Scandium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium content in commercial inorganic fertilizers and their contribution to soil

Abstract

Contents of scandium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium were measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy in acid digests of 48 inorganic fertilizer samples collected from various distributors and manufacturers in Italy. The four elements investigated were present in appreciable amounts in all superphosphates and in almost all binary NP, ternary NPK and calcium cyanamide samples; whereas the elements were in most cases undetectable or present in very low amounts in potassium sulphate and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. The order of abundance was generally: Ti Zr W Sc. Contribution to soil by application of each fertilizer at common rates were also evaluated and discussed.