The Influence of Washing Procedures on Surface Removal and Leaching of Certain Elements from Pecan Leaflets1

Abstract

Abstract Nutrient spray residue can be removed from leaflets of pecan ( Carya illinoensis (Wang.) K. Koch for nutrient absorption measurement. The residue can be removed by washing the leaflets in 0.1% Alconox, rinsed in running tap water followed by a 7 liter 1% HCl rinse and three separate 7 liter demineralized distilled water baths. The elimination of some of the solutions resulted in erroneously high results in adsorption of the nutrients. Young leaflets absorbed more zinc than did the old leaflets. Nutrient sprayed pecan leaflets washed in 0.1% Alconox, rinsed in running tap water, 7 liters 1% HCl, and three separate 7 liter demineralized distilled water baths prior to tissue analysis gave more consistent and reliable data than leaflets washed by any other method. This leaf washing procedure does not remove biologically significant amounts of any of the elements analyzed.