Total carbon organic carbon and organic matter

Total Carbon, Organic Carbon, and Organic Matter

Plant analysis (sometimes referred to as leaf analysis) is the determination of the total elemental content of a specified plant part. The emphasis in this chapter will be on the determination of those elements required for plant growth. Interpretation is normally based on the use of a "critical value" or "sufficiency range" (Smith, 1962) comparison between the elemental concentration found and a known norm (Goodall & Gregory, 1947; Chapman, 1966; Reuter & Robinson, 1986; Adriano, 1986; Martin-Prevel et al., 1987). An alternative method of interpretation is Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (ORIS), which interprets the ratios of elements (N/P, K/Ca, and K/Mg) as indicators of elemental status (Beaufils, 1973; Sumner, 1977, 1982). Most growers primarily use a plant analysis for diagnosing suspected elemental insufficiencies, while its most significant, yet little used application, is for evaluating the soil/plant elemental status. This is partially reflected in the relatively few plant tissue samples assayed for growers, about 500 000, in the USA each year (Jones, 1985). Tissue testing, an elemental assay of extracted cell sap by means of quick chemical tests in the field, seems to be gaining an interest at levels equal to that observed several decades ago. A plant analysis is carried out in a series of steps as shown in Fig. 15-1. The results obtained are no better than the care taken in collecting, handling, preparing, and analyzing the collected tissue. An error made in one of these steps can result in an erroneous interpretation leading to recommendations that may be either unnecessary, costly, or even damaging to the crop. Therefore, it is important for those employing either a plant analysis or tissue test to follow the proper sampling, preparation, and analysis procedures. This chapter deals with the procedures required to successfully conduct a plant analysis or tissue test.

Sampling, handling and analyzing plant tissue samples.

Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICPS) was used for the simultaneous determination of P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, Mo and B in the nitric acid soluble portion of a variety of plant materials. Conditions for pre‐digestion, digestion and the requirement to grind cereal grain were investigated. Digestion with nitric and perchloric acids caused loss of K (due to the low solubility of potassium perchlorate) and B (due to volatilization). The accuracy of Fe and Na determinations using nitric acid digestion was dependent upon the type of plant material. The accuracy and precision of the proposed digestion and analytical procedure was confirmed by co‐operation in an interlaboratory quality assurance program using a variety of standard reference plant materials, and the analysis of National Bureau of Standards, Standard Reference Material 1571 (orchard leaves).

Nitric acid digestion and multi‐element analysis of plant material by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry

Estimation of Soil Organic Matter by Weight Loss-On-Ignition

A method of digesting plant tissue samples for multi‐element analysis by inductively‐coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy was developed which does not require the use of HclO4. A substitute oxidant, H2O2, eliminated the hazards associated with hot, concentrated HClO4. Optimal conditions for pre‐digestion and digestion were investigated. The procedure adopted consists of a pre‐digestion in concentrated HNO3 from room temperature to 60°C in 30 min followed by digestion at 90°C for 90 min with the addition of 30% H2O2 Analysis of NBS standard tissue samples by the proposed method gave results in good agreement with analysis following digestion in HNO3,‐HClO4 and with certified values, except for Fe.

Digestion of plant tissue for analysis by ICP emission spectroscopy

Loss of weight on ignition (LOI) at 360°C for 2 h was compared with organic matter (OM) determined by “Walkley‐Black”; titration in 356 Wisconsin soils. The effects of sample size, number of samples heated at one time, and time of heating were studied using these soils. The number of samples heated at one time in a muffle furnace did not affect LOI. For an organic soil (34.2% OM), beaker size (20‐or 50‐mL) was unimportant, but LOI increased as sample size decreased. Sample size was not significant for a mineral soil (3.62% OM). Time of heating was significant for both soils. A coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.97 was obtained for the linear regression between OM and LOI of the entire group, which had OM ranging from 0.1 to 54.4%. When only samples containing less than 10% OM were considered (n=316), the regression equation was: OM = 0.973 LOI‐0.33 (R2 = 0.90).

The influence of sample size and heating time on soil weight loss-on-ignition

The Gambia is a small, densely populated country bisected by the River Gambia in West Africa. Most of the population depends on subsistence agriculture. Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) is the dominant cash crop, with significant hectarage of other grain crops, such as millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and maize (Zea mays), also present. Under the Gambia Agriculture Research and Diversification (GARD) Project contracted by USAID, the University of Wisconsin established a soil testing laboratory at the Yundum Agricultural Research Station to serve both research and service needs. In addition, research has been initiated to develop appropriate soil test interpretations and fertilizer recommendations for specific crops grown on specific soils. A plant nutrient survey of the country was initiated in 1991 and completed in 1992 to help obtain a picture of the soil fertility status of the country. Soil and tissue samples were taken from 1150 fields planted to groundnut, maize, and millet to develop a soil fertilit...

Soil test survey of the Gambia: An overview

The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System, previously applied successfully to many other crops, is shown to be an appropriate foliar diagnostic tool for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) with respect to N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The norms were developed from a data bank comprising 907 observations of tissue composition and yield gathered from the literature and investigators’ files. The total population of observations is divided into a high and low subpopulation on the basis of yield. Those forms of expressing tissue composition which discriminate best between the two subpopulations are used to compute DRIS indices which measure the extent of the deviation from the established norm. An independent set of data from two field experiments is used to show that the norms can validly diagnose nutrient insufficiences which when, corrected result, in yield increases.

Foliar diagnostic norms for sorghum

To support the development of viable plant nutrition research in The Gambia, a basic soil fertility laboratory was established in the Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, by the Gambia Agricultural Research and Diversification (GARD) Project. To assess the fertility status of soils throughout the country, 1, 152 soil samples were collected from maize (Zea mays), millet (Pennisetum glaucwri), and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) fields. The supply of available nutrients was assessed in 567 fields using plant analysis on the same three indicator crops. Soil fertility levels as measured by soil tests were found to be much higher in fields where maize was grown than in fields planted to groundnut or millet. Tissue analyses indicated that zinc (Zn) and nitrogen (N) were most limiting to maize production. Millet was very efficient in utilizing nutrients available at relatively low levels. Nitrogen was frequently limiting in groundnut, suggesting that proper nodulation is not occurr...

Using plant analysis to guide research and extension programs in the Gambia

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