Crop sampling guide for our recommended extra tests.
| Crop Type | Sample Period | Part to Sample | Quantity | Extra Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almond | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid portion of current seasons non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Alstroemeria | Pre-flowering | Youngest mature leaf from the mid portion of non-budding stems. | 25-30 leaves | |
| Apple | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid portion of current seasons non-fruiting extension growth . | 40-60 leaves | |
| Apricot | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid portion of current seasons non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Arrow-leafed clover | Spring | Top 15cm of actively growing plants. | 20–30 plants | |
| Asparagus (fern) | February-March | Fern from the upper 30cm portion of the plant. | 10-15 ferns | |
| Asparagus (spear) | At spear emergence | Upper 9cm of emerged spear. | 20-30 spears | |
| Barley (tillering) | Late tillering – start of stem elongation -Zadoks scale: 30 -Feekes score: 5 | Whole above ground plant | 30-40 plants | |
| Barley (ear emergence) | When head just emerges from the boot -Zadoks scale: 51 -Feekes score: 10.1 | Whole above ground plant | 20-30 plants | |
| Bean | Early flowering | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Beetroot | Mid growth to early maturity | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from fully developed leaves of current seasons non-fruiting canes. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Blackberry | During fruit set | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid portion. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Blackcurrant | 2-3 weeks prior to fruit ripening | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid portion of current season's growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Blueberry | Early harvest | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from current season's fruiting shoots. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Boysenberry | During fruit set | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid shoot of current season's non-fruiting canes. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Brassica | Current diet | Whole plant | 2 kg | Feed Quality |
| Brassica | Mid growth | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Broccoli | Early heading | Youngest mature wrapper leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Brussel sprout | Sprout initiation | Youngest mature leaf from upper plant. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Cabbage | Mid growth | Youngest mature wrapper leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Calla lily | Early flowering | Youngest mature leaf | 30-50 leaves | |
| Capsicum | At flowering or early fruiting | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from upper third of plant. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Carnation | 6-8 weeks after planting | 4th and 5th pair of leaves from the base of non-flowering stems. | 40-60 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Carrot | When root is 1-3cm diameter | Youngest mature leaf with extended petiole removed. | 30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Cauliflower | Mid growth to early heading | Youngest mature wrapper leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Celery | Mid growth | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Cereal (tillering) | Late tillering – start of stem elongation -Zadoks scale: 30 -Feekes score: 5 | Whole above ground plant. | 30-40 plants | |
| Cereal (ear emergence) | When head just emerges from the boot -Zadoks scale: 51 -Feekes score: 10.1) | Whole above ground plant. | 20-30 plants | |
| Cherry | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the mid portion of current season's extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Chestnut | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the current season's non-fruiting shoots. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Chicory | Mid season | Leaf blades at grazing height. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Choumoellier | Mid growth to early bloom | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Chrysanthemum | Early to mid flowering | 5th or 6th leaf from tip of flowering stem. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Citrus | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from non-fruiting spring extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Compound feed/Meal | When purchased | Representative sample. | 500g | Feed Quality |
| Courgette | Early flowering | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 15-20 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Cucumber (glasshouse) | Early flowering | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole taken 30-45cm from growth tip of plant. | 20 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Cymbidium | Unpinched plant | Mature 5th or 6th leaf pair from stem tip. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Egg plant | Mid growth or full bloom | Youngest mature leaf blade without petiole. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Feijoa | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current season's non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Fodder Beet | 50–60 days after sowing or half-grown bulb | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20–30 leaves | |
| Garlic | Bulbing | Youngest mature leaf from upper third of plant. | 30-50 leaves | |
| Gooseberry | During fruit set | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from current season's non-fruiting canes. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Grape (leaf blade) | Veraison | Mid shoot leaves without petiole. | 30-40 leaves | |
| Grape (petiole) | Flowering November-December | Petiole taken from opposite the basal cluster. | 70 petioles | |
| Grapefruit | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from non-fruiting spring extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Gypsophila | Mid season | Youngest mature leaf. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Hay | Mature | Representative sample of hay comprising at least 6 grab samples from at least 6 bales. | 500g | Feed Quality |
| Hazelnut | February-March | Leaf blade + petiole from mid-shoot leaves from current season’s growth. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Hop | Mid season | Youngest mature leaf blade taken from mid season's growth. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum, Chloride |
