SIMPLE DETERMINATION OF NITRATE IN SOILS BY 2ND-DERIVATIVE SPECTROSCOPY

A new and simple method for nitrate analysis in soil extracts and soil solution is described. The method uses the second derivative of the d irect ultra-violet (UV) spectrum, available from most microprocessor-c ontrolled spectrophotometers with a UV source. Results with the propos ed method were similar to those obtained by the cadmium-reduction colu mn and ion-chromatographic methods. The main advantages of the propose d technique are that it is simple, rapid, accurate and requires no sam ple pre-treatment, making it useful for routine analysis of large numb ers of samples.