1. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango

2. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Introduction
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.
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.

3. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
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.
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.

4. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency 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.
Describe the time and methods of leaf sampling for nutrients analysis in mango.

5. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Factors influencing nutrient content of the soil
Type of vegetation cover; e.g. with legume cover there could be higher N, etc.
Application of manures and fertilizers. Application of soil amendments. Inheriting nutrient status of soil

6. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Factor affecting nutrients content of the leaf
Fertilizers input
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.

7. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Leaf 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.
Thereafter, nutrient requirement of mango trees can be calculated based on optimum norms of tissue nutrient.

8. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Plant tissue sampling guideline for mango
Leaves + petiole should be taken for sample 4 to 7 months old leaves from middle of the shoot leaves per sample.

9. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Leaf sample collection
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.

10. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
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
5th leaf
4th leaf

11. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Optimum norms for mango
Nutrient
Lucknow Safeda
Totapuri
Dashehari
Alphonso
Chausa
N (%)
1.20
1.23
1.17
P (%)
0.10
0.06
0.11
K (%)
0.50
0.54
0.59
Ca (%)
3.04
1.71
2.99
Mg (%)
0.47
0.91
S (%)
0.17
0.12
0.16

12. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Optimum norms for mango
Nutrient
Lucknow Safeda
Totapuri
Dashehari
Alphonso
Chausa
Fe (ppm) -
48-86
171.0
Mn(ppm)
57-174
66.0
13-408
Zn (ppm)
25-33
25.0
Cu(ppm)
12.00

13. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Factors affecting leaf analysis results
Physical 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.

14. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
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.

15. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Factors affecting leaf analysis results
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.

16. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Factors affecting leaf analysis results
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.

17. Plant tissue analysis for testing nutrients deficiency in Mango
Let us sum up
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.
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.