HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Clark, D. H. Articles by Mayland, H. F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Clark, D. H. Articles by Mayland, H. F. Agricola Articles by Clark, D. H. Articles by Mayland, H. F.

Analysis of Trace Elements in Forages by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

USDA-ARS, Logan, UT 84322,
USDA-ARS, Ithaca, NY 24853
USDA-ARS and Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Dept, Utah Exp. Stn., Utah State Univ., Logan, UT. Journal Paper no. 3554

^* *Corresponding author

Use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for elemental analysis has been limited to a few elements including Ca, P, K, and Mg. However, other elements are of interest in the agricultural industry. Therefore, NIRS spectra were collected on forage samples consisting of tall fescue (Festucu arundinacea Schreb.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum and A. desertorum), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Elemental concentrations of Ba, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, AI, S, and Si were determined by ICP (Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma) analysis while selenium (Se) was determined by fluorometry. The elemental analyses were regressed against NIRS apparent absorption from 1100 to 2500 nm at 2-nm increments. Coefficients of variation [CV = (standard error of performance / the mean from the chemical procedure) x 1001 ranged from a high of 211% for Li in crested wheatgrass to 11% for S in alfalfa. Determination of Ba, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, and V exhibited enough inconsistency in CVs among the three forages to preclude their determination with NIRS. Aluminum and S appear to be present in an organic form that NIRS is able to detect (CV = 22 and 15, 21 and 12, and 28 and 11%, for tall fescue, crested wheatgrass, and alfalfa, respectively). Silica exhibited slightly more variation than S or AI, with alfalfa having the highest CV (49%). Selenium was only determined on a tall fescue population with a CV = 27%. Using the statistical values as parameters indicative of NIRS utility, it appears that A1 and S are the only elements in this group of minerals that can be determined with NIRS for these forage types.

Received for publication February 25, 1988.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Halgerson, C. C. Sheaffer, N. P. Martin, P. R. Peterson, and S. J. Weston Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Prediction of Leaf and Mineral Concentrations in Alfalfa Agron. J., March 1, 2004; 96(2): 344 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]