Foliar macronutrients (N,P, K,Ca and Mg) in lime (Tilia spp.)

Summary The effect of sampling technique upon the measurement of variation in nutrient (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) concentration was examined. Sampling and analytical precision over two years were indicated by coefficients of variation which ranged from 5.7 to 14.0 per cent for sampling error and 4.3 to 16.1 per cent for analytical error. Concentration of N, P and K in the leaves was found to be independent of sampling height. Ca and Mg concentrations, however, decreased with increased height on the crown. The differences in concentration between the bottom and top of the crown were 15 and 19 per cent for Ca and Mg respectively. The nutrient concentrations of samples taken from basal coppice shoots were significantly different from those in the true crown. Nutrient concentration was independent of aspect. Leaf area varied throghout the season, but the largest leaves were always at the base of the crown and the smallest at the top.