Elemental analysis of fertilizer using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

In recent years, the use of fertilizers has increased to achieve high growth rate of agriculture products. With this increase the chemical impact of agricultural activities on the environment has also been enhanced. In order to keep the environment healthy, and clean, it is necessary to identify contaminants and characterize the sources of contamination. In this study, a comprehensive chemical characterization of a DAP fertilizer has been carried out using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Phosphorous, manganese, magnesium, iron, titanium, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, chromium, lead, and uranium traces are detected. Relative abundances of Phosphorous, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, iron, titanium, nickel, vanadium, calcium, cobalt, cadmium, tin are 26.64, 17.75, 13 97, 8.25, 7.97, 7.11, 5.07, 3.15, 2.94, 1.94, 1,55, 1.73 percent, respectively, whereas relative abundances of sulfur, aluminum, chromium, lead, and uranium are less than 1% and their sum is 1.93% of the total sample.