Soil and leaf analysis: Effect of pedo-climatic, cultural and genetic factors on their calibration and interpretation

A method to calibrate and interpret soil analysis for fruit and grape growing, is presented. Differently from the conventional model, based upon yield data, this method utilises leaf analysis data collected by nutritional survey; it is able to take into account environmental, genetical and cultural factors. The model has been tested processing data stored in the Soil & Leaf Analysis Data Bank of our laboratory which consists in hundreds of analyses data matched with agronomic and environmental data. When applied to Italian vineyards it allowed to lower the critical soil test values for Olsen P and exch. K in respect to those currently used in Italy. When applied to particular situation it was able to calibrate soil test in relation to the peculiar genetical or environmental conditions.