PROTEIN AND NITROGEN VARIABILITY IN PLANT BIOMASS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CHELATE BIOFERTILIZER FORMULATION USING THE KJELDAHL METHOD
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Keywords: Kjeldahl method, protein quantification, nitrogen content, plant biomass, non-protein nitrogen (NPN), amino acid variability, conversion factor, biofertilizers, sustainable agriculture, nutrient uptakeAbstrak
Abstract
Accurate protein quantification in plant biomass is essential for developing
effective chelate biofertilizers, as amino acids serve as key chelating agents. This study
employed the Kjeldahl method to determine the protein content in the leaves of tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The methodology involved the
conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonium sulfate, followed by titration, to estimate
total nitrogen content. Results indicated average protein contents of 9.198% for tomato
and 28.45% for alfalfa, with minimal deviation in experimental precision. The study
also highlighted the challenges posed by non-protein nitrogen and amino acid
variability in protein quantification. These findings provide valuable data for
optimizing chelate biofertilizer formulations, contributing to improved nutrient uptake
and sustainable agricultural practices.
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