The Reliability of a Micro‐Dumas Procedure for Determining Total Nitrogen in Soil

The reliability of a streamlined micro‐Dumas procedure for total nitrogen in soils of different organic matter content was investigated. Results obtained were compared with values as measured by a Kjeldahl method commonly used for soils. The methods appeared equally satisfactory for soils containing below about 0.3% of N. Values for high organic matter soils and plant materials were substantially higher when measured by the Dumas method. The higher results from these materials were caused from incomplete combustion, which resulted in methane being formed and measured with the N2.