Sampling, Processing and Storage of Plant Materials for Chemical Analysis

Abstract

Sampling plays a critical role in plant analysis. The process of plant sampling the material is a very important step in any analysis. The final result of the analysis will be reliable only when the plant sampling is good and true. If the plant sampling is defective the final value will not be true and accurate. Hence, adequate care has to be taken while taking up a plant sample. When analyzing the nutrient status of plants, it is essential to select the plant part for chemical analysis that reflects the status of the particular element of interest. Several tools are available to evaluate the nutritional state of plants. However, it is necessary to integrate both techniques, chemical analysis of plants, and chemical and physical analysis of soil, besides visual diagnosis to maximize fertilization efficiency in terms of cost and prevention of environmental damage.