Interferences in simple n‐determination methods.II. Nitrite in the presence of organic compounds

Abstract

The importance of the nitrification‐mediated nitrosation reaction between NO₂ ⁻ and soil organic matter is difficult to assess: because NO₂ ⁻ is very unstable in the presence of organic compounds, many unwanted chemical reactions may occur during extraction, incubation and analysis. Buffered samples containing both NO₂ ⁻ and organic compounds of interest for that nitrosation reaction were incubated and analyzed for their N‐content by various conventional laboratory methods. The reliability of these methods was evaluated and major problems were identified.