Objective Explain the role of nutrients and fertilizers.

 Discuss Horticulture soils

 Soils and growing media are made up of two types of materials  Organic matter  Inorganic compounds

 Dead plant or animal tissue  contains carbon  usually has diseases or insects

 Compost  bark-particles too large to use in seed germination media  mulch-used to cover soil to help hold moisture and prevent weeds  straw  peat moss

 Sphagnum  Sawdust-high carbon to nitrogen ratio makes nitrogen unavailable for plant use  Wood shavings- high carbon to nitrogen ratio makes nitrogen unavailable for plant use

 Do not contain carbon  usually sterile

 Soilless media-artificial soil  Vermiculite-mica mineral matter used to start seeds and cuttings, helps hold moisture, has neutral pH  Perlite-natural volcanic material that helps aeration and water-holding capacity

1. Sterile. 2. pH is neutral. 3. Disease and weed free. 4. It is good for starting disease sensitive seeds Tomato 5. It is easy to control the nutrient content 6. Improves crop uniformity. 7. It is easy to create a horticulture soil for particular plant needs.

1. Expensive 2. It is light weight

 Materials with a high carbon to nitrogen ratio  Sawdust  Wood shavings  Makes nitrogen unavailable for plant use