COLLECTING
SAMPLING


Guidelines for sampling and packaging of : PLANTS.

Foliar diagnosis in orchards - Foliar diagnosis in vineyard - Foliar diagnosis of DNV nutrition

FOR FOLIAR DIAGNOSIS IN ORCHARDS

SAMPLING
Foliar diagnosis is an essential tool to evaluate and follow the nutrition of an orchard and, if necessary, to correct manuring. It should be done every year in the same sampling conditions (by the same person, if possible). Before planting, it is advisable to proceed to a soil and subsoil analysis.



On apple trees, pear trees, apricot trees, peach trees, almond trees, and plum trees, sample during the growing of the fruit, 105 days + 5 days after F2 stage (50 % of flowers are open).
On cherry trees, sample the week before fruit harvesting.



Choose 25 trees, sound, homogeneous, and representative of the parcel (do not sample on the edge). Check in the field and on a map to be able to collect every year in the same conditions. In case some trees appear to be sick or show an unexpected growth, a second set of samples can be collected.



Sample (height of raised arm) on 4 growths of the year on both sides for a line of trees or on the 4 sides of a tree crown.

Collect the entire leave located in the middle of a twig. Take it with its petiol. Collect a total of 100 leaves for trees with stones and pits.


PACKAGING
Collect leaves in unused plastic bags with punched holes, or in nets (available on request).
Sample packagings should be labeled appropriately (labels availables on request). The required references should be as short as possible : nurseryman name and a reference number, also used on the information datasheet.
 If possible, leaves should be dried in the open air (shadow). Samples can be shipped in an envelope on which is reported the sample reference.

FOR FOLIAR DIAGNOSIS IN VINEYARDS


SAMPLING
PETIOLE SAMPLING

Foliar diagnosis is an essential tool to evaluate and follow the nutrition of a vineyard nutrition and, if necessary, to correct manuring. It should be done every year in the same sampling conditions (by the same person, if possible). Before planting, it is advisable to proceed to a soil and subsoil analysis.

Collect at the beginning of veraison
(change of berries color).
Immediately seperate petiole from lamina, since petiolar analysis is more relevant
(especially for magnesium and potassium).
- Collect on 10 rows.
- Collect on 6 vine stock (minimum) per row.
- Collect 1 leave per vine stock, i.e., a minimum of 60 leaves.
Collect the entire leave, in the middle of a fruit-bearing twig.
Immediately separate petiole from lamina.

For a routine foliar diagnosis, only sound and intact leaves should be collected. Check vinestock on a map. If possible, it is advisable that the person collecting the leaves be the same every year..
In case the diagnosis is done to precise a nutrition problem, collect two samples, one in the sick part of the parcel and one in the sound part of the same parcel (on a same vine-stock/rootstock).


PACKAGING

 If possible, leaves should be dried in the open air (shadow).

Samples can be shipped in an envelope on which is reported the sample reference.

DIAGNOSIS OF DNV NUTRITION

SAMPLING


To confirm a diagnosis of observed deficiency

 In that case, the growth stage is usually not the same as the one for which interpretation standards are. Compare groups of "sound plants" and "sick plants" (couple method: if the development of sick plants is sufficient, collect the same organs than previously indicated. Otherwise, collect the whole aerial part of the plant, properly cutting 5 cm above the soil.

To control the nutritional state of the plant
Collecting should be done as indicated above. Comparing groups is interesting in case of an obvious deficiency in part of the parcel. For crops not listed below, a good rule of thumb is to collect the last leaves entirely developed. Or consult us for more information.
PACKAGING
Do not collect organs with dust or dirt. In case all the availables organs are dirty, wash them with water, drain them (salad shaker for example) and dry them during a day in a well-ventilated place. Also, if organs are wet or soaked, dry them in the same conditions before shipping.
Never use plastic bags (to avoid decay) but paper envelopes or, even better, nylon nets (available on request). In the couple methods, use two envelops or nets. Properly label bag(s). Immediately ship the sample to the laboratory (urgent mail !).
On the list below, it is important to respect the stage of development and the type of organ to collect. Be sure to collect the right part at the right moment.
crop stage organ to collect minimum quantity
cereals wheat barley, oat rye, triticale) early bolting aerial parts, cut at 5 - 8 cm above the soil 100 g
middle bolting aerial parts, cut at 5 - 8 cm above the soil 100 g
flowering 2nd and 3rd leaves under the ear of the main stem 100 leaves on 50 plants
maize young plants (less than 40 cm) whole plant, cut at 5 - 8 cm above the soil 100 g
40 to 60 cm 1rst leave entirely developped 50 leaves on 50 plants
8 to16 leaves 1rst leave entirely developped 50 leaves on 50 plants
female flowering leave under the ear 25 leaves on 25 plants
sunflower early flowering upper leaves, entirely developped 25 leaves on 25 plants
sugar beet june-july 50-60 days after emergence adulte leaves (average age) 25 leaves on 25 plants
early august adulte leaves (average age) 25 leaves on 25 plants
rape plante de 30 à 50 cm whole leaves, entirely developped 50 leaves on 50 plants
potato early flowering leaves entirely developped 50 leaves on 50 plants
soya bean flowering lamina* of upper leaves of the shoot 100 laminae on 50 plants
alfalfa early flowering upper 15 cm of the shoot 50 organs

Market-gardening
crop stage organ to collect minimum quantity
garlic bulb being formed last leave entirely developped without any white 12 leaves (1/plant)
artichoke 1rst year in june-july whole leaves entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
asparagus plants of 45 to 90 cm leaves entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
eggplant growth stage lamina (remove petiole) of the last leave entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
beet growth stage medium (whole) leaves entirely developped 20 leaves (1/plant)
carot middle growth stage aerial parts 10 plants
celery middle growth stage medium (whole) leaves entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
Brussel sprout ripeness last (whole) leave entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
cauliflower early flower formation whole leaves (average age) 12 leaves (1/plant)
garden cabbage heart formation whole leaves entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
cucumber from flowering to fruit formation whole leaves, from the middle of the row, entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
spinach   last leaves entirely developped 15 leaves (1/plant)
strawberry flowering whole leaves, from the middle of the row, entirely developped 25 leaves (1/plant)
bean early flowering whole leaves entirely developped 12 leaves (1/plant)
lettuce heart formation whole leaves entirely developped (average age) 12 leaves (1/plant)
sweet corn plants of 30 to 50 cm 5th leave from the top 12 leaves (1/plant)
onion middle stage leaves without white parts 12 leaves (1/plant)
leak middle stage leaves without white parts 12 leaves (1/plant)
potato early flowering whole leaves entirely developped 25 leaves (1/plant)
tomato (field) middle flowering whole compounds leaves 12 leaves (1/plant)

* Immediately separate lamina from petiole..

Do not forget soil analysis !
Soil analysis is the basic tool diagnosis. In case of sound plants and sick plants, collect two soil samples.