The nutrient content of a plant can be assessed by testing a sample of tissue from that plant. These tests are important in agriculture since fertilizer application can be fine-tuned if the plants nutrient status is known. Nitrogen most commonly limits plant growth and is the most managed nutrient.
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Plant tissue tests are often used in combination with soil tests. Soil tests measure the concentrations of nutrients in the soil that are potentially available for uptake by plant roots.
Although soil testing is widely used, it does not always accurately estimate the nutrient status of the crop. Even if soils have the recommended level of nutrients, the crop can still be nitrogen deficient if it has a nutrient uptake problem. Only tissue tests tell growers the actual nitrogen status of the crop.
Another drawback of soil nutrient tests is that they do not take account of factors such as soil structure or biological activity, which affect the rate at which nutrients leave the soil. These factors mean that the concentration of nutrients in the soil can rapidly deviate from the results of a soil test.
Another reason why soil tests do not always guarantee the best management of nutrient treatments is that cultivars vary in their ability to scavenge soil nutrients. Some cultivars can produce their optimum yield when grown in soil with less than the recommended levels of nutrients. Directly testing the nitrogen status of the crop helps growers adjust fertilizer applications to the specific needs of that crop.[1]
Tissue tests are almost always useful, since they provides additional information about the physiology of the crop. Tissue tests are especially useful in certain situations;
Traditional tissue tests are destructive tests where a sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. Any laboratory test (soil or tissue test) performed by a commercial company will cost the grower a fee. Laboratory tests take at least a week to complete, usually 2 weeks. It takes time to dry the samples, send them to the lab, complete the lab-tests, and then return the results to the grower. This means the results may not be received by the grower until after the ideal time to take action.[3] Nitrogen tissue tests that can be performed quickly in the field make tissue testing much more useful.[3]
Another issue with laboratory tissue tests is that the results are often difficult to interpret.
Non-destructive tissue tests have advantages over traditional destructive tests. Non-destructive tissue tests can be performed easily in the field, and provide results much faster than laboratory tests.[3]
To non-destructively assess nitrogen content, one can assess the chlorophyll content. Nitrogen content is linked to chlorophyll content because a molecule of chlorophyll contains four nitrogen atoms.
Nitrogen deficiency can be detected with a chlorophyll content meter. Many studies have used chlorophyll content meters to predict N-content of leaves, and generally a good correlation is obtained.[4] Researchers at the University of Nebraska concluded that a producer’s ability to manage nitrogen is enhanced by using a Chlorophyll Meter in combination with the researcher's new technique to fine-tune N-management during the growing season.[5]
Peer-reviewed studies have concluded the CCM-200plus Chlorophyll Meter accurately measures leaf nitrogen content. For instance, researchers at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid used a CCM-200plus to measure a Chlorophyll Content Index (CCI), and concluded that leaf chlorophyll content performed well as an indicator of nutritional status in sugar beet. The CCI was responsive to differences in nitrogen availability and was able to discriminate between treatments. The CCI parameter was concluded to be quick, easy and non-invasive.[6]
Researchers at the University of Vermont assessed the ability of the CCM-200plus to estimate Chlorophyll Content Index (CCI) and nitrogen content. The N-content was laboratory analysed, and was found to have a significantly linear relationship with CCI (P < 0.001). The CCM-200plus was concluded to be an effective tool for estimating relative chlorophyll and nitrogen content.[7]
A novel method of detecting nitrogen deficiency is with a chlorophyll fluorometer.
Nitrogen deficiency tests based on the fluorescence emission of leaves have been developed. Certain spectrums of laser-induced fluorescence are used, since this particular spectrum is able to distinguish nitrogen and sulphur deficiency. Only N-deficiency significantly increases the fluorescence induced by 360nm- and 440nm-laser pulses.[8] A test protocol based on this fluorescence spectrum has been developed and is incorporated into the latest chlorophyll fluorometers, such as the OS-5p (in which it is called the FRFex360/FRFex440 test).[9] This spectrum of laser-induced fluorescence changes prior to or simultaneously with plant growth inhibition, allowing this fluorescence ratio to detect N-deficiency in a timely manner.[8]
Another test protocol based on fluorescence that is incorporated into the OS-5p fluorometer is the OJIP test.[9] This test analyses the increase in fluorescence emitted from dark-adapted leaves, when they are illuminated. The rise in fluorescence during the first second of illumination follows a curve with intermediate peaks, called the O, J, I, and P steps. In addition, the K step appears during specific types of stress, such as N-deficiency. Research has shown the K step is able to measure N-stress.[10]