McCarty book glossary

Abaxial

Located away from or on the opposite side of the axis, as of an organ or organism.

AB-DTPA extractant

Acronym for an extraction reagent of ammonium bicarbonate (AB) in diethylenetriaminepenta acid (DTPA) with a pH of 7.6 used to extract P, K, Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn from alkaline soils.

abiotic

Non-living

abscisic acid

A plant hormone that brings about dormancy in buds, mantains dormancy in seeds, and brings about stomatal closing, among other effects.

absorption

in plants, passing of a compound from one system into another, such as water movement from soil into roots; in soils, binding of a chemical into a soil particle

acclimation

an organism's change in response to a change in the organism's environment

acervulus

a subepidermal, saucer-shaped, asexual fruiting body producing conidia on short conidiophores

acid equivalent (ae)

The amount of herbicide in a formulation when measured in its acid form

acid injection

Used to treat poor quality irrigation water that contains both excessive bicarbonates and a high sodium hazard. Sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, or urea sulfuric acid is injected into the irrigation system with specialized equipment. (Also see sulfur burner).

acid rain

rainwater with a pH below 5.6

acidity

pH of a soil or solution with a value

Acropetal

means towards the apex; transport up in the xylem

Actinomycetes

intermediate microorganisms between bacteria and fungi

activated sludge

aerated sewage containing aerobic microorganisms that help to break it down

active acidity

H+ ions in the soil solution

active ingredient (AI)

The substance in a pesticide product that is intended to kill, repel, or otherwise control a target pest.

activity index

Cold water insoluble nitrogen (CWIN) percentage of a fertilizer that is soluble in hot (100 degrees C) water of not less than 40%

acute

sharply pointed

acute toxicity

the ability of a chemical to cause harm to an organism with only one exposure

Adam-Evans buffer

Buffer solution used for measuring H+ ions and to determine lime requirements for acid, low CEC soils.

adaptation

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce

adaxial

upper surface of leaf

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

compound used by cells to store and release energy

adhesion

An attraction between molecules of different substances

Adjuvant

Substance in a formulation that increases its effectiveness

adsorption

The process of binding or sticking to a surface.

adventitious buds

buds appearing in places other than stems

adventitious root

a root that grows from an unexpected region of the plant, such as from a stem or leaf

aerification

Compacted soils produce shallow-rooted turf. Can be used to counteract compacted soils.

aerobic

Process that requires oxygen

aggregate

Gathered into a whole; total

agronomy

the science of soil management and crop production

aleurone layer

In some seeds, a tissue that lies beneath the seed coat and surrounds the endosperm. Secretes digestive enzymes that break down macromolecules stored in the endosperm.

alga (plural: algae)

A general term for any species of photosynthetic protist, including both unicellular and multicellular forms. Algal species are included in three eukaryote supergroups (Excavata, SAR, and Archaeplastida).

algal bloom

The rapid growth of a population of algae

alkalinity

having a pH greater than 7

allelopathy

The production of chemicals by plants that inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants

amendment

Any material worked into the soil or applied to the surface to improve plant growth

amino acids

building blocks of proteins

ammoniacal nitrogen

With fertilizer its ammonium or ammonia-containing fertilizer

Ammonification

decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia

amylase

Enzyme in saliva that breaks the chemical bonds in starches

anaerobic

Process that does not require oxygen

anion

A negatively charged ion

anion exchange capacity

Sum total of exchangeable anions that a soil can absorb.

annual

happening once a year

antagonism

counteraction between organisms or chemical mixtures, usually making them less effective than when used together

anther

the part of a stamen that contains the pollen.

anthesis

opening of the flower bud when pollination occurs

Anthocyanin

a blue, violet, or red flavonoid pigment found in plants.

anthracnose

Crown and/or leaf disease caused by a fungus that produces asexual spores in an acervulus, usually characterized by ulcer-like areas on the host.

antibiosis

the association between two organisms in which one is harmful to the other

antibiotic

chemical substance that inhabits the growth of or destroys microorganisms

antibody

chemical substance in a host that opposes the action of parasites, their products, or other foreign materials

antigen

A protein that, when introduced in the blood, triggers the production of an antibody

antioxidants

compounds that react with toxic oxygen and free radicals to produce nontoxic water and molecular oxygen

apex

tip of stem, root, or leaf

apical

pertaining to the apex

apical dominance

phenomenon in which the closer a bud is to the stem's tip, the more its growth is inhibited

apomixis

The ability of some plant species to reproduce asexually through seeds without fertilization by a male gamete.

Agoplast

non living, interconnecting cells of xylem tissue that primarily move substances upward in plants

approach

the fairway area nearest a golf green that is often mowed at lower heights to improve turf playability

apron

another name for the approach

aquatic

relating to water

aquifer

An underground formation that contains groundwater

artificial turf

synthetic turf surface

as-built drawing

A plan or drawing that reflects the final design and modifications of a septic system as constructed

ascending

sloping or growing upward or outward

ascomycetes

Member of the fungal phylum Ascomycota, commonly called sac fungus. The name comes from the saclike structure in which the spores develop.

ascospores

haploid spore produced within the ascus of ascomycetes

aseptate

hyphae that have no cross-walls and are multinucleate

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials

asymmetrical

lopsided, having two sides different in shape or area

atom

Smallest particle of an element

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

atomic weight

protons + neutrons

ATP

adenosine triphosphate

Auricle

small, ear shaped lobes or appendages at the junction of the leaf sheath and blade in grasses, or at the leaf base of broadleaf plants

autoecious

In some rust fungi, completing the life cycle on a single species of host plant

autotrophic

living on inorganic materials as nutrients

auxin

a plant hormone that promotes root formation and bud growth

available water

Soil water between field capacity and the permanent wilting point

awn

bristlelike appendage of certain grasses

axil

angle between petiole/blade and stem

axillary bud

a bud that grows from the axil of a leaf and may develop into a branch or flower cluster.

bacillus

Rod shaped bacteria

backflow preventer

A check valve that prevents water from flowing back into a system and contaminating it.

backlapping

backward turning of mower reel blades against a bed knife with a corresponding addition of fluid dispersed grinding compound to hone the blades

bacteria

single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes

ball mark

The indentation that a ball makes in the surface of the green when landing.

ball roll distance

distance a golf ball travels after a putting stroke

bar

in science, a unit of pressure used to express water potential

basal rosette

leaves radiating directly from the crown of the root

base saturation

the proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a percentage

basidiomycetes

fungi that produce asexual spores on a club shaped structure called a basidium

basipetal

means towards the base; transport down in the phloem

beak

hard point or projection, seen frequently on seeds and fruits

bearded

having long hairs

bed knife

stationary lower blade on a reel mower

bench mark

a surveyor's marker usually placed permanently in the ground at a known position and elevation