Efficient analytical methods for the quantification of plant-available Zn contained in mineral fertilizers and industrial by-products are fundamental for the control and marketing of these inputs. In this sense, there are some doubts on the part of the scientific community as well as of the fertilizer production sector, whether the extractor requested by the government (Normative Instruction No. 28, called 2nd extractor), which is citric acid 2 % (2 % CA) (Brasil, 2007b), is effective in predicting the plant availability […]

In this study available cooper (Cu) content in different sources of this micronutrient was determined using several extractants. The cooper sources were: coppper oxide p.a. + copper powder p.a., copper oxide 40 Ind., CuSO4.5H2O p.a., chalcopyrite ore, copper powder p.a. and copper oxide p.a., and they were used in the following extraction procedures: total Cu content and soluble Cu contents in water, citric acid at 20 g L-1, neutral ammonium citrate (1 + 9) and DTPA at 0.005 mol L-1. […]