Strontium isotope source tracing in plant tissues

Knowledge graph centered on Strontium isotope source tracing in plant tissues with 55 nodes and 189 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Crested Butte, Pekania pennanti, Potentilla gracilis.

Method synopsis

Sequential extraction and ICP-MS analysis of soil pools and plant tissues to trace nutrient sources using 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Includes mixing model calculations to quantify proportional contributions from atmospheric, apatite, and silicate sources.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper 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 — Depth of nutrient uptake by deep-rooted plants is regulated by water availability (2026), PNAS. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Extract soil exchangeable pools
   Exchangeable pool (digest 1) was extracted using 1 g soil mixed with 10 ml unbuffered 1 M NH4Cl. Apatite pool was extracted using residue of exchangeable extraction, shaken with 1 M HNO3 overnight at room temperature. Dominant silicate pool was extracted using 1.5 M HNO3 at 120°C overnight.
   Quantities: 1 g soil per extraction, 10 ml NH4Cl solution, 1 M HNO3, 1.5 M HNO3Duration: Overnight extractions for apatite and silicate poolsConditions: Room temperature for apatite, 120°C for silicate extraction
   Equipment: centrifuge, shaker, heating equipment
2. Analyze strontium isotopes
   Plant and soil samples were dried, ground, and dissolved in concentrated HNO3. Solutions were purified using Teflon vials and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab for 87Sr/86Sr ratios. Average 87Sr/86Sr of NBS 987 was 0.710260 ± 7.2 × 10-6 (n = 10).
   Quantities: Multiple replicates per sample typeDuration: Standard analytical timeframesConditions: Laboratory conditions at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
   Equipment: ICP-MS, Teflon vials, analytical balance

Typical Equipment

• ICP-MS
• centrifuge
• shaker
• Teflon vials

Output Measurements

• 87Sr/86Sr ratios
• source contribution percentages
• nutrient acquisition depth

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used