Matrix effects during potassium and calcium determinations in rice saplings using X-ray spectrometery

For selectively excited calcium K X-rays in rice saplings, the relations alpha = N(KR)[1 + A gamma + B beta/(1 + alpha)] and 1/N(Ca) = alpha/beta + b + c beta are found to support the enhancement of potassium K X-rays and N(Ca) calcium K X-ray counts during potassium and calcium determinations, respectively. Here alpha, beta and gamma are weight fractions of potassium, calcium and the matrix substrate, respectively, N(KR) is the relative potassium K X-ray counts of the sample to that of pure potassium and A, B, a, b and c are constants. Tests of these relations, using eight known mixtures of CaCO3, KNO3 and Na2B4O7 10H2O (borax), have further supported the findings.