Estimate of macronutrient concentration in dried flaxseed plants using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique

Metal concentration percentage in plants has attracted scientists because of macronutrients that are involved in our lives. There are a lot of methods to measure these concentrations, but with low accuracy like atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique does not need advanced preparations for samples compared to AAS technique. Dried flaxseed plants are used to measure Fe, P, K, Mg, Al, and S concentration using LIBS and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. Metal concentrations depend on two parameters: electron temperature which is measured by spectral line equation and electron density determined using the McWhirter equation. A new equation used to measure metal concentration with high accuracy measurements depending on using two lines in the spectrum. The concentration of elements found in the dried flaxseed sample are Al (3.06%), S (1.6%), P (2.58%), Mg (1.17%), F (0.65%), and K (0.64%). There is an excellent agreement between the concentrations of the LIBS technique and the XRF technique.