In my soil analysis i used uv-vis spectrophotometer to determine nitrate nitrogen and TOC-TN analyzer to determine TOC & Total Nitrogen. I got very high Nitrate nitrogen values than Total nitrogen of soil extracts.
Nitrogen is the nutrient most often deficient for crop production and its use can result in substantial economic return for farmers. However, when N inputs to the soil system exceeds crop needs, there is a possibility that excessive amounts of nitrate ( NO3 - N ) may enter either ground or surface water. For more details consult https://extension.umn.edu