soils and fertz test 3

soil fertility

ability of a soil to supply nutrients for plant growth

soil fertility is not just based on

the quantity of nutrients

essential element

a chemical element needed by plants to complete its normal life cycle including growth and reproduction

how many criteria are required for an element to be considered essential

3

the first criteria of an essential element states

a lack of the element would stop a plant from completing growth and reproduction

the second criteria of an essential element states

the element is directly involved in plant nutrition

the third criteria of an essential element states

a shortage of the element can only be corrected by supplying that particular element

how many elements are essential

17

mineral elements come from

the soil

non-mineral elements come from

carbon dioxide or water

how many mineral elements are there

14

mineral elements can be broken into what 2 categories

macronutrients and micronutrients

macronutrients are measured in

percent DM

macronutrients can be broken into what two categories

primary and secondary

_______ AKA fertilizer elements

Primary

primary macronutrients include

nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium

macronutrients are present

in large quantities

secondary macronutrients include

calcium, magnesium, sulfur

micronutrients are measured in

parts per million (ppm)

primary elements are NOT

more important than secondary

secondary macronutrients are less likely to

be deficient in soil compared to primary

micronutrients are present in

small quantities

micronutrients include

boron, nickel, copper, chlorine, iron, manganese, zinc

elements categorized as micronutrients are

just as important for plant growth

for an element to be essential, it must be

essential in ALL plants, not just a select few

beneficial elements

chemical elements that may play a beneficial role in development of plants

beneficial elements do NOT

meet the criteria of being essential

beneficial elements include

aluminum, cobalt, selenium, silicon, sodium, vanadium

how do nutrients move

mobility

mobility

how easily a nutrient is redistributed from one location to another if it is needed

movement can be in

the plant or in the soil

mobile =

easily translocated

non-mobile =

not easily translocated

mobile nutrient deficiency appears in

older leaves first

non-mobile nutrient deficiency appears in

younger leaves first

mobile nutrients include

nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous

non-mobile nutrients include

calcium, sulfur, iron, boron

justus von Liebig is the father of

fertilizer

Liebig used his knowledge of organic chemistry in

agronomy

what were Liebig’s contributions

law of minimum; nutrient quantities can be determined by analyzing nutrients quantities of plant tissue

what is another name for the law of minimum

Liebig’s law

how many concepts make up the law of minimum

4

what is the first concept of the law of minimum

growth is determined by the nutrient that is most lacking

what is the second concept of the law of minimum

ANY deficiency will hold back growth; does not matter if it micro or macro nutrient

what is the third concept of the law of minimum

if the deficiency is corrected, growth will increase until it is no longer the limiting factor

what is the fourth concept of the law of minimum

increasing the supply beyond this point is not helpful as something else becomes limiting

deficiency zone

plants aren’t able to take up adequate nutrients; any addition of the deficient nutrient increases yield

toxic zone

too much of a nutrient negatively impacts growth

adequate zone

plants are able to take up and store nutrients in necessary quantities

critical concentration

the point where deficiency ends and adequacy begins

what is the function of nitrogen

amino acids, proteins, chlorophyll, increased growth

what is the function of phosphorous

ATP, cell membranes, nucleic acids

what is the function of potassium

rough resistance, stomates opening/closing, turgor pressure

what is the function of calcium

cell wall structure, rigidity, metabolic regulation

what is the function of sulfur

constituent of amino acids, used in DNA

micronutrients are primarily used as

enzymes

nutrient deficiency symptoms can be observed in

length/quality of roots, number and quality of leaves, height, plant tissue analysis

chlorosis

yellowing of the leaf

chlorosis can be

general, interveinal, marginal

general chlorosis

interveinal chlorosis

marginal chlorosis

fertilizer

a material applied to soil or plants to supply essential elements

you must apply fertilizer according to the

4 R’s

What are the 4 R’s

right form, time, place, rate

how many categories of fertilizer are there

4

mineral fertilizer

ground rocks containing nutrients

organic fertilizer

organic material that contains nutrients that are bound to carbon

organic fertilizers are considered

slow release because they must be broken down before they become available

synthetic fertilizers

chemically organic but industrially manufactured

synthetic fertilizers contain

carbon and oxygen

synthetic fertilizers have a

higher nutrient content

inorganic fertilizers

chemically organic; can be mined or manufactured and processed

inorganic fertilizers are readily

plant available

what two fertilizers are allowed in certified organics

mineral and organic

what two fertilizers are not allowed in certified organics

synthetic and inorganic

Right form

refers to how fertilizers are applied

what are the four categories of form

pressurized liquids, fluids, dry fertilizers, slow-release

pressurized liquids are

injected into the soil to avoid losses

how do you apply pressurized liquid fertilizer

the pressure in tanks forces liquid through tubes that go to underground chisels/knives that allow the fertilizer to enter the soil

what is the primary fertilizer used in pressurized liquids

anhydrous ammonia

why do you have to seal the soil when using pressurized liquids

to ensure none of the vaporized fertilizer escapes the soil

fluid fertilizers are

most commonly a solution of water and a water soluble fertilizer

why is it useless to use pressurized liquids in the SE

because the soils are too sandy which allows for the gas to escape

why are fluid fertilizers so popular

they are easy to work with and can be mixed with lime or pesticides

fluid fertilizers allow for

more rapid plant uptake because it is already in an available form

dry fertilizers are

applied to soil where they dissolve into a solution

what are the types of dry fertilizers

pulverized, granules, prills

pulverized fertilizer form

crushed fertilizer material into a powder

granules

material is treated to have large grains and less dust

prills

smooth, round, uniform, dust free

slow release fertilizer

is a dry product

how does slow release work

large molecules slowly break down, the plastic or sulfur coating slowly releases nutrients as it breaks down

slow release is common in

horticulture and turf

complete fertilizer

contains all primary macronutrients

homogenized fertilizer AKA

granulated or ammoniated

homogenized fertilizer is produced from

raw materials so that each granule has the same amount of N,P2O5, and K2O

bulk fertilizer

commercial fertilizer distributed in non-packaged form and can be solid or liquid

blended fertilizer

a physical combination of single fertilizers to produce a mixture that meets multiple nutrient needs

what is an issue that happens with blended fertilizers

the blend can have different densities so it must be constantly agitated so that distribution is even