接吸收利用的氮素高于辐射松林和灌丛;辐射松林土壤微生物固持的氮素含量最高。区域3种植被类型土壤氮素状况还受到半干旱气候因素的强烈影响。     

短期放牧干扰对黄土丘陵区生物结皮土壤氮素累积的影响

通过野外调查结合室内分析,研究了黄土丘陵区模拟放牧干扰半年和一年后生物结皮土壤全氮、速效氮和微生物生物量氮累积的变化,以期揭示生物结皮土壤氮素对干扰响应的敏感性.结果表明: 生物结皮土壤氮素对干扰响应敏感,短期干扰可导致土壤全氮、速效氮和微生物生物量氮含量降低.干扰半年后,生物结皮层全氮和速效氮含量较不干扰分别下降0.17～0.39 g·kg^-1、1.78～5.65 mg·kg^-1;干扰一年后,分别下降0.13～0.40 g·kg^-1、11.45～32.68mg·kg^-1,生物结皮层微生物生物量氮下降69.99～330.97 mg·kg^-1,0～2 cm土壤微生物生物量氮增加25.51～352.17 mg·kg^-1.干扰对生物结皮土壤氮素累积的影响与干扰强度有关,20%和30%干扰强度下生物结皮层氮素累积变化不显著,40%和50%干扰强度下生物结皮层氮素累积显著降低.短期干扰降低了生物结皮层氮素累积,但表层5 cm土壤氮素含量变化不显著.     

The nitrogen status of Austrian forest ecosystems as influenced by atmospheric deposition,biomass harvesting and lateral organomass exchange

Measurements of the deposition rates of atmospheric trace constituents to forest ecosystems in Austria have shown that the deposition of plant utilizable nitrogen compounds is in the range from 12 kg N to more than 30 kg N ha^-1 a^-1. Locally, even higher deposition rates are encountered as a consequence of point sources or special deposition mechanisms such as fog interception, hoar frost formation, and accumulation in snow drifts. In order to place these values into perspective, they are compared with the nitrogen demand of past and present forest land use and with natural processes of nitrogen depletion and accumulation in forest ecosystems. During wind erosion of forest litter, woody material with a wide C/N-ratio remains on the windward side of ridges, while nutrient-rich material with a narrow C/N-ratio is deposited on the leeward side. As a result, total nitrogen storage in the forest soil as well as overall C/N-ratios change dramatically along a transect over a ridge, thus indicating a strong influence of litter C/N ratio on nitrogen retention in the forest soil. A study of nitrogen stores in the soil of beech ecosystems of the same yield class in the Vienna Woods showed a significant correlation of total N-content with base saturation. These results suggest that nitrogen storage capacity of forest soils may be managed by liming and tree species selection. As knowledge is still meagre, a special study on factors which determine nitrogen storage in forest soils is proposed within the FERN-programme.     

Nitrogen yields from undisturbed watersheds in the Americas

Yields of total fixed nitrogen and nitrogen fractions are summarized for thirty-one watersheds in which anthropogenic disturbance of the nitrogen cycle, either through land use or atmospheric deposition, is negligible or slight. These yields are taken as representative of background conditions over a broad range of watershed areas, elevations, and vegetation types. The data set focuses on watersheds of the American tropics, but also includes information on the Gambia River (Africa) and some small watersheds in the Sierra Nevada of California. For the tropical watersheds, total nitrogen yield averages 5.1 kg ha^–1 y^–1. On average, 30% of the total is particulate and 70% is dissolved. Of the dissolved fraction, an average of 50% is organic and 50% is inorganic, of which 20% is ammonium and 80% is nitrate. Yields are substantially lower than previously estimated for background conditions. Yields of all nitrogen fractions are strongly related to runoff, which also explains a large percentage of variance in yield of total nitrogen (r²=0.85). For total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions, yield increases at about two-thirds the rate of runoff; concentration decreases as runoff increases. There is a secondary but significant positive relationship between elevation and yield of DIN. Ratios DON/TDN and PN/TN both are related to watershed area rather than runoff; DON/TDN decreases and PN/TN increases toward higher stream orders. The analysis suggests for tropical watersheds the existence of mechanisms promoting strong homeostasis in the yield of N and its fractions for a given moisture regime, as well as predictable downstream change in proportionate representation N fractions. Yields and concentrations for small tropical watersheds are much larger than for the few temperate ones with which comparisons are possible.     

