Sap analysis is a new diagnostic tool that can reveal crop nutrition deficiencies four to six weeks sooner than conventional dry matter tests. 

This means that growers can quickly adjust their nutrient programs before the trees show signs of nutrient deficiencies or excesses.

The sap analysis technique was developed by NovaCropControl in the Netherlands and is distributed in the United States by Crop Health Laboratories. It can be used on more than a hundred different crops, including tree fruits, to determine their health status.

Sap analysis carries the same diagnostic value as a blood sample, according to Crop Health Laboratories. It allows growers to save on fertility inputs by providing trees with a precise diet based on their actual demand. The nutrient flow can be tracked throughout the growing season and compared to target values at each stage of development.

Sap samples are sent to NovaCropControl in the Netherlands for analysis, but Crop Health Laboratories plans to open its own
testing facilities in the United States in 2016. For more information, check the website www.crophealthlabs.com