About our plant analysis laboratory
Plant analysis is available at our laboratory at Alice Holt Research Station. We have more than 40 years experience in plant analysis and has been at the core of many Forest Research programmes. We also provide a plant analysis service for private customers including specific nutrient analysis (see Foliar Analysis Service) for the forest industry.
We have recently purchased the latest state of the art dual view optical emission spectrophotometer which gives us much lower limits of detection and better accuracy at trace levels.
The laboratory takes part in regular European plant Proficiency Schemes and obtained very good results proving the quality of our data.
Plant analysis is required for various interests such as:
Nutrient deficiency (or excess) in crops
(Test 7 (combination of tests 5 and 6) or
Test 5 and 9 recommended if Sulphur or Molybdenum is required).
Nutrient deficiency affects crop yields whether they are trees grown for timber, fruit trees, cereals or vegetables.
A shortage (or excess) of nutrients can cause serious reductions in crop growth, yield and the quality of the crop produced. Essential major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulphur and calcium are required in relatively large quantities, whilst trace elements such as manganese, copper and boron are required in very small quantities. Many crops show large and very profitable responses to the correct use of lime and fertiliser in terms of both the yield and quality of the crop produced.
Chloride analysis (e.g. de-icing salt damage to trees and shrubs)
Chloride analysis of an unhealthy sample (as well as a healthy sample for comparison) would allow us to diagnose if a chloride excess is the cause of the chlorosis symptoms.
Chlorosis is a condition in which leaves produce insufficient chlorophyll and appear pale, yellow, or yellow-white. The affected plant has little or no ability to manufacture carbohydrates through photosynthesis and may die unless the cause of its chlorophyll deficiency is treated. Specific nutrient deficiencies such as iron (often aggravated by high soil pH) produce chlorosis, which may be corrected by supplemental feedings of iron, magnesium or nitrogen compounds in various combinations. Some pesticides, particularly herbicides, may also cause chlorosis, both to target weeds and occasionally to the crop being treated.
Forest health monitoring
An intensive long term monitoring programme of forest ecosystems was initiated in 1994 under European legislation in order to identify cause-effect relationships which could affect forest health after concerns of widespread decline of forests across Europe.
Phytoremediation and phytostabilisation projects
These methods use plants to immobilise, convert, or remove contaminants generated by industrial processes.
Conventional ‘clean-up’ methods involve the removal or isolation of contaminated soil but these are very expensive. Phytoremediation and phytostabilisation using plants or trees are comparatively inexpensive, in situ approaches that do not rely on the isolation or transport of contaminated material to other sites. Vegetation establishment has the potential to restrict or prevent wind erosion, leaching, surface water run off and erosion and thus break or weaken pollutant linkages between contamination source and receptor.
Planting on contaminated land
Tree survival, growth and physiological function can be affected detrimentally by many contaminants. The upper critical concentration at which such effects take place varies for both tree species and contaminant. Some research on tree tolerance to heavy metals is focusing on determining optimum species choice for planting in metal contaminated soils using developed models of metal (lead, copper, cadmium, zinc) tolerance for a range of tree species.
Plant contamination
Plants grown on metal contaminated soils can take up high levels of metals which would enter the food chain. Plant analysis would assess those levels.
2010 prices ALL INCLUSIVE
Analyses are performed on a regular basis. Response time is variable depending on work load.
If your required analysis is not listed below, please contact us as we have not listed all the tests available. We can also offer a discount depending on the number of samples sent for analysis.
| Test | Analysis | Price <5 samples | Price ≥5 samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sample preparation (Drying at 70 oC and grinding for homogenisation) | £2.00 | £2.00 |
| 2 | Plant, Needle or Leaf weight (Fresh or dry material) (g) | £1.00 | £1.00 |
| 3 | Leaf area (cm2) | Contact us | Contact us |
| 4 | Moisture content (%) | £2.50 | £2.50 |
| 5 | Total nitrogen and phosphorus (N, P) (%) | £10.00 | £10.00 |
| 6 | Major cations (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, Zn) and trace metals (Cd, Cr, Ni) (% - mg/kg) | £16.00 | £16.00 |
| 7 | Combined tests 1, 5 and 6 (% - mg/kg) | £23.00 | £23.00 |
| 8 | Fertiliser prescription for foliage nutrient deficiency (based on the analysis results of one 'good' and one 'poor' sample taken from a block of woodland.) | £21.00 | £21.00 |
| 9 | Trace metals (B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Na, Ni, Pb) and major cations (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S, Zn) (% - mg/kg) | £32.00 | £20.00 |
| 10 | Ultra Trace levels Arsenic, Selenium, Tin and Antimony (As, Se, Sn, Sb) (µg/l-ppb) | £32.00 | £20.00 |
| 11 | Ultra Trace levels of Mecury (Hg) (µg/l-ppb) | £32.00 | £20.00 |
| 12 | Tests 9 and 10 or 9 and 11 | £52.00 | £32.00 |
| 13 | Tests 9, 10 and 11 | £72.00 | £44.00 |
| 14 | Total nitrogen and carbon (N,C) (%) | £10.00 | £10.00 |
| 15 | Water extractable chloride (Cl) (% - mg/kg) | £12.00 | £12.00 |
| 16 | Other required plant analysis | Contact us | Contact us |
View all our chemical analysis services prices including also soil and water analysis
