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Comparison of a Laboratory and Commercial Block Digester for Plant Analysis¹

ABSTRACT

The design of a block digester fabricated in the laboratory is presented. The digester was capable of attaining 380°C in about 1 hour. Variation of temperature in different parts of the block was about 2°C greater compared to the Technicon block digester (BD-40) at 328°C. Nitrogen, P, and K, and Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu values from either block were in good agreement for all crops studied using H₂SO₄ + Se digestion, and HNO₃ + HCIO₄ digestion. Precision was good from both blocks using either digestion method although the Technicon block generally gave a slightly higher precision for HNO₃ + HCIO₄ digestion. In addition, when one sample was placed in six or eight different positions on the block for the H₂SO₄ digestion in order to maximize differences between replicates, a slightly higher C. V. was recorded with our digester. The construction cost of the latter which has a somewhat smaller capacity and no automation was only about 20% of the purchase price of the Technicon digester.

¹ Contribution from Levin Horticultural Research Center, Res. Div., Ministry of Agric. and Fisheries, Private Bag, Levin, New Zealand.

² Scientist and Science Technician, respectively.

Received for publication January 5, 1978. Accepted for publication April 27, 1978.