The standard provides flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the determination of nickel in soil. The detection limit is 5mg/kg (calculated by 0.5g sample, digest and make the solvent to 50ml). The 232.0nm line is taken as absorption line where three nickel lines with close wave length occur. Therefore narrow band pass should be employed. Line 232.0nm falls outside ultraviolet region. Salt grains and molecular compounds might affect testing due to their strong light scattering and molecular absorption. The interference can be overcome by background correction. If concentration permitting, background interference can be subdued through solvent dilution.

Soil quality-Determination of nickel-Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GB/T17139-1997)