1. RQflex ® - the pocket laboratory for quantitative on-site measurements in agriculture and horticulture 21-02-2003

2. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 2 The Reflectoquant ® System 1. The instruments RQflex ® and RQflex ® plus 2. The tests Reflectoquant ® test strips Reflectoquant ® plus test kits 3. The barcode contains all information to operate the instrument

3. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 3 The Reflectoquant ® System The instruments RQflex ® - the basic instrument quantitative evaluation of Reflectoquant ® test strips. RQflex ® plus - with an additional benefit quantitative evaluation of Reflectoquant ® test strips and Reflectoquant ® plus test kits

4. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 4 Principle of reflectometry Kubelka-Munk equation Emitted light is absorbed by the coloured paper. The analyte concentration can be calculated from the amount of absorbed light. I0I0 I diffuse reflectance The Reflectoquant ® System

5. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 5 The double optic system and the two reaction zones on the test strip allow a simultaneous double measurement in one operational step. The barcode controlled software calculates the mean which is displayed. Double beam optics for increased accuracy The Reflectoquant ® System

6. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 6 Memory and documentation Storage of 5 different methods simultaneously Storage of 50 measurement results Data transfer to PC with RQdata interface and software for documentation The Reflectoquant ® System

7. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 7 RQdata print-out The Reflectoquant ® System

8. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 8 The Reflectoquant ® tests The product range includes 50 different Reflectoquant ® test strips from Aluminium to Urea 6 different Reflectoquant ® plus test kits from Chlorine to Phosphate The Reflectoquant ® System

9. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 9 The Reflectoquant ® test strips The Reflectoquant ® test strips are chemical microchips on a few mm 2 The reaction zones are impregated with traces of all necessary chemicals, e.g. dyes, buffers, reducing agents, etc. The Reflectoquant ® System

10. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 10 The main features of test strips and test kits The Reflectoquant ® test strips are very easy to use: dip - wait - measure. They detect analyte concentrations down to 1 - 10 mg/l. The Reflectoquant ® plus test kits provide high sensitivity down to 10 - 50 µg/l, but are less convenient than a strip. The Reflectoquant ® System

11. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 11 The barcode contains information about the parameter lot-specific calibration data factors for wavelength control The Reflectoquant ® System

12. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 12 Proven accuracy The Reflectoquant technology uses a 10 point calibration More than 750 measurement data are used to produce the calibration data on the barcode. The Reflectoquant ® System

13. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 13 Quality assurance test record The Reflectoquant ® System

14. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 14 Application in Agriculture and Horticulture Determination of nutrients in soil Determination of nutrients in plant sap Analysis of hydroponic solutions Analysis of fertilizer The Reflectoquant ® System

15. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 15 Sample preparation for agricultural applications Precondition # 1: Need a liquid sample Sample preparation: extract sample squeeze sap dilute sample The Reflectoquant ® System

16. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 16 Sample preparation for soil analysis Weigh soil sample into a beaker Homogenize soil sample with extraction solution Filter through a filter paper Dip the test strip into the solution and start the measurement with RQflex ® The Reflectoquant ® System

17. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 17 Measurement procedure Reflectoquant ® Nitrate Press ON/OFF, select TEST and press START; reaction time is displayed Dip test strip into sample solution and at the same time press START again 5 sec before reaction time ends insert strip into strip adapter Read off result from the display 12 4 3 The Reflectoquant ® System

18. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 18 n = 27 r = 0.993 y = 0.95x + 2.34 German standard method Nitrate in soil from hops field [mg/kg] RQflex Dr. B. Lehmann University of Munich Dept. of Agriculture The Reflectoquant ® System

19. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 19 Detailed application notes available reagents sample preparation comparison data measurement procedure calculation The Reflectoquant ® System

20. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 20 Measurement procedure Reflectoquant ® Phosphate Press ON/OFF, select TEST and press START; reaction time is displayed Take 5 ml sample and add 10 drops of reagent PO 4 -1 Dip test strip into sample solution and at the same time press START again 5 sec before reaction time ends insert strip into strip adapter 12 4 3 5 Read result The Reflectoquant ® System

21. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 21 n = 20 r = 0.991 y = 1.11x - 2.15 German standard method Phosphate in soil [mg/100 g P 2 O 5 ] RQflex Prof.Dr. R. Gromes University of Osnabrück Dept. of Agriculture The Reflectoquant ® System

22. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 22 Sample preparation for plant sap analysis Squeeze plant sample through a garlic press Take 0.1 ml plant sap and dilute it in an appropriate ratio with deionized water Dip the test strip into the solution and start the measurement with RQflex ® The Reflectoquant ® System

23. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 23 n = 24 r = 0.996 y = 1.01x + 0.1 Ion Chromatography Nitrate in sap from different plants [mg/l] RQflex M. Takebe, T. Yoneyama National Agriculture Research Center Tsukuba, Japan The Reflectoquant ® System

24. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 24 Potassium in plant sap reagents sample preparation typical results measurement procedure calculation The Reflectoquant ® System

25. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 25 Sample preparation for hydroponic solutions Mostly no sample preparation necessary. In some cases a dilution step is necessary. The Reflectoquant ® System

26. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 26 n = 13 r = 0.984 y = 0.97x + 3.95 AAS Calcium in hydroponic solutions [mg/l] RQflex The Reflectoquant ® System

27. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 27 Sample preparation for natural fertilizer Weigh fertilizer sample into a beaker Homogenize sample with extraction solution Filter through a filter paper Dip the test strip into the solution and start the measurement with RQflex ® (comparable to soil analysis) The Reflectoquant ® System

28. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 28 n = 17 r = 0.937 y = 0.95x + 0,17 Kjeldahl distillation Ammonium in natural fertilizer [g/kg NH 4 -N] RQflex The Reflectoquant ® System

29. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 29 Comparison of costs and time (standard method vs. Reflectoquant ® system) Standard method Reflectoquant® system Resultafter 2-4 weeks after 1 day Costs20 USD/sample approx. 7 USD/sample large scale trial with 651 soil samples Coefficient of correlation: r = 0.92 The Reflectoquant ® System

30. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 30 Centralized vs. decentralized analyses Transport to lab Sampling Preservation and intermediate storage Sample preparation Analysis in lab Recommendation for application of fertilizer Sample preparation Fast analysis on-site after 1-4 weeks after some hours The Reflectoquant ® System

31. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 31 Your benefits Fast results allow to take immediate decisions Convincing price/performance ratio saves your money Easy handling requires minimum training even for less skilled persons Detailed application notes provide support and solve analytical problems The Reflectoquant ® System

32. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 32 Award At the International Agricultural Trade Show INTERSIMA 94 in Paris the RQflex ® won the The Reflectoquant ® System

33. 10.06.2002RQ in AgriculturePage 33 Recommendation RQflex ® and Reflectoquant ® Nitrate Test are SPAD - recommended in Japan SPAD is a governmental project on Soil and Plant Analyzer Development. The project is organized by the Japanese Association for Agriculture Industry. Goal is the practical application of instruments and methods for the analysis of soil and plants. The Reflectoquant ® System