Benefits of Leaf Analysis

Leaf analysis is a useful 'tool' that can easily be used by growers to improve management of nutrients on farm. By leaf sampling relatively young sugar cane (3-7 months of age) growers are able to check on the adequacy of fertiliser recommendations and the nutrients they have applied. To do so it is important that leaves are sampled according to a set procedure to ensure meaningful interpretation of the analytical data.

How to Perform Leaf Sampling

Step A

• Select leaves from stalks of average height
• Sample the third leaf from the top of the stalk (as shown in diagram opposite). Counting from the top of the plant, the first leaf is the one that is more than half-unrolled. The third leaf usually corresponds to the top visible dewlap
• Collect about 40 such leaves at random from across the entire block of sugarcane being sampled

Step B

• Fold the leaves in half (top to bases) and cut a 100-200mm length from these folded leaves (giving a total 200-300mm section of each leaf). Retain these middle 200-300mm sections of the leaf blades and discard the remaining top and bottom sections
• Strip out and discard the midrib from each 200-300mm section.

Step C

• Bundle the leaf strips together and attach a completed BSES Leaf Analysis label (see opposite)
• Place the sample in a cool environment (polystyrene cooler) until it can be dried in an oven or a well ventilated area
• Once the sample is dry, place it is a clean paper bag or envelope, and send it to:

BSES
Ashfield Road / Private Bag 4
BUNDABERG DC  QLD  4670