Wheat Tissue Testing

I am anxious to tissue sample my good looking wheat but I know it's early yet.  Tissue sampling and testing has helped me feed my crops more efficiently and it's really catching on with some farmers and other crop growers.

"Plant tissue analysis shows the nutrient status of plants at the time of sampling. This, in turn, shows whether soil nutrient supplies are adequate. In addition, plant tissue analysis will detect unseen deficiencies and may confirm visual symptoms of deficiencies. Toxic levels also may be detected. Though usually used as a diagnostic tool for future correction of nutrient problems, plant tissue analysis from young plants will allow a corrective fertilizer application that same season.

Not all abnormal appearances are due to a deficiency. Some may be due to too much of certain elements. Also, symptoms of one deficiency may look like those of another. A plant tissue analysis can pinpoint the cause, if it is nutritional. A plant analysis is of little value if the plants come from fields that are infested with weeds, insects, disease organisms; if the plants are stressed for moisture; or if plants have some mechanical injury.

The most important use of plant analysis is as a monitoring tool for determining the adequacy of current fertilization practices. Sampling a crop periodically during the season or once each year provides a record of its nutrient content that can be used through the growing season or from year to year. With soil test information and a plant analysis report, a producer can closely tailor fertilization practices to specific soil-plant needs.

It also may be possible to prevent nutrient stress in a crop if the plant analysis indicates a potential problem developing early in the season. Corrective measures can be applied during the season or, if the crop is perennial, during the next year. Combined with data from a soil analysis, a tissue analysis is an important tool in determining nutrient requirements of a crop. By request, the following elements can be determined in a plant sample:

Nitrogen	Sulfur	Boron
Phosphorus	Iron	Sodium
Potassium	Copper	Chlorine
Calcium	Zinc	Molybdenum
Magnesium	Manganese

Levels of elements such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, and selenium also can be examined. See table 1 for sufficiency levels of plant nutrients."

I think I will snip off a few plants per acre and go ahead and start my tissue testing for 2014.  I am curious how this new farm is responding to all the changes I am making to it.

Soil and tissue testing help hit my target more easily.  How about you?

Ed Winkle