Plant Tissue Sampling Guide 2013

7/28/2019 Plant Tissue Sampling Guide 2013

1/8

Hwy 15 P.O. Box 510 Northwood, ND 58267

(701) 587-6010 Fax (701) 587-6013

Home page: agvise.com

902 13th St. N. P.O. Box 187 Benson, MN 56215

(320) 843-4109 Fax (320) 843-2074

Plant Nutrient Analysis

Sampling Guide

S P K P

BK

N

N S S

K

Mn

Zn

Cu Cl

Fe


2/8

Reasons to do PlantNutrient Analysis

Spoon Feeding Nutrients: For irrigatedcrops, plant analysis can be used as an aid inmaking decisions about nutrient applicationssuch as nitrogen and some micronutrients. Oneexample is petiole testing in irrigated potatoes.Nitrate nitrogen levels in the potato petiole aredetermined weekly, and the information is usedto help make nitrogen fertilization decisionsall season long. Plant analysis is also used infruit and vegetable crops as a guide for nutrientapplication during the season.

Monitor and Fine Tune Fertility Plans:

Plant analysis is a good way to conrm thatyour fertility management plan is working.Plant analysis can be used to evaluate newfertilizer placement and timing techniques. Theinformation collected can then be used to makenecessary adjustments to your fertility plans.

Conrm Visible Nutrient Symptoms:Nutrient deciency symptoms should beconrmed with plant analysis. Using visible

symptoms to identify which nutrient is decientis very difcult. One example of this difcultyis distinguishing between nitrogen and sulfurdeciencies in a crop such as wheat. Plantanalysis may conrm a suspected nutrientdeciency or it may indicate that another nutrientis the problem.

Detect Hidden Hunger: Plants can

experience nutrient deciencies withoutexpressing any visual symptoms. These plantsare said to be experiencing hidden hunger.While no symptoms are present, these minornutrient deciencies can still cause yield lossesof 10-15%.

Types of Plant Analysis

Total Nutrient Analysis: This type ofplant analysis includes all forms of each nutrientfound in plant tissue. One example is the totalnitrogen analysis of plant tissue. The analysisfor total nitrogen includes the nitrate, ammonia

and organic forms of nitrogen in the plant. Thetotal nutrient content of nitrogen, phosphoruspotassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur andchloride are reported as a percent (%), due to theirhigh concentrations in plant tissue. Nutrients suchas zinc, copper, manganese and iron are presentat much lower concentrations in plant tissue andare reported as parts-per million (ppm).

The total nutrient content of plant tissue is

a reection of the entire growing season untilthe time the plant sample is collected. The totalnutrient content does not predict the nutrientstatus of the plant many weeks into the future.

Total nutrient analysis can be determined onvarious plant parts, including whole plants, wholeleaves and petioles. It is important to collect thecorrect plant part based on the stage of growththe crop is currently in (see gures on pages 6

& 7). University research has determined thesufciency range for each nutrient, for a specicplant part, at a specic stage of growth. If anotherplant part is collected for analysis, interpretationfor adequate nutrient levels is difcult.

Petiole Nutrient Analysis: In somesituations, nutrients are tested on a plant partcalled the leaf petiole. In irrigated potato

production, the petiole is tested for the nitrateform of nitrogen. The nitrate level in the petioleprovides information about the recent statusof nitrogen uptake of the crop. For examplenitrogen taken up by potatoes can be detected in

Photos on the cover courtesy of

IPNI and North Dakota State University Extension Service.


3/8

the petiole nitrate analysis within 3-4 days afterfertilizer application. Because the petiole nitratetest indicates the nitrogen status of the plant inthe past 2-3 days, it is a very good tool for inseason nitrogen decisions in irrigated potatoproduction. Petioles can also be analyzed fortotal nutrient content through the season for

crops such as potatoes. The petiole part of apotato plant leaf is shown in the potato samplinginstructions (see page 6).

