The PRS™-probe is an effective surrogate for bio-mimicking nutrient absorption by plant roots. The analytical power of the PRS™-probe is evidenced by the fact that all of the principal edaphic factors affecting nutrient supply to plant roots also affect nutrient supply to the PRS™-probe. It is not surprising then that the PRS™-probe nutrient supply rates are highly correlated with plant nutrient uptake. Many studies have looked directly at the ability of the PRS™-probe to correlate directly with plant uptake by analyzing plant tissues for nutrient concentrations with great success.

The PRS™-probe acts as an ion sink to adsorb any ionic species that are supplied from the soil over time, with minimal soil disturbance. This patented technology is effective in tracking the dynamic availability of soil nutrient and toxins to plants. Relationships among PRS™-probe supply rates, conventional soil extractions, and plant uptake are shown below.

Relationship between cumulative N supply rates measured using PRS™-probes during the first 30 days after planting and potato plant N uptake at time of top kill. Source: Dr. Derek Lynch, OACC, Truro, NS., and Dr. Bernie Zebarth, AAFC, Fredericton, NB.

Other References:

1. Johnson, D.W, Dijkstra, F.A. and Cheng, W. 2007. The effects of Glycine max and Helianthus annuus on nutrient availability in two soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 39: 2160-2163.
2. Verburg, P.S.; Johnson, D.W.; Schorran, D.E.; Wallace, L.L.; Luo, Y.; Arnone, J.A. 2009. Impacts of an anomalously warm year on soil nitrogen availability in experimentally manipulated intact tallgrass prairie ecosystems. Global Change Biology. 15: 888-900.
3. Owen, J., Leblanc, S., and Fillmore S. 2007. Short term effects of mechanical weeding on soil and tissue N in snap beans.
4. Qian, P. and Schoenau, J. 2007. Using an anion exchange membrane to predict soil available N and S supplies and the impact of N and S fertilization on Canola and wheat growth. Pedosphere. 17(1), pages 77-83.