At present, the leaf analysis is the method of greatest relevance in the definition and interpretation of nutritional status of plants. The correct interpretation of the nutritional status of the crop is only possible when it regionalizes reference values (standards). This study aimed to determine reference values for the interpretation of the results of leaf analysis of maize through the use of methods of interpretation: critical levels (CL), sufficiency range (SR) and balanced indexes of Kenworthy (BIK). Sampling of soil, leaves and productivity was conducted in 120 commercial crops of corn, in the crop year of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, in the region of Alto Paranaíba, MG. To generate the diagnostic indexes by the methods SR and BIK, the population was divided into two sub-populations: with the productivity above and below 11,795 kg ha-1. Levels and normal ranges proposed by the cited methods were very similar. The amplitude of optimum ranges were lower when compared to that one found in the literature. The diagnostic indexes regionalized by the methods CL, SR and BIK increased the reliability when diagnosing plots with the same characteristics of the standards approved in relation to universal reference values.
Zea mays L.; critical level; nutritional equilibrium
