Standardization of leaf sampling technique for mineral composition of coconut cv. Sakhigopal Local

A study was undertaken to find out the index leaf position to be sampled under littoral sandy soils of Orissa for the coconut variety ‘Sakhigopal Local’. The variations in the leaf nutrient concentrations of ten elements according to leaf position revealed that the N, P, and K content gradually decreased as the leaf ages, while Ca and Mg content increased as the leaf ages. The linearity for N, P, K, Mg and Fe was observed between 11^th and 14^th leaf positions. Again, the linearity for Ca, Mn, Cu and Zn was observed between 14^th and 16^th leaf positions. In case of sulphur, stability was observed between 14^th and 16^th leaf positions. The lowest coefficient of variation for P, K, Ca, Mg and Fe was recorded in the 14^th leaf positions. Hence, 14^th leaf starting from the uppermost fully opened leaf could be considered as the best leaf for sampling study in littoral sand.