Sampling Strategiesin the Field

Routine Sampling for Plant Analysis:Weekly plant analysis is common in high valuecrops such as potatoes. It is very important tocollect plant samples in the same area of the eldeach time. There are several sampling strategiesthat will represent the eld similarly each week.One strategy is to place ags in 15 locationswithin a eld. Each week, several plants aresampled near each ag location and combinedto make a composite plant sample (see gure 1).A second approach is to choose a small area ineach eld to serve as benchmark for the entireeld. It is critical to work with the grower inchoosing an area that is an average of the eld.This benchmark area also needs to be markedwith ags so plant sample comes from the samearea of the eld each time (see gure).

Sampling Good and Bad areas in a eld:If you are investigating the differences between

the Good and Bad areas of a eld, a plant andsoil sample from each area is recommended.A topsoil sample from each area of the eld isvery helpful (subsoil also if possible). The soilsample will indicate if the problem is related tothe nutrient level in the soil or other factors suchas compaction, high salinity, excessive sodium,soil pH, etc.

Specic Plant Part to CollectBased on Stage of Growth

The nutrient level in plant tissue dependson the plant part that is tested and the stage ofplant growth. For most crops there are three timeperiods when plant nutrient analysis is conductedThe early vegetative stage, late vegetative stageand during the reproductive stage. For smallgrains like wheat and barley early in the seasonthe whole above ground plant is collected fornutrient analysis. During heading the ag leaf isthe plant part to collect. It is important to collec

the correct plant part because nutrient levels inother plant parts may be different. An example ofhow nutrient levels change with the plant part isshown in the table below.

Figure 1

PetiolePosition

2

3

4

5

6

7

NO3-NNitrate

(ppm)

13000

15100

15700

18200

19200

19400

PPhosphorus

(%)

.29

.24

.22

.20

.19

.17

KPotassium

(%)

8.0

9.1

9.7

9.7

9.9

10.0

ZnZinc

(%)

37

32

25

23

19

19

* = petiole to collect for analysis.


4/8

Things Not to do WhenCollecting Plant Samples

1. Do not include plants that have been showingvisible deciency symptoms for more than10 days. Nutrient analysis of plants that haveexperienced nutrient stress for an extended timemay be misleading. Example: a plant is decientin sulfur for two weeks before plant nutrientanalysis is done. The analysis may indicate thatsulfur and nitrogen are decient. This is becausea lack of sulfur has caused problems with the

nitrogen metabolism of the plant, not becausenitrogen was decient.

2. Do not include plants that are under stressdue to disease. Root and foliar diseases caninterrupt water/nutrient uptake or ow in theplant resulting in misleading information.

3. Do not include plants that are affected byexcessively wet soil, herbicide drift, cultivatordamage, etc. Any severe stress can cause anutrient imbalance in the plant.

3. If samples cannot be shipped immediately

place them in a refrigerator to avoid sampledeterioration from occurring.

4. Please call and speak with one of ourprofessional technical support staff if you haveany questions on how to collect plant samples orship samples to the laboratory. We can instructyou in the collection of a representative plantsample but we cant provide good informationfrom a poor quality sample or a sample that has

deteriorated in shipping.

Plant Sample Care and Shipping1. All excessive dust should be shaken or brushed

off the plant sample. Excessive dust on the plantsample will result in high iron test levels due tothe high iron content of the dust (do not wash dustfrom the plant sample because nutrients such aspotassium will also be removed).

2. Use ventilated sample envelopes supplied byAGVISE for all plant samples. Two different sizesof plant sample envelopes are available from thelab at no charge. Ventilated sample bags prevent

the plant sample from deteriorating in shipment.Samples which have become moldy in shipmentcannot be used for nutrient analysis.

Sample Information onPlant Sample Envelope

Complete the information requested on the ventilatedplant sample envelopes provided by AGVISELaboratories (for irrigated potatoes see next page).The following information must be completed onthe sample envelope: sample ID, crop, plant partsubmitted, stage of growth, and the test option youneed (see example). It is very important that theinformation be lled in completely so we can provideyou with fast service and the best interpretation ofyour plant analysis.

