Thirteen years of leaf analysis applied to Italian viticulture, olive and fruit growing

In 1987 a project to develop an Italian national centre for research on the use of leaf analyses was initiated in order to undertake and interpret leaf analyses on behalf of fruit and grape grower advisory services, and to allow the management of research both for sampling techniques and data collection in the field and in laboratory analyses. Leaves were sampled by technicians of the advisory services from different regions according to the method recommended by our laboratory. All leaf analyses were collected automatically in a data bank which recorded the data reported on the sample label (location, variety, rootstock, vegetative and productive status of the planting) and the nutrient concentrations. More than 12,500 leaf analyses have been gathered in a thirteen year period, from twelve regions from northern, central and southern Italy. Seven tree crop species were mainly included: grapevines, apple trees, peach trees, kiwi vines, olive trees, pear trees and sweet cherry trees. The following main outcomes were developed: local standards for leaf analysis interpretation; certification for low input fertilisation farming; use of leaf analysis in land evaluation and agro-ecological zoning; nutritional aspects of eco-physiological and cultural researches; studies on the relations among mineral nutrition and crop quality; field trials to test fertiliser design and products; and new analytical and diagnostic methods.