Plant Analysis Handbook – Guidelines for Collecting Leaf and Plant Tissue.
|
| AGRONOMIC CROPS |
|---|
| |
Stage of Growth |
Plant Part to Sample |
Number of Plants or Leaves to sample |
| Alfalfa |
Prior to or at 1/10 bloom stage |
Mature leaf blades taken from the top 4 to 6 inches of the plant |
40-50 |
| Clover and Other Legumes |
Prior to bloom |
Mature leaf blades taken about 1/3 of the way down from top of the plant. |
40-50 |
| Corn |
1) Seeding stage (less than 12") |
All the above ground portion |
15-20 |
| 2) Prior to tasselling |
The first fully developed leaf below the whorl |
15-20 |
| 3) From tasselling and shooting to silking |
The entire leaf at the ear node (or immediatley above or below it). |
15-20 |
| Sampling after silking occurs is not recommended |
| Cotton |
Prior to or at first bloom or when first squares appear. |
Youngest fully mature leaves on main stem |
30-40 |
| Hay, Pasture or Forage Grasses |
Prior to seed head emergence or at the optimum stage for best quality forage |
Top 6 inches of plant |
40-50 |
| Peanut |
Prior to or at bloom stage. |
Mature leaves from both the main stem and either cotyledon lateral branch |
40-50 |
| Sorghum-milo |
Prior to or at heading |
Second leaf from top of plant |
15-25 |
| Soybean or other beans |
1) Seedlings stage (less than 12") |
All the above ground portion |
20-30 |
| 2) Prior to or during initial flowering |
Two or three fully developed leaves at the top of the plant |
20-30 |
| Sampling after pods begin to set not recommended. |
| Tobacco |
Before bloom |
Uppermost fully developed leaf. |
8-12 |
| Turf |
During normal growing season; at least two days regrowth |
Leaf blades. Clip by hand to avoid contamination with soil or other material. |
1/2 pint of material |
| Wheat |
1) Tillering (GS-3) to just prior to heading (GS 10-boot stage) |
All above ground portion |
30-40 |
| 2) Just prior to heading (GS 10) |
Flag leaf |
40-50 |
| Sampling after heading not recommended. |
| FRUITS AND NUTS |
|---|
| |
Stage of Growth |
Plant Part to Sample |
Number of Plants or Leaves to sample |
| Apple |
8 to 10 weeks after full bloom |
Healthy mid-terminal leaves of current season's growth, taking 4 to 8 leaves per tree. |
50-100 |
| Apricot, Almond, Cherry, Pear, Prune |
Mid Season |
Healthy mid-terminal leaves of current year's growth or spurs. |
50-100 |
| Blueberry, Rabbiteye |
First two weeks after harvest |
Mature leaves from mid-portion of current season's growth |
25-40 |
| Grape |
End of bloom period |
Petioles from leaves adjacent to fruit clusters. |
60-100 |
| Grape, Muscadine |
Mid to late summer but prior to final swelling of fruit |
Most recent mature leaves adjacent to fruit clusters. |
25-30 |
| Peach |
12 to 14 weeks after bloom |
Mature leaves from mid-portion of near base of current season's terminal growth, taking 4 to 8 leaves per tree. |
50-100 |
| Pecan |
56 to 84 days after catkin fall; July 7 to August 7 |
Middle pair of leaflets from midportion of terminal growth |
100 |
| Raspberry |
Mid season |
Youngest mature leaves on laterals or "primo" canes |
20-40 |
| Strawberry |
4 to 5 weeks after peak bloom |
Youngest fully expanded mature leaves. |
50-75 |
| Walnut |
6 to 8 weeks after bloom |
Middle pairs of leaflets from mature shoots. |
30-35 |
| ORNAMENTAL AND FLOWERS |
|---|
| |
Stage of Growth |
Plant Part to Sample |
Number of Plants or Leaves to sample |
| Carnations |
1) Unpinched plants |
4th or 5th leaf pairs from base of plant. |
20-30 |
| 2) Pinched plants |
5th or 6th leaf pairs from top of primary laterals. |
20-30 |
| Chrysanthemum |
Prior to or at flowering |
Upper leaves on flowering stem |
20-30 |
| Ornamental Trees |
Current year's growth |
Fully developed leaves |
30-100 |
| Ornamental Shrubs |
Current year's growth |
Fully developed leaves. |
30-100 |
| Poinsettia |
Prior to or at flowering |
Most recently mature fully expanded leaves. |
15-20 |
| Rose |
During flower production |
Upper leaves on the flowering stem. |
20-30 |
| VEGETABLE CROPS |
|---|
| |
Stage of Growth |
Plant Part to Sample |
Number of Plants or Leaves to sample |
| Asparagus |
Midgrowth |
Mature fern from 18-36" up |
10-20 |
| Beans |
1) Seedling stage (less than 12") |
All the above ground portion |
20-30 |
| 2) Prior to or during initial flowering |
Two or three fully developed leaves at the top of the plant |
20-30 |
| Head Crops (Cabbage, etc.) |
1) Prior to heading |
First mature leaves from center of whorl |
10-20 |
| 2) Head 1/2 grown |
Young wrapper leaf; 2 leaves per plant |
10-20 |
| Leaf Crops (Lettuce, Spinach, Turnip Greens, Collards, etc.) |
Mid growth |
Youngest mature leaf |
35-55 |
| Melons (Water, Cucumber, Muskmelon) |
Early stages of growth prior to fruit set |
Mature leaves near the growing tip of the plant |
20-30 |
| Peas |
Prior to or during initial flowering. |
Leaves from the third node down from the top of the plant |
30-60 |
| Peppers |
Prior to or at bloom stage. |
Most recently meature leaves |
20-30 |
| Potato, Irish |
Early flowering to tubers 1/2 grown |
Upper most mature |
20-30 |
| Potato, Sweet |
Midgrowth |
Most recently mature leaves |
20-30 |
| Root Crops (Carrots, Onion, Beets, etc.) |
Prior to root or bulb enlargement |
Center mature leaves |
20-30 |
| Sweet Corn |
1) Prior to tasselling |
The entire fully mature leaf below the whorl. |
20-30 |
| 2) At tasselling |
The entire leaf at the ear node |
20-30 |
| Tomato (Field) |
Prior to or during early bloom stage |
Third or fourth leaf from growing tip |
20-25 |
| Tomato (greenhouse) |
Prior to or during fruit set |
1) Young plants; leaves adjacent to 2nd or 3rd clusters. |
20-25 |
| Prior to or during fruit set |
2) Older plants: leaves from 4th to 6th clusters. |
20-25 |