LONZADATA: ein computergestütztes Düngungsberatungssystem unter Nutzung eines ICP-AES-Analysengerätes

Abstract

LONZA is the largest manufacturer of fertilizers in Switzerland. Since the early 1980s, the company has been developing technical solutions for a better fertilization practice. Instruments for fertilization control include test kits for farmers as well as laboratory capacities to analyse soil, plants (crops) and farm manure. ICP-AES spectrochemistry and a large software package helps to make precise recommandations. This advisory system is called LONZADATA. The ICP-AES spectrochemistry enables to analyse a large number of relevant elements in soil, plant, and farm manure samples. Plant nutrients as well as heavy metals like Cu, Cd, Pb, and Cr are analyzed. The LONZADATA system helps the farmer to optimize the use of farm manure, minimize the use of fertilizers, find plant nutrition deficiencies, improve soil fertility, detect the presence of heavy metals and to estimate the turnover of nutrients and of heavy metals. Furthermore, the report deals with the needed investigations to establish such an advisory system.