15N Tracer Study in Grassland and Shrubland at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico: 1989-2002

Because grasses and shrubs may induce different spatial distributions of nutrients in desert soils, this study was initiated to examine the redistribution of nitrogen in grassland and shrubland soils over a long time period. The stable isotope N15 was applied to plots in grassland and shrubland, and the plots were measured annually from 1989-1993 and again in 1999, 2001, and 2002.