STANDARDISATION OF LEAF SAMPLING FOR NUTRIENT ANALYSIS IN PINEAPPLE VAR. MAURITIUS

Leaf nutrient analysis is a tool used to assess the plant’s requirement for nutrients, and for scientific nutrient management of crops. Investigations were carried out to find out the best leaf portion for nutrient analysis in pineapple var. Mauritius. ‘D’ leaf (youngest physiologically mature, fourth leaf from the apex) samples collected from plants of 14 treatments of a fertilizer trial were used for the study. Leaf nutrient status of N, P and K were analysed from tip, middle and basal portions of the D leaf. Basal portions of the leaf contained significantly higher amounts of nutrients than tip and middle portions. The study indicates that the basal portion of the ‘D’ leaf is the best for leaf nutrient analysis.