Elemental analysis of agricultural soil samples by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique

In agriculture, elements essential to vital processes are also called nutri ents, A suitable and reliable particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method ology for content determination of essential nutrients in soil samples was developed and its effectiveness proved. The PIXE method is applied to inter mediate thickness samples, whose mass per area unit are smaller than 1 mu g /cm(2). Precision and accuracy of the method was estimated after repeated m easurements of a single reference material: CRM PACS-2 (estuarine sediment) with a matrix quite similar to the soil samples measured. This paper repor ts the results of elemental measurements in soil samples. A discussion of a gricultural soil sample preparation for PIXE analysis is also presented. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.