The impact of humans on the nitrogen cycle,with focus on temperate arable agriculture

The 6 billion people alive today consume about 25 million tonnes of protein nitrogen each year, a requirement that could well increase to 40–45 million tonnes by 2050. Most of them ultimately depend on the Haber-Bosch process to fix the atmospheric N₂ needed to grow at least part of their protein and, over the earth as a whole, this dependency is likely to increase. Humans now fix some 160 million tonnes of nitrogen per year, of which 98 are fixed industrially by the Haber-Bosch process (83 for use as agricultural fertilizer, 15 for industry), 22 during combustion and the rest is fixed during the cultivation of leguminous crops and fodders. These 160 million tonnes have markedly increased the burden of combined nitrogen entering rivers, lakes and shallow seas, as well as increasing the input of NH₃, N₂O, NO and NO₂ to the atmosphere. Nitrogen fertilizers give large economic gains in modern farming systems and under favourable conditions can be used very efficiently. Losses of nitrogen occur from all systems of agriculture, with organic manures being particularly difficult to use efficiently. Although nitrate leaching has received much attention as an economic loss, a cause of eutrophication and a health hazard, gaseous emissions may eventually prove to be the most serious environmentally. Scientists working on the use and fate of nitrogen fertilizers must be careful, clear headed and vigilant in looking for unexpected side effects.     

Yield of nitrogen from minimally disturbed watersheds of the United States

Watersheds of the US Geological Survey's Hydrologic Benchmark Network program were used in estimating annual yield of total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions (ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic N, particulate N) in relation to amount of runoff, elevation, and watershed area. Only watersheds minimally disturbed with respect to the nitrogen cycle were used in the analysis (mostly natural vegetation cover, no point sources of N, atmospheric deposition of inorganic N < 10 kg ha^–1 y^–1). Statistical analysis of the yields of total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions showed that elevation and watershed area bear no significant relationship to nitrogen yield for these watersheds. The yields of total nitrogen and nitrogen fractions are, however, strongly related to runoff (r ² = 0.91 for total N). Annual yield increases as runoff increases, but at a rate lower than runoff; annual discharge-weighted mean concentrations decline as annual runoff increases. Yields of total nitrogen and most nitrogen fractions bear a relationship to runoff that is nearly indistinguishable from a relationship that was documented previously for minimally disturbed watersheds of the American tropics. Overall, the results suggest strong interlatitudinal convergence of yields and percent fractionation for nitrogen in relation to runoff.     

Nitrogen outputs from fecal and urine deposition of small mammals: implications for nitrogen cycling

The contribution of small mammals to nitrogen cycling could have repercussions for the producer community in the maintaining or perhaps magnifying of nitrogen availability. Our objective was to model nitrogen outputs (deposition of feces and urine) of small mammals in an old-field ecosystem and estimate the amount of fecal and urinary nitrogen deposited annually. To address this objective, we used models from laboratory studies and combined these with data from field studies to estimate dietary nitrogen and monthly and annual nitrogen outputs from fecal and urine deposition of five rodent species. The models accounted for monthly fluctuations in density and biomass of small-mammal populations. We estimated that the minimal amount of nitrogen deposited by rodents was 1.0 (0.9–1.1) and 2.7 (2.6–2.9) kg Nha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from feces and urine, respectively, for a total contribution of 3.7 (3.5–4.0) kg Nha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) accounted for >75% of the total nitrogen output by small mammals. Our estimates of annual fecal and urinary nitrogen deposited by rodents were comparable to nitrogen deposits by larger herbivores and other nitrogen fluxes in grassland ecosystems and should be considered when assessing the potential effects of herbivory on terrestrial nitrogen cycles.     

Available soil nitrogen in relation to fractions of soil nitrogen and other soil properties

The available N of 27 soils from England and Wales was assessed from the amounts of N taken up over a 6-month period by perennial ryegrass grown in pots under uniform environmental conditions. Relationships between availability and the distribution of soil N amongst various fractions were then examined using multiple regression. The relationship: available soil N (mg kg^–1 dry soil)=(N_min×0.672)+(N_inc×0.840)+(N_mom×0.227)–5.12 was found to account for 91% of the variance in available soil N, where N_min=mineral N, N_inc=N mineralized on incubation and N_mom=N in macro-organic matter. The N mineralized on incubation appeared to be derived largely from sources other than the macro-organic matter because these two fractions were poorly correlated. When availability was expressed in terms of available organic N as % of soil organic N (N_ao) the closest relationship with other soil characteristics was: N_ao=[N_inc×(1.395–0.0347×CN_mom]+[N_mom×0.1416], where CN_mom=CN ratio of the macro-organic matter. This relationship accounted for 81% of the variance in the availability of the soil organic N.The conclusion that the macro-organic matter may contribute substantially to the available N was confirmed by a subsidiary experiment in which the macro-organic fraction was separated from about 20 kg of a grassland soil. The uptake of N by ryegrass was then assessed on two subsamples of this soil, one without the macro-organic matter and the other with this fraction returned: uptake was appreciably increased by the macro-organic matter.     

