Lecture 15 Fertilizers and 4R Nutrient Management

These flashcards cover key concepts related to fertilizers and nutrient management as discussed in the lecture.

Fertilizer

A natural or artificial substance containing nutrient elements that enhance plant growth and productivity.

4Rs of Nutrient Management

The four best management practices: Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place that optimize fertilizer use.

Nutrient Cycling

The processes through which nutrients move through the soil, plants, and the environment.

Colloid

Organic and inorganic matter with very small particle size and a large surface area per unit of mass, allowing for nutrient retention.

Fertilizer Grade

The analysis of chemical fertilizers represented by numbers indicating the percentage content of total nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5), and soluble potash (K2O).

Nutrient Management

Using strategies to optimize the amount, timing, and method of nutrient applications to meet crop needs while minimizing environmental impact.

Deficiency

A shortage of essential nutrients that can limit plant growth and yield.

Premium Fertilizer

A type of fertilizer that provides balanced nutrients for optimal plant growth, typically indicated by a 10-10-10 ratio.

Soil Solution

A mixture of water and nutrients in the soil that plants access during uptake.

Elemental form

The basic form of an element not combined with oxygen or other elements, necessary for accurate nutrient assessment.

Organic Fertilizer

Derived from natural sources like compost, manure, or bone meal, releasing nutrients slowly as they decompose.

Inorganic Fertilizer

Synthesized or mined materials that contain nutrients in a readily available form, often leading to rapid plant uptake.

Plants take up nutrients in forms from the soil solution.

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Essential Nutrients

Seventeen elements vital for plant growth and reproduction, categorized as macronutrients or micronutrients.

Macronutrients

Nutrients required by plants in larger quantities, including N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S.

Nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing