Determination of Nutrient

Concentrations in Soil Solution

Application Note 01-2017

and Tomato Plant Sap
Fertigation management requires rapid and accurate methods
to determine nutrient concentrations in soil solution and plant
sap. Folegatti et al (2005) found that the concentrations of
nitrate, potassium, and sodium ions in soil solution and tomato
plant sap determined by LAQUAtwin ion pocket meters showed
good correlations with those obtained in soil solution and in leaf
dry matter, respectively, determined by standard methods in
laboratory, and concluded that LAQUAtwin ion pocket meters
are useful low-cost tools in fertigation management.

Introduction number of samples in a short period of

time while in the field.
Plants take nutrients from soil for their
growth. Nutrient levels in soil and plant
tissues give an indication of the nutrient
requirements of crop. Folegatti et al
(2005) developed a study to evaluate
the performance of Cardy ion meters
on the determination of nitrate (NO 3 -
), potassium (K+), and sodium (Na+)
ion concentrations in soil solution
and tomato plant sap for fertigation
management purposes. The sodium ion
(Na+) is not an important ion for tomato,
but its concentration in soil solution and
plant sap gives valuable information
when using saline irrigation water.
Cardy ion meters were superseded by
LAQUAtwin B-700 series ion pocket
meters, which have replaceable sensors,
upgraded software, and enhanced user
interface. The LAQUAtwin B-722, B-731,
and B-743 ion pocket meters measure
sodium ion (Na+), potassium ion (K+),
and nitrate ion (NO3-), respectively. Like
Cardy ion meters, the LAQUAtwin B-700
series ion pocket meters require only few
drops or micro-volume of sample and
deliver results in just few seconds. These
advantages allow users to analyze a large
Method
Tomato was cultivated in a
greenhouse in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
with different levels of nitrogen
(N), potassium (K) and salinity in
the irrigation water. Fertilizers and
salts used were ammonium nitrate
(NH4NO3), potassium chloride (KCl),
calcium chloride (CaCl2), and sodium
chloride (NaCl), which were applied
by drip fertigation. Soil solution
samples were collected every 15
days (on average) beginning 24 hrs
after irrigations by suction at the 15
cm depth with porous ceramic cups
and the concentrations of nitrate
(NO3-), potassium (K+), and sodium
(Na+) ions were determined by
Cardy ion meters. The results were
compared with those determined in
laboratory by standard methods—
flame photometry for K+ and Na+ and
steam-distillation for NO3- .
Fifty samples of young fully
expanded leaves corresponding to
the different treatments were also
collected. The base of the petioles
was squeezed using a garlic press
and nutrients in sap were determined
by Cardy ion meters. The leaves were
oven-dried at 60ºC for 48 hrs and the
total N, K, and Na+ were determined
in laboratory by methodology
proposed by Malavolta et al (1997).
Concentrations of the nutrients in
petiole sap were compared with
those in leaves.
Cardy ion pocket meters were
calibrated with two standard solutions
before use and after every 10
samples. To prevent contamination
by carry-over, sensors were washed
with distilled water between samples.
Drippers
Soil solution
extractor Tensiometers
Tensiometers
Figure 1A: Greenhouse experimental pot
Continued at the back
Continued from the front

Results and Benefits leaf dry matter and relationships were

significant for all ions (Table 1). The
Concentrations of NO 3 -, K+, and Na+ values of r 2 for the concentrations in
in soil solution determined by Cardy the petiole sap and in leaf dry matter
ion meters and by standard methods were close to those observed by other
in laboratory were found strongly studies. Comparisons of Na+ measured
correlated (Figure 2). The NO 3 - in petiole sap and dry matter were not
concentrations measured by Cardy ion found in the available literature.
meters were about 39% lower than those
determined by distillation method, while Discrepancies observed between the
the K+ and Na+ concentrations were 21% Cardy ion meters and standard method
and 67% higher, respectively, than those measurements were probably due to
determined by flame photometry. The the influence of other ions present in soil
coefficients of determination (r 2) were solution and plant sap. Nevertheless,
high for all ions and the relationships Folegatti et al (2005) concluded that the
Base of petiole
{ were significant at 1% (Table 1). Cardy ion meters, now called LAQUAtwin
ion pocket meters, which were found to give
Figure 1B: Base of petiole used for sap nutrient
determination
Concentrations of NO 3 -, K+, and Na+ good correlations with the values obtained
in petiole sap determined by Cardy by standard methods, are suitable for
ion meters were reasonably well determining nutrient concentrations in soil
correlated with those determined in solution and petiole sap.

Table 1 - Values of paired-t test for concentrations of NO3-, K+ 18000 3000 4500
and Na+ determined by CIM and by standard y = 0.563x + 56
15000 2500
methods, in the soil solution and tomato petiole sap. 2
r = 0.82
3000
N O 3 D (mg L )

NaF F (mg L )
Statistic NO 3- K+ Na + 12000 2000

-1
-1

K FF (mg L )
-1

Soil solution 9000 1500

t -12.1** 12.3** 26.4** 6000 1000 1500
Petiole sap y = 1.62x + 110 y = 0.744x + 13
3000 2 500 2
t 13.4** ξ
13.9** 14.0** r = 0. 9 3 r = 0.96

**Significant at 0.01. 0 0 0
ξ
NO 3- in sap tested against total-N in leaf dry matter. 0 6000 12000 18000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 0 1500 3000 4500
-1 -1 -1
NO 3CIM (mg L ) K C I M (mg L ) Na C IM (mg L )

Figure 2 - Relationships between concentrations of nitrate, potassium and sodium in the soil solution measured by cardy-ion meters (CIM)
and by standard methods. FF = flame fotometry; D = steam-distillation.

6 7 1.0

5 6
0.8
5
Na D M (dag kg )
K DM (dag kg )
N DM (dag kg )

4
-1
-1

-1

4 0.6
3
3
0.4
2
y = 0.0019x + 1.62 2 y = 0 .0006x + 0.7
y = 0.0 003x + 0.05
1 2 2 0.2
r = 0.61 1 r = 0.68 2
r = 0.71
0 0 0.0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000
-1 -1 -1
NO 3 s a p (mg L ) K s a p (m g L ) Na sa p (m g L )
Figure 3 - Relationships between the concentrations of nitrate, potassium and sodium in petiole sap and total-N, potassium and sodium in
the dry matter (DM) of tomato leaves, hybrid Facundo.

References and Suggested Readings

1. Folegatti, M.V., Blanco, F.F., Boaretto, R.M. and Boaretto, A.E. (2005) Calibration of cardy-ion meters to measure nutrient concentrations in soil solution and in plant sap. Sci. Agric.
(Piracicaba, Braz.), v.62, n.1, pp 8-11.
2. Malavolta, E., Vitti, G.C.; Oliveira, S.A. Avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas: princípios e aplicações. 2.ed. Piracicaba: POTAFOS, 1997. 201p.
Revision 1.0, 30 December 2016

LAQUAtwin Pocket Ion Meters Lineup

pH COND / TDS Na+ K+ NO3 – Ca2+ Salt EC

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