Smith, Stuart W. and Robertson, A. H. Jean and Meharg, Andrew A. and Pakeman, Robin J. and Johnson, David and Woodin, Sarah J. and van der Wal, Rene (2013) Milling plant and soil material in plastic tubes over-estimates carbon and under-estimates nitrogen concentrations. Plant and Soil, 369 (1-2). pp. 509-513. ISSN 0032-079X
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Background and aimsMilling of plant and soil material in plastic tubes, such as microcentrifuge tubes, over-estimates carbon (C) and under-estimates nitrogen (N) concentrations due to the introduction of polypropylene into milled samples, as identified using Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy.Methods and resultsThis study compares C and N concentrations of roots and soil milled in microcentrifuge tubes versus stainless steel containers, demonstrating that a longer milling time, greater milling intensity, smaller sample size and inclusion of abrasive sample material all increase polypropylene contamination from plastic tubes leading to overestimation of C concentrations by up to 8 % (0.08 g g−1).ConclusionsErroneous estimations of C and N, and other analytes, must be assumed after milling in plastic tubes and milling methods should be adapted to minimise such error.