Leaf analysis as a guide to the nutrition of fruit crops. VI—Determination of magnesium, zinc and copper by atomic absorption spectroscopy

With the appropriate instrumental settings magnesium may be determined in solutions containing 0·01–2·0 μg. of Mg/ml., zinc in solutions containing 0·02–4·0 μg. of Zn/ml. and copper in solutions containing 0·1–15·0 μg. of Cu/ml. The effect of phosphate and calcium on the absorption of magnesium in the coal gas/air flame has been investigated in relation to the position in the flame at which measurements are made; the effect of combinations of magnesium, and sulphate on the absorption of zinc has also been studied.