Nitrate Nitrogen Quantification via Ultraviolet Absorbance: A Case Study in Agricultural and Horticultural Regions in Central China

Yiheng Zang, Jing Chen, Muhammad Awais, Mukhtar Iderawumi Abdulraheem, Moshood Abiodun Yusuff, Kuan Geng, Yongqi Chen, Yani Xiong, Linze Li, Yanyan Zhang, Vijaya Raghavan, Jiandong Hu (), Junfeng Wu and Guoqing Zhao ()
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Yiheng Zang: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Jing Chen: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Muhammad Awais: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Mukhtar Iderawumi Abdulraheem: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Moshood Abiodun Yusuff: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Kuan Geng: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yongqi Chen: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yani Xiong: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Linze Li: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yanyan Zhang: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Vijaya Raghavan: Department of Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
Jiandong Hu: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Junfeng Wu: Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Guoqing Zhao: School of Management, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Soil nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 − -N) is a key indicator of agricultural non-point source pollution. The ultraviolet (UV) dual-wavelength method is widely used for NO 3 − -N detection, but interference from complex soil organic matter affects its accuracy. This study investigated how organic matter influences NO 3 − -N detection by optimizing UV dual-wavelength combinations. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed slight spectral broadening of fulvic and humic acids in the presence of NO 3 − -N under UV spectrum. Standard solutions and soil samples were used to compare the detection performance of different wavelength pairs. The findings indicated that the dual-wavelength combination of 235 nm/275 nm is optimal rather than 220 nm/275 nm for measuring soil samples at NO 3 − -N concentrations exceeding 5 mg·L −1 . The 235/275 nm method gave an average calibration coefficient of 1.57. Compared to the national standard and flow analysis methods, the average relative errors were 19.7% and 22.3% ( p < 0.001), respectively, indicating its suitability for practical soil applications. These results demonstrate the method’s potential for rapid and accurate NO 3 − -N detection in real soil samples, supporting its application in environmental monitoring and agricultural management.

Keywords: nitrate nitrogen in soil; ultraviolet dual-wavelength; agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPS); soil organic matter; calibration coefficient (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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