I mean how could l describe soil total nitrogen level. What are the limits to say low, medium, high, very high?
You may find that this subjective classification varies between geographical areas and between soil types within them.
@ Alaa, yes it varies with the soil types. For example, in sandy soils the ranges consider in India is as below:
Low - less than 25 mg-N/kg
Medium - 25-50 mg-N/kg
High - 50-75 mg-N/kg and
Very High - above 75 mg-N/kg
Hi Alaa,
To describe soil total nitrogen level you can :
1- exprim it in mass of total nitrogen per mass of soil, and you have to compare your values to other values of similar. by comparison you will be able to determine the (relative) limits of your soil.
2- exprim it as C/N ratio (mass of total carbon / mass of total nitrogen), this notation is especially used in agricultural sciences. Function of the C/N ratio, you can determine the total nitrogen depending on whether it is limiting (about C/N > 20), nonlimiting (about C/N < 20). The limit C/N =20 value is approximatives and can change a little depending on the littrature. Using C/N ratio you can exprim the total nitrogen in a less relative (more absolute) way.
You have an exemple of sediment total nitrogen expression and you'll be able to find litterature on soil C/N ratio limit in these articles :
Article Impact of the nature of organic matter and/or its organo-min...
Article Nature and accessibility of organic matter in lacustrine sediment
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