Study on the mineral extraction of legume and grass species from various soil types, by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), followed by gamma-ray spec trometry, was used to determine the concentration of K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mo, Co, Cr, La, Eu and Th in six species of legumes and three species of grasses. Each species of forage was cultivated on two different oxisols, that is, a red yellow Latossol and a dark red Latossol, with the aim of co mparing the influence of the soils in the mineral extraction. Besides, on e ach kind of soil, two different limestone concentrations were used in order to verify how the soil pH correction could influence the elemental absorpt ion in each species, and at the same time; to search for an optimum value o f limestone concentration for each soil.