Elemental analysis by combustion

Knowledge graph centered on Elemental analysis by combustion with 68 nodes and 132 connections. Top connected: Atriplex canescens, Asteraceae, climate change, Erigeron, Populus.

Method synopsis

Laboratory analysis of plant samples for nitrogen content using elemental CHNSO analyzer and water content determination through oven-drying weight loss.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 2 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Patterns of selective caching behavior of a generalist herbivore, the American Pika (<i>Ochotona princeps</i>) (2013), Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Plant sample collection and processing
   At each site, samples of the three most common plant species in haypiles and the three most common available plant species were collected from growing vegetation. Collection from intact plants was standardized by cutting specimens at ground level and in full sun to eliminate influence of dew on initial weights and minimize environmental variation caused by differences in light availability. Multiple source plants of each species were selected from the area within 30 m of a pika haypile at each site. Samples from intact plants were collected in paper bags and samples were immediately weighed to the nearest 0.25 g with a 60 g spring scale.
   Quantities: 3 most common cached species + 3 most common available species per site, multiple source plants within 30 m of haypiles, weighed to nearest 0.25 gDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Specimens cut at ground level in full sun to eliminate dew influence
   Equipment: 60 g spring scale (PESOLA AG, Rebmattli 19, CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland), paper bags
2. Laboratory analysis of plant samples
   Plant samples were thoroughly air-dried in a mesh bag at the University of Colorado and then dried in an oven for 24 h at 60°C. Samples were weighed immediately after drying to assess water content. Water content was computed as the total percent weight lost during drying (weight at harvest vs. weight following oven drying). For nitrogen analysis, 0.5 g of each sample was finely ground and adding liquid nitrogen does not change the chemical composition of the sample but facilitates the grinding process. Samples were packaged 3 to 5 mg of each sample in 5 × 9 mm tin capsules and run through a Costech ECS 4010 elemental CHNSO analyzer.
   Quantities: 24 h drying at 60°C, 0.5 g samples ground, 3-5 mg in tin capsules (5 × 9 mm)

Typical Equipment

• 60 g spring scale (PESOLA AG, Rebmattli 19, CH-6340 Baar, Switzerland)
• paper bags
• mesh bags
• oven
• Costech ECS 4010 elemental CHNSO analyzer (Costech Analytical Technologies, Valencia, California)
• 5 × 9 mm tin capsules

Output Measurements

• percent nitrogen content
• percent water content

Papers Using This Protocol (2)

Species Studied With This Protocol