Agronomic Services — Plant Tissue Analysis

Brenda Cleveland, section chief

Plant tissue analysis can indicate whether plants contain the concentrations of essential nutrients necessary for optimum growth. Results help growers monitor nutrient uptake, correct deficiencies before they reach a critical stage and, for some crops, time harvest appropriately.

Note: Plant tissue analysis does not include analysis of forage plants for use as animal feed. Feed analysis is provided through the NCDA&CS Food & Drug Protection Division.

Plant Tissue Reports and Explanatory Information	Report Search (PALS) Sample Turnaround Times Understanding the Plant Tissue Report Understanding the Plant Tissue Report for Cotton Plant Tissue Analysis (descriptive brochure) Plant Tissue Analysis Guide
Instructional PowerPoints	View Online Collecting Plant Tissue Samples Completing the Plant Sample Information Form Understanding the NCDA&CS Plant Analysis Report Download & Save Collecting Plant Tissue Samples Completing the Plant Sample Information Form Understanding the NCDA&CS Plant Analysis Report
Tissue Sampling	Plant Sample Information form Diagnosing Plant Growth Problems Pictorial Guide to Plant Tissue Sampling Plant Tissue Samples: Proper Handling Sampling for Plant Analysis Submitting a Diagnostic Soil Sample w/ a Problem Plant Sample Cornstalk Testing to Evaluate Nitrogen Management Using Tissue Analysis to Monitor Cotton Nutrition Tissue Sampling & Analysis for Greenhouse Tomatoes Strawberry Tissue Analysis Harvesting Tobacco Based on Tissue Analysis Production Tools for Tobacco Growers Wheat Tissue Samples Assure Proper Spring Nitrogen Rate Nitrogen Management for Small Grains
Sample Containers	Sample containers are not available by mail. Pick up mailing envelopes for plant tissue samples at any county Cooperative Extension office or at the Agronomic Division office in Raleigh.
Plant Sample Summary Information: 2002–2011	Number of Samples by Crop and Year Number of Samples by County and Year
Other References	Plant Analysis Reference Procedures for the Southern Region of the United States Reference Sufficiency Ranges for Plant Analysis in the Southern Region of the United States NCSU Floriculture Deficiency Series [not pdf]

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Last Update April 24, 2013

NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division, Colleen M. Hudak-Wise, Ph.D., Director
Mailing Address: 1040 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1040
Physical Address: 4300 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh NC 27607-6465
Phone: (919) 733-2655; FAX: (919) 733-2837