Tissue sampling can be used to determine nutrient levels within turf plants.

There are three simple steps to tissue sampling:

1. Make sure you have the correct container

2. Take the sample

3. Label carefully

It is essential when collecting samples for tissue testing that the plant material is not contaminated with anything that will affect the results of the test.

Samples should be bagged in a paper bag rather than plastic bags as plastic will cause the sample to decompose and break down too rapidly.

When taking samples for tissue testing it is important to collect leaf material, not seed stalk or stolons.

Use stainless steel scissors to collect at least a large handful of leaf material from each area that you want to test so the laboratory has enough material to complete the testing.

This may sound simple enough if sampling from an area where the turf is long, however, sampling from a shorter area, such as a bowling green cut to 2 mm, can be difficult and time consuming.

Do not use ordinary scissors or clippings from a catcher, as this material will be contaminated by iron.

Label the sample bag clearly with the:

• name of the business

• exactly where the sample was collected from

• the turf species

• date collected

• name of the sampler.

Remember that there may be other samples from the same business so the location is critical.