Determination of nitrate in soil by second derivative ultraviolet spectrometry

Abstract

A second derivative UV‐spectrometry method is described for the determination of nitrate in soils. Ammonium, nitrite, and urea may be determined in the same extract. The method generally requires no pretreatment of soil extracts, and hence is very rapid. It is largely free from interferences. Recoveries of added nitrate in four soils by the proposed method compared favourably with the phenoldisulphonic acid method.