Soil Nutrients Modified by the GA Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July 2002

Nutrients Plants Acquire From Air And Water Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen

The Primary Nutrients Potassium Nitrogen Phosphorus

The Secondary Nutrients Magnesium Calcium Sulfur

The Micronutrients Boron Chlorine Copper Iron Manganese Molybdenum Zinc

The 16 Essential Nutrients Boron Calcium Carbon Chlorine Copper Hydrogen Iron Magnesium Manganese Molybdenum Nitrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Potassium Sulfur Zinc

Functions Of Primary Nutrients And Deficiency Symptoms Nitrogen (N): most important nutrient besides water; determines rate of growth deficiency symptom: yellowing of leaves Phosphorous (P): required during germination and fruit/seed formation Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; purple-colored leaves Potassium (K): regulatory Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; mottled leaves

Non-essential Nutrients That Need To Be Considered Iodine Cobalt Silicon

Why Is A Knowledge Of Soil Nutrients Necessary? To maximize yield To maximize profit To maintain soil fertility

Determining Soil Fertility You can use any of the following methods to determine soil fertility: soil tests managing organic matter fertilizing

What Is Fertilizer Analysis? The amount of the different nutrients found in a fertilizer. It is always listed as a percent. It is always listed Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K). For example, a fertilizer labeled 10-15-10 is 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Potassium. If there is a fourth letter, it designates the nutrient sulfur.

Example Problem For Determining The Amount Of A Nutrient In A Fertilizer How many pounds of nitrogen are in a 50 pound bag of 10-15-10? 10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen

Example Problem For Determining The Amount Of Total Nutrients In A Fertilizer How many pounds of actual nutrients are in a 50 pound bag of 10-15-10? 10+15+10 = 35% nutrients or 17.5# The other 65% of the bag is inert matter

Another Analysis Problem A hobby gardener buys a bag of "Scott's Turfbuilder" for $31.95. The bag weighs 62 pounds and has an analysis of 22-3-10. How many pounds of actual nutrients does the bag contain? 21.7# of nutrients in one bag (22+3+10)=35% 35%*62=21.7

Another Analysis Problem (cont.) What is the cost per pound of actual nutrients? $1.47 $31.95/21.7# nutrients=1.47