Date Sampled ____ / ____ / ____

Date Received ____ / ____ / ____

GROWER FIRM SUBMITTING SAMPLES

NAME

ADDRESS

ZIP

NAME

ADDRESS

ZIP

Crop Variety

Irrigated Dryland

Growth Stage

CHECK PLANT PART SAMPLED:

Leaves______ Petiole______ Whole Plant_____

Normal_____________ Abnormal

County/_______________ Field I.D.___________

Range

Township______________ Acres_____________

Section____________________

Quarter____________________

OPTION CHOICES(Check the Desired Option)

Complete Analysis: Total Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium,

Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Boron, Chloride

(Chloride included on small grain)................................................................ ______

Potato Petiole Option: Nitrate-Nitrogen, Phosphate-Phosphorus.................................................... ______

Individual Nutrients: Total Nitrogen................................................................................................ ______

Nitrate-Nitrogen............................................................................................ ______

Phosphate-Phosphorus................................................................................ ______

Chloride........................................................................................................ ______

Boron............................................................................................................ ______

Other Tests: __________________________________________________________

Mr. Grower

Green Fields

Top City 54321

Top Yield Company

Wide Avenue

Top City 54321

Pinto Beans Othello

Vegetative

GF East 80

Wiley 80X

X

X

22

SW

X


5/8

Sample Information Formfor Irrigated Potatoes

AGVISE has developed a sampleinformation form for petiolesamples from irrigated potato elds.

This form will save you a lot of timewhen elds are sampled weekly toassess plant nutrient levels. The rsttime you collect a petiole sample orsoil sample from a potato eld, youneed to ll out the form completelyas shown. The appropriate stickerfrom the form should be placedon the petiole bag and soil bag asshown. You must send the pink

copy of the completed form withthe rst petiole sample submitted.This is so the laboratory gets theimportant information about theeld and the analysis you need. Youwill keep the white and yellow copyof the form through the growingseason. Each time youcollect another plantsample from the same

eld, you just take thenext reference numbersticker form the formand place it on thesample bag.

You never have towrite on the samplebag, just put the nextreference number stickeron the bag.

The number on thesticker tells us which eldthe sample came fromand what to test on thesample. We received thatinformation on the pinkcopy of the informationsheet sent in with the rstsample.

Potato Nutrient MonitoringSample Information Sheet

604 Highway 15 West, P.O. Box 510Northwood, ND 58267701-587-6010FAX [email protected]

902 13th Street North, Box 187Benson, MN 56215320-843-4109FAX [email protected]

Grower Name:Address:

City: Zip:

Dealer Name:Address:

City: Zip:

Account #: Phone:

County: Section:

Township: Acres:

Field ID:

Potato Variety:

FieldNumber:EmergenceDate:

PINK COPY MUST BE SENT WITH FIRST SAMPLE

CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNET GRAPHING

Ref #

32732

Petiole Analysis(Check one only)

Soil Analysis(Check one only)

Complete Analysis

Nitrate Only

Nitrate & Phosphate

Phosphate Only

Nitrate & Ammonium

Nitrate Only

Petiole Analysis (Petiole Only)

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3

Remove theentire 4th leafincludingpetiole andleaflets from30 plants.

Removeleafletsfrom thepetiole.

Place thepetioles onlyfrom the 4th leafof 30 plants inthe petiolesample bag.

Leaflet

Petiole Petiole

Field ID Date:Sampler:

Ref # P12345

Tuber Stage: (Check one)Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345

Tuber Stage: (Check one)

Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"


Ref # P12345


Tubers 3.5"

WEEK 5: Petiole Sample










Place Barcode Sticker on Petiole sample bag where indicated A tuber size must be checked for each sample

PINK COPY Submitted to AGVISE with first sample WHITE & YELLOW COPIES: Dealer keeps for entire season

Soil Sample Number 1

Field IDSample Depth 0 - inches (i.e. 0-18")

Soil Analysis Requested (check one only)