Time course of N2 fixation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the nitrogen fixation rates of four cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at different growth stages. The ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique was used to quantify biological nitrogen fixation. In the greenhouse, cultivars M4403 and Kallmet accumulated 301 and 189 mg N plant^–1, respectively, up to 63 days after planting (DAP) of which 57 and 43% was derived from atmosphere. Under field conditions, cultivars Bayocel and Flor de Mayo RMC accumulated in 77 DAP, 147 and 135 kg N ha^–1, respectively, of which approximately one-half was derived from the atmosphere. The rates of N₂ fixation determined at different growth stages increased as the plants developed, and reached a maximum during the reproductive stage both under field and greenhouse conditions. Differences in translocation of N were observed between the cultivars tested, particularly under field conditions. Thus, the fixed N harvest index was 93 and 60 for cultivars Flor de Mayo and Bayocel, respectively. In early stages of growth, the total content of ureides in the plants correlated with the N fixation rates. The findings reported in the present paper can be used to build a strategy for enhancing biological N₂ fixation in common bean.     

嫁接与施氮对甜瓜产量和氮素吸收、利用的影响

通过裂区设计田间试验,主区为2种栽培方式(嫁接栽培和自根栽培),副区为4个施氮水平(0、120、240、360 kg N·hm^-2),研究了栽培方式和施氮量对甜瓜产量和品质、氮素运移和分配,以及氮素利用率的影响.结果表明: 嫁接栽培的甜瓜商品瓜产量较自根甜瓜提高了7.3%,可溶性固形物含量降低了0.16%～3.28%;生长前期嫁接栽培甜瓜氮素累积量较自根栽培低,结果后嫁接栽培氮素累积量显著升高,收获时植株氮素累积量较自根栽培增加了5.2%,果实中的氮素累积量提高了10.3%;嫁接栽培植株氮素向果实的转移量较自根栽培提高了20.9%,嫁接栽培果实中的氮素分配率在80%以上,自根栽培的分配率在80%以下;在同一施氮水平下,嫁接栽培的甜瓜氮素吸收利用率较自根栽培提高了1.3%～4.2%,氮素农学效率提高了2.73～5.56 kg·kg^-1,氮素生理利用率提高了7.39～16.18 kg·kg^-1;从商品瓜产量、氮素吸收量和氮素利用率综合考虑,施氮量240 kg·hm^-2为本区域嫁接甜瓜较适宜的氮素用量.     

Nitrogen inputs to a marine embayment: the importance of groundwater

We examined the importance of nitrogen inputs from groundwater and runoff in a small coastal marine cove on Cape Cod, MA, USA. We evaluated groundwater inputs by three different methods: a water budget, assuming discharge equals recharge; direct measurements of discharge using bell jars; and a budget of water and salt at the mouth of the Cove over several tidal cycles. The lowest estimates were obtained by using a water budget and the highest estimates were obtained using a budget of water and salt at the Cove mouth. Overall there was more than a five fold difference in the freshwater inputs calculated by using these methods. Nitrogen in groundwater appears to be largely derived from on site septic systems. Average nitrate concentrations were highest in the region where building density was greatest. Nitrate in groundwater appeared to behave conservatively in sandy sediments where groundwater flow rates were high (> 11/m²/h), indicating that denitrification was not substantially reducing external nitrogen loading to the Cove. Nitrogen inputs from groundwater were approximately 300 mmol-N/m³/y of Cove water. Road runoff contributed an additional 60 mmol/m³/y. Total nitrogen inputs from groundwater and road runoff to this cove were similar in magnitude to river dominated estuaries in urbanized areas in the United States.     

The cycling of organic nitrogen through the atmosphere

Atmospheric organic nitrogen (ON) appears to be a ubiquitous but poorly understood component of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition flux. Here, we focus on the ON components that dominate deposition and do not consider reactive atmospheric gases containing ON such as peroxyacyl nitrates that are important in atmospheric nitrogen transport, but are probably not particularly important in deposition. We first review the approaches to the analysis and characterization of atmospheric ON. We then briefly summarize the available data on the concentrations of ON in both aerosols and rainwater from around the world, and the limited information available on its chemical characterization. This evidence clearly shows that atmospheric aerosol and rainwater ON is a complex mixture of material from multiple sources. This synthesis of available information is then used to try and identify some of the important sources of this material, in particular, if it is of predominantly natural or anthropogenic origin. Finally, we suggest that the flux of ON is about 25 per cent of the total nitrogen deposition flux.