STANDARDIZATION OF LEAF SAMPLING TECHNIQUES FOR KIWIFRUIT IN MID-HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

摘要

Relative contribution of sampling time and leaf position on nutrient levels has been worked out by using coefficient of variation. The evaluation of four different leaf positions on the shoot to determine the nutrient stability period for macro and micro-nutrient elements reveals that the middle leaf among the different positions showed more consistent stability during July to August for most of the macro and micro-nutrient elements. Among the different leaf positions least variation for N, P, K, Ca,Zn, Fe and Mn was observed in middle leaves and for Mg and Cu in the 5th to 6th leaves from the base of the shoot. Therefore, it is suggested to collect the middle leaf from the fruiting shoots along with the petiole during 1st July to 1st August, for the estimation of leaf nutrient elements in kiwifruit.