Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration

Current fertiliser recommendations for nitrogen are limited in their accuracy and may be improved by the use of simple on-farm soil rapid tests. This paper investigates the potential for using nitrate (NO3−) ion selective electrodes (ISEs) and dual wavelength UV spectroscopy as part of a rapid soil...

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Main Authors: Davey L. Jones, Anthony Miller, A. Prysor Williams, Rory Shaw
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2013-07-01
Series:Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/3/3/327
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author Davey L. Jones
Anthony Miller
A. Prysor Williams
Rory Shaw
author_facet Davey L. Jones
Anthony Miller
A. Prysor Williams
Rory Shaw
author_sort Davey L. Jones
collection DOAJ
description Current fertiliser recommendations for nitrogen are limited in their accuracy and may be improved by the use of simple on-farm soil rapid tests. This paper investigates the potential for using nitrate (NO3−) ion selective electrodes (ISEs) and dual wavelength UV spectroscopy as part of a rapid soil NO3− diagnostic test. Three soil types, representing the major soil types for agriculture in the western UK, were tested. For the three soils, the ISE rapid test procedure gave a near 1:1 response (r2 = 0.978, 0.968, 0.989) compared to the internationally-approved standard laboratory method. However, the accuracy of the ISE rapid test was reduced at low soil NO3− concentrations (<10 mg NO3− L−1). We also show that NO3− analysis of H2O soil extracts by dual wavelength UV spectroscopy was also highly correlated (r2 = 0.978, 0.983, 0.991) to the standard laboratory method. We conclude that both ISE and dual wavelength UV spectroscopy have clear potential to be used for the rapid on-farm determination of soil NO3− concentration. Barriers to use of these field-based assessment tools include, farmer perception of cost-benefit, general attitude to new technologies and the ability to generate useful fertiliser use strategies from soil NO3− measurements.
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spelling doaj.art-e5e0f71c9a934ffa8bb532e2cc4c4eea2022-12-21T17:15:16ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722013-07-013332734110.3390/agriculture3030327Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate ConcentrationDavey L. JonesAnthony MillerA. Prysor WilliamsRory ShawCurrent fertiliser recommendations for nitrogen are limited in their accuracy and may be improved by the use of simple on-farm soil rapid tests. This paper investigates the potential for using nitrate (NO3−) ion selective electrodes (ISEs) and dual wavelength UV spectroscopy as part of a rapid soil NO3− diagnostic test. Three soil types, representing the major soil types for agriculture in the western UK, were tested. For the three soils, the ISE rapid test procedure gave a near 1:1 response (r2 = 0.978, 0.968, 0.989) compared to the internationally-approved standard laboratory method. However, the accuracy of the ISE rapid test was reduced at low soil NO3− concentrations (<10 mg NO3− L−1). We also show that NO3− analysis of H2O soil extracts by dual wavelength UV spectroscopy was also highly correlated (r2 = 0.978, 0.983, 0.991) to the standard laboratory method. We conclude that both ISE and dual wavelength UV spectroscopy have clear potential to be used for the rapid on-farm determination of soil NO3− concentration. Barriers to use of these field-based assessment tools include, farmer perception of cost-benefit, general attitude to new technologies and the ability to generate useful fertiliser use strategies from soil NO3− measurements.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/3/3/327crop nutrientsfertiliser managementnitrogen use efficiencysoil analysis
spellingShingle Davey L. Jones
Anthony Miller
A. Prysor Williams
Rory Shaw
Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration
Agriculture
crop nutrients
fertiliser management
nitrogen use efficiency
soil analysis
title Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration
title_full Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration
title_fullStr Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration
title_short Assessing the Potential for Ion Selective Electrodes and Dual Wavelength UV Spectroscopy as a Rapid on-Farm Measurement of Soil Nitrate Concentration
title_sort assessing the potential for ion selective electrodes and dual wavelength uv spectroscopy as a rapid on farm measurement of soil nitrate concentration
topic crop nutrients
fertiliser management
nitrogen use efficiency
soil analysis
url http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/3/3/327
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