I have 12 samples of plant samples of dried leaves. I want to check phosphorus and sulfur concentration in the leaves. I am searching for an appropriate method with better accuracy and feasibility for the estimation of the same.
The modern procedure of choice is digestion in HNO3 with an excess of H2O2 then ICP. If you have access to ICP-MS so much he better but be careful about matching the acid concentration between the digests and standards. It is a good idea to analyse a ref sample beside your samples, in fact if you have the time use the reference sample(s) to get the digest and other conditions established before analysing your samples. The ICP-MS will allow measurement of all the other elements of interest and I suggest that you take advantage of that.
Paul Milham Sir, Thanks for your answer sir. I don't have access to ICP-MS and related standards. Can you suggest to me an alternative method for the estimation of Phosphorus and Sulfur in plant material?
I'm unsure why you would want an alternative to ICP-MS; however, in the suggested digest you might measure P colorimetrically as the molybdovanadate complex , but the measurement of sulfate is messy.
According to your university department's website https://jnu.ac.in/ses-cif , you have several pieces of equipment that could be put into service for this task.
If they are unavailable, there must be a fee-for-service laboratory in New Delhi that could process your samples? Perhaps a government agricultural laboratory? Or another nearby university has an ICP (OES or MS) with acid digestion facilities as suggested by Paul Milham .
As per my experience, and availability of resources i think Vandomolybdate method for phosphorus and BaSO4 turbidimetric method for sulphur works well.
Phosphorus in leaves is estimated by spectrophotometer
Magnesium is estimated by an Atomic absorption photometer
In Brazil, the analysis of the elements, mainly Phosphorus and Sulfur in plant leaf material, is carried out in accordance with Circular Technique nº 6, December, 2000, Embrapa-Solos. see at address: https://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/62212/1/Metodo-de-analise-de-tecido.pdf
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