plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in mango

Plant tissue analysis for testing Plant tissue analysis for testing

nutrients deficiency in Mango nutrients deficiency in Mango

Nutrients are required for flowering and fruiting, while at the same time trees are allowed to grow and maintain sufficient vigour for producing high yields in following years.

IntroductionIntroduction

Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in MangoPlant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango

Management system adopted for fruit trees are quite different, especially with regard to nutrient than that adopted for field crops.

The shift in management system could be commenced 3-4 years after planting depending on the tree size.

The purpose of assessment of nutrient requirement of fruit trees is to keep mineral nutrient levels in the tree in the desired range to have the growth and development effects and fruiting of trees at its highest level.


To maintain productivity of trees in a long run and sustaining the production capacity of mango tree, application of nutrient should be based on its availability in the soil and actual requirement.

Application of plant nutrients economically at correct time and with right amounts is necessary in a way that nutrients could be taken up by plants efficiently with minimum losses.

Describe the time and methods of leaf sampling for nutrients analysis in mango.


After completing this lesson, you will be able to answer:

Explain the optimum level of nutrients in mango leaves for sustainable production.

Learn the factor affecting leaf nutrients analysis in mango.

Application of manures and fertilizers.

Application of soil amendments.

Inheriting nutrient status of soil


Factors influencing nutrient content of the soilFactors influencing nutrient content of the soil

Type of vegetation cover; e.g. with legume cover there could be higher N, etc.

Factors inherent in the cultivar, rootstock; genetic make-up, age of crop, time of sampling; seasonal variation, age of leaves, position of leaves, yield of crop etc.


Factor affecting nutrients content of the leafFactor affecting nutrients content of the leaf

Fertilizers input

Type of vegetation cover; e.g. with legume cover there could be higher N, etc.,

Thereafter, nutrient requirement of mango trees can be calculated based on optimum norms of tissue nutrient.


Leaf SamplesLeaf Samples

Leaf analysis is an important tool to estimate nutritional requirement of fruit trees.

Leaf nutrient content can be obtained by analysing leaf tissues at proper growth stage.

Leaves + petiole should be taken for sample

4 to 7 months old leaves from middle of the shoot.

30-40 leaves per sample.


Plant tissue sampling guideline for mangoPlant tissue sampling guideline for mango

Leaf sample collectionLeaf sample collection Time Time

Leaf samples should be taken from trees when they are in dormant state, i.e. not flushing or flowering. Avoid sampling if the trees have been recently sprayed with nutrients (trace elements etc) or fungicides. Between one and two months before flowering is the best time for taking leaf samples.

Condition

Leaves collected must be fully expanded and hardened off, i.e. green not red or pink.

Position

The leaves selected should come from the end of the branch, the fourth and fifth leaf from the terminal bud. About 12 terminals should be sampled at even spaced points around the tree.


Collection of samples

When taking samples from an orchard the following procedures are recommended.

a) Divide the orchard into separate sections of the same age and productivity growing on similar soil .

b) Collect whole, healthy leaves from the middle of the tree crown, from the four cardinal points, from normal branches recently matured from the previous flush of growth and not less than four months old


4th leaf

5th leaf

Nutrient Nutrient Lucknow Lucknow

SafedaSafeda

TotapuriTotapuri Dashehari Dashehari Alphonso Alphonso Chausa Chausa

N (%) 1.20 0.84-1.53 1.23 0.78-1.65 1.17

P (%) 0.10 0.64-0.15 0.06 0.02-0.33 0.11

K (%) 0.50 0.52-1.10 0.54 0.77-1.73 0.59

Ca (%) 3.04 1.97-3.20 1.71 0.76-1.63 2.99

Mg (%) 0.47 0.40-0.65 0.91 0.40-0.65 0.50

S (%) 0.17 0.15-0.22 0.12 0.04-0.13 0.16

Optimum norms for mango


Nutrient Lucknow

Safeda

Totapuri Dashehari Alphonso Chausa

Fe (ppm) - 48-86 171.0 653-963 -

Mn(ppm) - 57-174 66.0 13-408 -

Zn (ppm) - 25-33 25.0 7.8-18.3 -

Cu(ppm) - 3.1-8.0 12.00 14.3-17.8 -

Optimum norms for mango


Physical State of the TreePhysical State of the Tree

If the tree is in a state of stress, such as disease/insect attack or severe drought, nutrient levels are likely to be low.

There is little point in doing a leaf analysis from a sick tree. When the tree is pushing out a new flush of growth, nutrients are moving into the new shoots and often out of the old leaves.

The best time to take samples is when the flush has hardened off and matured.


Factors affecting leaf analysis resultsFactors affecting leaf analysis results

Factors affecting leaf analysis results

Water logging

Water logging also induces stress and reduces the uptake of most

nutrients, so even though soil nutrient levels are adequate, they may

not be taken up by the plant and leaf levels will indicate deficiencies.


Nutrient Imbalances Maintaining a correct balance between elements is important, as

high levels of one element can affect the uptake and levels of another, e.g. high N levels can cause low Ca levels.

Variety/Rootstock Most fruit trees show different standard levels between varieties.

Rootstocks can also have an effect.




Weeds Weeds compete for nutrients, especially N. Often the effective use

of herbicides, where weeds have built up, increases N levels in the plant without fertilizer being applied.

Fungicides/Foliar Fertilizers Recent foliar applications of trace elements, fertilizers or fungicides

will raise the levels of these elements in leaves even after they have been washed.


Let us sum up

The purpose of assessment of nutrient requirement of fruit trees is to keep mineral nutrient levels in the tree with in the desired range to have the growth and development effects and fruiting of trees as desired.


To maintain productivity of trees in long run and maintain the sustainability of tree production capacity, application of nutrient should be based on actual requirement and availability of nutrient in the soil.

plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in mango

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