To find a quick test procedure for soil nitrate concentration, two methods, i.e. "Nitracheck 404" reflectometer (Eijkelkamp, Netherlands) with nitrate test strip and a portable colorimeter "Hanna Ion Specific meter(USA) with a color development reagen...
To find a quick test procedure for soil nitrate concentration, two methods, i.e. "Nitracheck 404" reflectometer (Eijkelkamp, Netherlands) with nitrate test strip and a portable colorimeter "Hanna Ion Specific meter(USA) with a color development reagent, were tested for twenty soils with different nitrate contents ranged between from $10mg\;kg^{-1}$ to $340mg\;kg^{-1}$. The standard deviation, coefficient of variability, and recovery from these quick test procedures were compared with those measured by conventional Kjeldahl distillation method and nitrate ion electrode method. The nitrate concentration measured by portable colorimeter method was higher in soils with low concentration and lower in soils with high concentration than those measured by conventional methods. However, concentrations measured by test strip reflectometer method was showed the similar coefficient of variability and recovery as those by conventional methods for all soil samples. From the experimental results in this study, the test strip reflectometer method was thought to be recommendable one revealed the satisfied results for accuracy, quickness, and simplicity for field test of soil nitrate concentration.