ABSTRACT
Plant analysis, sometimes referred to as leaf analysis, is the technique for determining the elemental content of tissue of a particular plant part. Plant analysis can play a major role when diagnosing mineral nutrition problems, whether for research purposes or for solving practical field problems. The principles of the plant analysis technique have been reviewed and discussed by Thomas (1945), Ulrich (1952), Smith (1962), Munson and Nelson (1990), Munson (1998), and Reuter and Robinson (1997). Jones (1984) has produced a video and written a chapter on the plant analysis technique in his
Plant Nutrition Manual
(Jones, 1998a). Goodall and Gregory (1947) were among the first to relate the nutrient
element composition of a plant to its nutritional status, grouping work done prior to 1947 into four categories: (1) investigations of nutritional disorder made manifest by definite symptoms, (2) interpretation of the results of field trials, (3) development of rapid testing methods for use in advisory work, and (4) use of plant analysis as a method of nutritional survey. These categories are still applicable today in terms of research as well as plant analysis utilization in crop production decision making.
