Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Tsung-Ren Peng*, Tsang-Sen Liu and Hsing-Juh Lin

Abstract:

    The understanding of biogeochemical cycle of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elements in nature ecosystem have increased substantially in the past two decades owing to the improvement of gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer and the wide application of isotopic studies with these elements. Although the products have same chemical compositions, they will exhibit various isotopic ratios if they produced from different sources or by different chemical/physical processes. The stable isotopic research is established by studying the discrepancy in isotope ratio, which was caused by isotope fractionation, and the isotopic ratio difference can be determined by mass spectrometer. After understanding the reasons that cause isotopic discrepancy; then we can further interpret the information and the meaning of environmental change. To let more domestic relevant researchers understand the applicable techniques of stable isotopes, this article not only introduces the principles of isotopes measurements by gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer, but also integrates the experiences of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopes in agriculture and environmental applications that were described in papers.

Key words:Stable isotope, Isotope fractionation, Gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer

Download: PDF Links