Understanding the NCDA

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Understanding the NCDACS Plant Analysis Report

• NCDACS Agronomic Division
• Plant/Waste/Solution/Media Section

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Report Availability

• NCDACS plant reports are posted online about two
  working days after samples are received.
• Visit www.ncagr.gov/agronomi to search.

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Plant Report Data

• Can be used to monitor plant nutrient uptake
• Can be helpful in fine-tuning a fertilization
  program
• Can be used to diagnose whether symptoms are due
  to poor nutritional status

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Plant Analysis Report
has four main sections
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Plant Analysis Report Section 1 Header
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Helpful Links Include ExplanatoryReport Cover
Sheets
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Plant Analysis ReportSection 2 Sample
Information
Farmer, Joe c/o Nash Farms 8046 Red Hills
Rd Rocky Mount, NC 27807
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Sample Information
This section contains identifying information
provided by the client.
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Plant Analysis ReportSection 3 Laboratory
Results
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Data Accuracy

• Depends largely on the sample

• Quality
• representative of field conditions
• collected handled according to recommended
  practices
• Quantity
• sufficient tissue for testing

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Laboratory ResultsNutrient Concentrations

• Includes concentrations of 11 of the essential
  plant nutrients plus sodium
• Macronutrients as values
• Micronutrients as ppm

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Laboratory ResultsNutrient Concentrations

1. May include petiole nitrate N (NO3-N), Mo Cl
   values based on crop and/or additional fee paid

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Laboratory ResultsInterpretation Indexes

• 50 to 74 nutrient level is sufficient for plant
  growth
• lt 25 nutrient deficiency
• lt 50 reduced yield possible
• gt 74 additional fertilizer provides no benefit
• gt 99 excess nutrients present may be toxic

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Index Values vs. Yield
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Laboratory ResultsRatios

• indicate relative balance between nutrients
• may indicate problems with nutrient assimilation
  when values are not within normal ranges

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Laboratory ResultsObsolete Sections

• Ignore these areas. We don