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A Spectrographic Method for Total Analysis of Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Spectrographic methods for total analysis of soils usually are complicated because of wide variation in constituents, crystal structures and particle sizes. In order to minimize such difficulties, a quick fusion technique employing lithium tetraborate as flux was developed. After fusion, the hot material was quenched for easy removal, then cooled, powdered, and mixed with graphite for briquetting. Rotating the briquets during excitation gave better sensitivity and reproducibility than stationary electrode methods. The uniarc, instead of ordinary d-c. arc or spark, was very satisfactory as an excitation source. A germanium dioxide internal standard was used. The proposed method is fast and accurate for determination of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ti, Zr, Sr, and Ba.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana. Presented before Div. II, Soil Science Society of America, Dec. 7, 1960, at Chicago, Ill. Part of senior author's Ph.D. thesis, 1959, University of Illinois. Published with the approval of the Director of the Illinois Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Research Associate in Soil Chemistry, Professors of Soil Fertility and Soil Chemistry, respectively, Agronomy Department, University of Illinois.

Received for publication January 18, 1961. Accepted for publication February 6, 1961.