Evaluation of plant nitrate extraction techniques and effect on commonly used analytical methods of detection

Forage nitrate (NO3) analytical methods have shown biases. Extraction of pl ant material has not been standardized for NO3 analysis. Significantly diff erent extraction techniques are currently used by professionals in the fiel d, often depending on the professional discipline or analytical detection m ethod. The effects of extraction variables has not been adequately examined . In this paper, five different extraction variables were investigated, inc luding sample size, extraction volume, extraction shake time, extraction te mperature, and extraction solution pH. The effects of the extraction variab les were determined for three commonly used analytical detection techniques , including flow injection analysis, ion chromatography, and ion specific e lectrode.