Development and validation of a portable X-ray fluorescence approach for quantifying silicon in plants

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims: Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) has emerged as a robust analytical approach for elemental determination in plant tissues, enabling rapid, non-destructive, and reagent-free measurements. This study developed and validated an empirical calibration of pXRF for quantifying silicon (Si) in plants, using autoclave-induced digestion (AID) as the reference method. Methods A total of 374 samples from seven plant species (rice, maize, soybean, cowpea, sorghum, lettuce, and beet) were analyzed. Silicon concentrations obtained via AID ranged from 1.07 to 19.23 g kg − ¹ (mean = 4.48 g kg − ¹; coefficient of variation = 67%), reflecting substantial interspecific variability. Each sample was also analyzed by pXRF under optimized instrumental conditions, and a calibration model was constructed using 75% of the dataset to predict Si concentrations relative to AID values. Results The pXRF calibration exhibited a strong linear relationship with AID results (R² = 0.94; R = 0.97; p

Code and data availability

The preprint reports pXRF silicon measurements on 374 plant samples, but no public dataset, code, or model deposit is provided; the Data Availability statement says datasets are available only from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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