Effect of potassium and calcium fertilizations on potassium K X-Ray structure in maize saplings

摘要

Precise evaluation of K X-ray peak energies of potassium in maize saplings from a pot experiment and in their soilshas been done. The experiment involved the pot treatments with different nutrient fertilizers keeping all otherenvironment factors; soil, light, temperature and watering same. Fertilization affects the relative concentration ofnutrients in plants and soils. The measurements have been done in an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence(EDXRF) set-up comprising low power Neptune X-ray tube and Si (PIN) detector. The energies of peaks in thespectra were evaluated with the SOLVER fitting program that gives a precision up to 10-4 of channel width. Theresults show shift in peak energies with fertilizations relative to those of untreated pot. The calcium fertilizationproduced more shift as compared to that produced by potassium fertilization. The shift pattern in maize samples isdifferent from that of corresponding soil samples; moreover, it is in contrast to our earlier findings in mint plants.All the outcomes point to chemical changes in plants with fertilization.