Our Philosophy
The
objective of the fruit grower is to maintain plants in a healthy state so fruit
quality and yield will be maximized. A healthy plant is free of pests and
diseases, is trained to maximize light interception, has a balance between
vegetative and reproductive growth, and has its nutritional needs satisfied. Plant
nutrition is one of the most important, yet least understood aspects of
agriculture. Many growers believe that plants need only nitrogen to satisfy
their nutritional needs and the remedy for poor vigor, low yields, or light
green foliage is nitrogen fertilizer. Plants, however, need 16 different
nutrients in various different proportions, for proper growth and development.
Plant grows under its own unique environment. This
environment is made up of soil properties, relative composition of macro and
micronutrients, soil microbial flora together with the quality of water beside
local weather. The plant hunger is the net result of such a complex
environment. It is essential to determine the level of nutrients utilized by
the crop and whether deficiency, toxicity problems or nutrient imbalances
exists. Plant analysis can be a valuable tool in determining the general
nutritional status of crops. It can be particularly helpful in diagnosing
nutritional deficiency symptoms because various elements have similar visual
symptoms. In some cases other factors such as disease, herbicide residues,
insects, high or low temperature, or too much or too little moisture may
actually cause symptoms that appear to be caused by nutrient deficiencies. Leaf
analyses integrates all the factors that might influence nutrient availability
and uptake. It shows the balance between nutrients.
Usually,
fertilizer recommendations are based on soil test results. However, there are
different nutrient management philosophies that will impact recommendations. Be
sure your laboratory's philosophy is consistent with your objectives. One
approach is to build up soil fertility levels, another approach is to replace
the amount of nutrients taken up by a crop, and a third approach is to base
fertilizer recommendations on crop requirements to maximize yield. The first
two approaches result in higher fertilizer recommendations that can lead to a
buildup of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil and potential pollution of water
sources.
The success of various soil, water and plant analysis as a diagnostic
technique depends on the interpretation of the test results. The
procedure used by many plant analysis laboratories is to compare the elemental
concentration found in the plant tissue against previously established critical
levels and sufficiency range found in normal plants as established by research.
Information concerning soil texture, soil depth, drainage condition and
irrigation method is equally important. System of soil management, past
fertilizer program, growth, foliage color, crop history & age of
plantation, fruit quality and storage life are all important and considered
when interpreting laboratory analyses data for effective method of predicting
fertilizer requirement.
We
have developed a computer program based on analysis of various factors during
different growth phases of the plant. After processing huge data for their
interactions, individual program for prescribing fertilizer of various crops
have been developed. The program simulates stage wise hunger and effectively
predicts fertilizer requirement for that stage. It also shows hidden or
incipient deficiencies and allows one to anticipate deficiencies before they
cause reductions in plant growth. It allows producers to apply lower rates of
fertilizer before planting, and to adjust plant nutrient status during the
growing season.
Part
of the ANALAB success story is linked to our company’s in-depth fertility
analysis service. This service has proven very popular amongst over six
thousand clients, as it offers personal direction, guidelines and a much-needed
explanation of the mechanics of high-production fertility. Personal
prescription blends, based upon the Plant tissue, soil and water analysis data,
have been an unqualified success. Plant analysis, when properly used, offers
producers insurance that careful nutrient management will not negatively affect
the bottom line.
Sampling Procedure | Sample submission form | For international clients