Nitrate & Ammonium Ref #

Nitrate Only

P12345





Nitrate Only

P12345





Nitrate Only

P12345





Nitrate Only

P12345





Nitrate Only

P12345

West Pivot 6-15-11

JTL

Mr. FarmerGreen Fields

Top City 54321

West Pivot

Russet Burbank

29

6-1-11

Mr. Dealer

123 East Street

Green City 54321

MR2952 701-555-1234

Wells 21

Kinney 140

DateSampled____/____

/____

DateReceived____/____/

____

GROWER

FIRMSUBMITTINGSAMPL

ES

NAME

ADDRESS

ZIP

NAME

ADDRESS

ZIP

CropVariety

IrrigatedDryland

GrowthStage

CHECKPLANTPARTSAMP

LED:

Leaves______Petiole_____

_WholePlant_____

Normal_____________Ab

normal

County/_______________F

ieldI.D.___________

Range

Township______________A

cres_____________

Section____________________

Quarter________________

____

AllGrowth

Stages:

Removeleafletsfromthe

petioleandsubmitonly

thepetiolefromthe4th

leafof30plants.

LEAFLET

PETIOLE

(Checkoneonly)

CompleteNutrietAnalysis

Nitrate&Phosphate

NitrateOnly

PhosphateOnly

Other

PetioleAnalysis(Pet

ioleOnly)

PlacePetiolesONLYinp

etiolesamplebag

Field IDDate:

Sampler:

Ref# P12345Tuber

Stage: (Checkone)

Tubers3.5"

WEEK1: PetioleSample

WestPivot6-15-11

JTL

Completelyfilloutsampleinforma-tiononfieldinfosheet.IDENTIFYYOURSAMPLE

Name

SampleID

SampleDepth: 0to6 6to24 Otherto

SoilSampleNumber1FieldIDSampleDepth 0- inches(i.e.0-18")SoilAnalysisRequested(checkoneonly)Nitrate&Ammonium

Ref#NitrateOnly P12345

WestPivot

18

You dont have to ll in any of the

information on the petiole bag or the

soil sample bag as long as the reference

number sticker is placed on each bag.

Call AGVISE if you have any questions.


6/8

Sampling Guide for Plant Analysis

GRAIN AND GRASS

SUNFLOWER POTATOComplete Nutrient Analysis

(Excluding petiole Nitrate & Phosphate)

POTATO PETIOLEComplete Nutrient Analysis

or Nitrate and Phosphate

Analysis

Boot to heading: Top leaf

or ag leaf. Sample 50

plants.

Seedling to tillering: Cut plant off about

1/2 inch above ground. Sample 50 plants.

4-8 leaves: Cut plant

off 2 inches above ground.

Sample 25 plants.

Bud to Bloom: 3rd

mature leaf from top.

Sample 20 plants. All growth stages:

Remove leaets from the

petiole and submit only the

petiole from the

4th leaf of 30 plants.

All growth stages:

Submit entire 4th leaf

including petiole and leaets

from 20 plants

LEAFLET

PETIOLE


7/8

CORN

ALFALFA

CANOLA

SUGARBEETSSOYBEANSDRY BEANS

1st to 3rd trifoliate: Cut plant

1 inch above surface and

submit entire plant. Sample

25 plants.

Early bloom to podset:

Submit rst fully developed

trifoliate leaf from top.

Sample 25 plants.

All growth stages:

Submit top 6 inches or top

half of plant if less than

8 inches tall.

Sample 20-25 plants.

0-12 inches tall:

Cut stalk off about 1/2 inch

above ground level.

Submit 20-25 whole plants.

> 12 inches

but prior to

tasseling:

Submit rst

fully developed

leaf from top (rst leaf below whorl).

Cut leaf at its base where it joins

sheath. Sample 20-25 plants.

Tasseling to

pollination:

Submit leaf

below and

opposite ear.

Cut leaf at its

base where it

joins sheath.

Sample 20-25

plants.

Seedling to rosette stage:

Collect entire above ground

plant. Sample 20 plants.

All growth stages: Submit 25 petioles for nitrate

analysis. Submit 25 leaf blades of a fully

expanded, recently mature leaf for complete

nutrient analysis.

Rosette to pod development

stage: Collect 5th leaf from top

without petiole, from 30 different

plants.


8/8

Highway 15

P.O. Box 510

Northwood, ND 58267

Home page: agvise.com

Documents

Plant Tissue Sampling Guide 2013