Evaluation of Nitrate Quick Tests to Improve Fertigation Management

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess rapid‐analysis equipment for nitrate nitrogen, evaluating the measurement precision, the ease of use, and the robustness of the equipment. Three kinds of samples were collected: soil solutions taken by suction cup, hydroponic drainage solutions, and nutritive solutions obtained from the emitter. The equipment used to analyze the solutions for nitrate were Handion Priva electrodes, Nanocolor photometric equipment, and test equipment for ELE hydroponic solutions. The results were as follows: all equipment was easy to use, with clear and simple instructions for use in the field for fertigation management. The electrode appeared to be the most appropriate method to determine nitrate. The Nanocolor and ELE equipment underestimated nitrate concentrations for values greater than 3 mmol L⁻¹; to ameliorate this problem, adjustment equations can be used.

Keywords:

• Field analysis
• nitrate test
• suction cups