| Kale | Mid growth | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Kiwifruit | Spring (before fruitset) Autumn (after fruitset) | Before fruitset, youngest fully expanded leaf + petiole from current season's cane. After fruitset, second youngest mature leaf blade + petiole past final fruit cluster on fruiting cane. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum (2-3 years), Chloride |
| Kumara | Early to mid tuber development | Youngest mature leaf blade plus petiole. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Lemon | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from non-fruiting spring extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Lettuce (glasshouse) | Early heading | Wrapper leaf. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Lisianthus | Early flowering | Youngest mature leaf. | 30-50 leaves | |
| Lucerne | Active growth period | Top 15cm of plant. | 20-30 plant tops | Iodine |
| Macadamia | April-May | Youngest mature leaf + petiole below non-fruiting or flushing growth terminals. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Maize (50% silking) | At 50% silking | Ear leaf (leaf directly at base of cob) | 20-25 leaves | |
| Maize (at 30cm) | Seedling (if nutrient disorder suspected) | Whole shoot. | 30-40 plants | |
| Maize (at 40cm) | Seedling (if nutrient disorder suspected) | Youngest fully expanded leaf. | 20-25 leaves | |
| Mandarin | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from non-fruiting spring extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Mixed pasture | Active growth period–spring and autumn | Cut representative sample of pasture at grazing height. | 500g | Iodine |
| Nashi | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Nectarine | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Oat (tillering) | Late tillering – start of stem elongation -Zadoks scale: 30 -Feekes score: 5 | Whole above ground plant. | 20-30 plants | |
| Oat (ear emergence) | When head just emerges from the boot -Zadoks scale: 51 -Feekes score: 10.1 | Whole above ground plant. | 30-40 plants | |
| Olive | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Onion | Mid growth | Youngest mature leaf. | 30-50 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Orange | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from non-fruiting spring extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Oriental lily | Early flowering | Youngest mature leaf. | 30-40 leaves | |
| Parsnip | Mid growth - root is 1-3cm in diameter | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Passionfruit | September | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from actively growing laterals. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Pea | Between late flowering and harvest | Youngest mature compound leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Peach | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | Chloride |
| Pear | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Persimmon | February-March | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Plantain | Early to mid season | Leaf blades at grazing height. | 40–60 leaves | |
| Radiata pine | February-March | Current season's full length foliage from second order branches taken from the tree crown (top third). | 15-20 tips | |
| Plum | January-February | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from mid portion of current non-fruiting extension growth. | 40-60 leaves | |
| Potato (petiole) | Beginning early season approximately 50 days after emergence (Russet Burbank) | Petiole from the fourth or fifth leaf from tip. | 30 petioles | Molybdenum |
| Potato (leaf and petiole) | Early flowering to full bloom | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole taken from growing tips. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Protea | Mid season | Youngest mature leaf. | 40-50 leaves | |
| Pumpkin/Squash | During fruit set | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Radish | When tuber is half-grown | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Rape | Mid growth | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Raspberry | 2-3 weeks post harvest | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from the terminal 15cm of non-fruiting canes. | 40-50 leaves | |
| Rose | Flowering | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole from upper part of the flowering stem. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Ryegrass | Active growth period | Leaf blades cut at grazing height. | 500g | Iodine |
| Sandersonia (early season) | At bud formation | Youngest mature leaf taken from 3-4 leaf from tip. | 40-50 leaves | |
| Sandersonia (mid season) | After bud formation | Youngest mature leaf taken from 3-4 leaf from tip. | 40-50 leaves | |
| Silage/Baleage | Pre-harvest, ensiled, at feed out | Representative sample of silage comprising at least 6 grab samples from the stack or bale. | 1 kg | Feed Quality |
| Silverbeet | Half-grown | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Spinach | 4-6 weeks old | Youngest mature leaf blade + petiole. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Strawberry | Early maturity November-December | Youngest mature leaf. | 30-50 leaves | Chloride |
| Swede | When root is half-grown | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Sweet corn | Seedling (if nutrient disorder suspected) | 5th leaf from plant tip taken when plants are between 30 and 70cm tall. | 20-25 leaves | |
| Tamarillo | February–March | Youngest mature leaf blade plus petiole taken from well developed, actively growing laterals. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Tomato (field) | Early fruit maturity | Youngest mature compound leaf + petiole taken from the top third of the plant. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Tomato (glasshouse) | Early fruit maturity | Youngest mature compound leaf + petiole taken from the top third of the plant. | 20-30 leaves | |
| Turnip | When root is half-grown | Youngest mature leaf. | 20-30 leaves | Molybdenum |
| Walnut | December-January | Terminal leaflet of basal leaves from shoots of average vigour taken at mid season growth. | 60-100 leaves | Chloride |
| Wheat (tillering) | Late tillering – start of stem elongation -Zadoks scale: 30 -Feekes score: 5 | Whole above ground plant. | 30-40 plants | |
| Wheat (ear emergence) | When head just emerges from the boot -Zadoks scale: 51 -Feekes score: 10.1 | Whole above ground plant. | 20-30 plants | |
| White clover | Active growth period | Leaf plus petiole. | 50 leaves |
