Abstract
Studies were conducted during 1991-95 to determine the leaf sampling age, leaf position on a terminal, and leaf sample size suitable for nutritional diagnosis using foliar analysis in Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) grown in the three most widely occurring soil types under the hot sub-humid tropical climate of Central India. A suitable period of leaf sampling was observed at 6-8 months of leaf age in Ambia flush (February bloom) in Typic Chromustert and 5-7 months in Mrig flush (July bloom) in Typic Ustochrept and Typic Ustorthent soil types. Leaf sampling at 6-8 months from plants grown in Typic Chromustert revealed that any leaf position from the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th leaf from non-fruiting terminals would be equally effective in obtaining a nutritionally representative leaf sample with a minimum of 30 leaves covering 2% trees in an orchard.
