Determination of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in soils by automated elemental analysis (dry combustion method)

The use of the LECO CHN‐600 Elemental Analyzer (based on a dry combustion method) for the analysis of soils for their content of organic and total carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen is described. Organic carbon determined by this means was closely related to organic carbon determined according to the Tyurin method, and total carbon related to organic matter content determined by the loss‐on‐ignition of soil samples. Precision for the carbon and hydrogen determination were acceptable. It was lower in the case of the total nitrogen determination. The time of analysis was approximately 4 to 5 minutes.