| Abstract: | Abstract To examine sonic dispersion as an extraction procedure for DTPA micronutrient test, soil DTPA solution suspensions were sonicated to extract Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu. The elements extracted after 15 or 60 seconds sonication were compared with those extracted after 1/2 or 2 hours shaking. The mean differences between Fe, Zn, Mn, or Cu extracted after 15 seconds sonication and those extracted after 1/2 hour shaking were not significant. However, the extractions obtained after 2 hours shaking were significantly higher than those obtained after 15 or 60 seconds sonication. The elements extracted after 15 or 60 seconds sonication correlated significantly with those extracted after 1/2 or 2 hours shaking. Therefore, 15 or 60 seconds sonication can replace 2 hours shaking in the extraction procedure for DTPA micronutrient test. However, 15 seconds sonication is more convenient than 60 seconds and does not require cooling of soil solution suspension during sonication. Therefore 15 seconds sonication ‐ a replacement for 2 hours shaking to extract Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu ‐ is recommended. |
