Leaf position and phenological stage of branch for leaf analysis of Jatropha plants

Leaf analysis is an important tool for prediction of nutritional disorders and evaluation of nutritional status of plants. This procedure only can be effective if samples are standardized regarding leaf position and phenological stage of the branch. This study had the objective of defining the most appropriate leaf position and type of branch for nutritional diagnosis of Jatropha plants. A factorial combination of five leaf positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 10th node from apex to base) and two types of branch (vegetative and flowering) was adopted in a completely randomized design with four replications. Each leaf sample was collected in 4 secondary branches of 20 plants in the flowering phase. Leaves in the position 2 and 3 are the most adequate for analyzing N, P, K, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, because they present mean values more stable when compared to the other studied positions. Leaves in the position 5 and 10 are more adequate for analyzing Ca and Mg. The phenological stage of the branch does not influence nutrient content, except of Cu and Fe.