Philippine Journal of Science
153 (S1): 135-147, Nuclear Science and Technology
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 11 Jul 2023
Rapid Plant Mineral Nutrition Monitoring through X-ray Fluorescence and Mass Spectrometry
Roland V. Rallos1*, Botvinnik L. Palattao2, Gerald P. Dicen1, and John Leonard R. Labides1
1Agriculture Research Section, Atomic Research Division, 2Nuclear Materials Research Section, Atomic Research Division, Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
*Corresponding author: rvrallos@pnri.dost.gov.ph
Rallos R et al. 2024. Rapid Plant Mineral Nutrition Monitoring through X-ray Fluorescence and Mass Spectrometry. Philipp J Sci 153(S1): 151–163.
ABSTRACT
The major challenge in plant mineral nutrition monitoring has been determining the concentrations of various elements in tissues. This is done to evaluate the availability and sufficiency of essential and beneficial elements and prevent elemental toxicities. Here, we present a rapid, safe, and accurate procedure for the simultaneous multi-elemental analysis using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF) coupled with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (EA-IRMS). Both techniques’ applicability, accuracy, and precision were verified by analyzing International Plant-analytical Exchange–Standard Reference Materials (IPE-SRMs). In both methods, there was an excellent agreement of experimental and certified values within allowable standard deviation in the range of 10 ppm to 5% (in most cases R2 > 0.99). Likewise, there were no significant differences in measured and certified values at a 99% confidence level. There was still decent agreement for concentrations of less than 10 ppm for most but not all elements. The accuracy and versatility of multi-element analyses through WDXRF and EA-IRMS prove that these techniques offer relevant advantages in speed and analytical costs per element. Both methods can be handy in providing immediate analytical results, as sample digestion is not required. Hence, time-critical plant nutrition monitoring and appropriate management can easily be achieved and implemented. Additionally, both techniques can quantify elements that are otherwise tedious to determine by other analytical methods (e.g. P, S, Sr, Cl, Ti) but are needed in understanding the processes of plant biology, ionomics, and elemental tolerance.
Keywords: essential elements, ionomics, multi-elemental analysis, plant nutrition, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry