Fertilizers Chandler Vaughan

What are Fertilizers?  Materials used to increase plant growth, production, and increase health.  Six primary Nutrients  Nitrogen  Phosphorus  Potassium  Sulfur  Magnesium  Calcium

How does it Relate?  All fertilizers are composed of elements, compounds, or polyatomic ions  Nitrogen – NH 4 NO 3 CH 4 N 2 O (Urea)  Phosphorus – minerals containing PO 4 -3  Potassium – K 2 0 (Potash)KClKSO 4 -2  Sulfur - SO 4 -2  Magnesium – MgOMgSO 4 -2  Calcium – CaCO 3 Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2

Relationship to Organic Chemistry  Definition of Organic Chemistry:  The chemistry of carbon compounds (other than simple salts such as carbonates, oxides, and carbides).  What are Carbon Compounds?  Compounds (a combination of elements) containing carbon

Nitrogen  Gives plants a dark green color  Required in the largest quantities  Allows photosynthesis to occur at higher rates

Phosphorus  Promotes root growth  Hastens maturity  Important to cell division and plant growth

Potassium  Improves drought resistance  Assists fruit growth  Regulates CO 2 uptake

Sulfur  Provides a direct nutritive value  Provides indirect nutritive value as soil amendments  Improves the use efficiency of other essential plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus

Magnesium  Increases resistance to disease  Serves as the building block of chlorophyll  A deficiency turns leaves yellow

Calcium  Strengthens a plant’s cell walls  Helps to neutralize naturally occurring acids inside of the plant  Plants deficient in calcium first show stunted growth in new leaves and roots

pH Regulators  Lime – CaO  Raises pH  Applied to acidic soils  Neutralizing effects  Commonly found in biosolids  Aluminum Sulfate – AlSO 4 -2  Lowers pH  Applied to basic soils  Used to neutralize  Other pH-lowering substances exist

Joke  Why did someone apply Aluminum Sulfate to a sorority house?  Because they wanted them to stop being basic

Video  To the video: 5QP4

Questions 1. What are three primary nutrients for plants? A. Nitrogen, Titanium, and Sulfur B. Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Helium C. Potassium, Sulfur, and Calcium D. Uranium, Nitrogen, and Iron

Questions 1. What fertilizer can be composed of NO 3 ? a. Magnesium b. Nitrogen c. Potassium d. Calcium

Questions 1. What is one benefit of Potassium? A. Assists fruit growth B. Makes plants greener C. Builds cell walls D. Promotes root growth

Questions 1. What do the three numbers on a fertilizer bag stand for? A. Weight, water content, and number of fertilizers B. The date it was made C. Sulfur, Calcium, and Magnesium percentages D. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium percentages

Questions 1. What fertilizer raises pH? A. Nitrogen B. Aluminum Sulfate C. Lime D. Sulfur

Works Cited "Fertilizer 101." Fertilizer 101. Meister Media, Web. 28Apr "Definition of Organic Chemistry in English:." Organic Chemistry: Definition of Organic Chemistry in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Oxford, n.d. Web. 28Apr "Nitrogen." Soil Management. University of Hawaii, n.d. Web. 29 Apr "Potassium in Plants." Soil. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr "Soils - Part 6: Phosphorus and Potassium in the Soil." Plant and Soil Sciences ELibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr "Learn More About Sulphur - FAQ." The Sulphur Institute. The Sulphur Institure, n.d. Web. 30 Apr "Magnesium in Plants and Soil." - Smart! Fertilizer Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr "Calcium in Fertilizers." GardenGuides. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr