There are three important diagnostic tools to determine palms health status. They are; (i) visible symptoms of nutrient deficiency or excess; (ii) plant (leaf) analysis, and (iii) soil analysis (Asher et al, 2002). Leaf analysis was developed primarily to provide information on the nutrient status of the oil palms as a guide to nutrient management (fertiliser management tool) for optimal oil palm growth and production. For smallholders, there is a need to come up with site specific recommendations for fertilizer application hence this project was initiated in 2013 to determine both foliar and soil nutrient status of smallholder blocks in Hoskins Project, West New Britain and the project was extended to other sites (Bialla, Poliamba, Popondetta and Milne Bay) in 2016. Table shows the number of sampling blocks for each site.
Table 2. Sampling blocks in each project site
| Site | Sampling blocks |
| Hoskins, NBPOL WNB | 144 |
| Bialla, Hargy Oil Palms, WNB | 108 |
| Poliamba, NBPOL New Ireland | 47 |
| Popondetta, NBPOL Higaturu | 99 |
| Milne Bay, NBPOL Milne Bay | 78 |