XRF products deployed to agriculture in Africa

XRF products have been used by researchers in Rwanda, Africa, in order to determine the mineral content of soil samples to fuel the growth of more nutritious crops.

The idea was inspired by a study published in the journal Plant and Soil which founded the notion of using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis to determine the mineral content of soil samples. The Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB) will now attempt to practically introduce the motion in order to develop more nutritious crops.

Primary benefits of XRF analysis in countries such as Rwanda are that it is quick to display results, and costs much less to analyse samples compared to other chemical analysis technologies. The technology will be deployed to analyse the best methods for growing beans and maize.

The Rwandan team analysed three bio-fortified beans using the technology, finding four samples out of the 15 they analysed in total to be particularly rich in mineral nutrients such as iron and zinc.

Augustine Musoni, a senior researcher at the RAB said: "This is a step forward in (reducing) malnutrition while improving the lives of smallholder farmers."

Posted by Lauren Steadman