Soil Nutrients

Deciduous ConiferousPrairie Soil = f (Climate, Parent material, Living organisms, Topography, Time )

Optimum pH for turf and gardens depends on species** pH range depends on species** pH range kentucky bluegrass kentucky bluegrass creeping red fescue creeping red fescue sweet corn 6.0 sweet corn 6.0 potato 5.4 – 6.0 potato 5.4 – 6.0 green bean 6.8 green bean 6.8 tomato 6.0 tomato 6.0

What nutrients do plants get from the air and water? Carbon Carbon Hydrogen Hydrogen Oxygen Oxygen

What are the Primary Nutrients? Nitrogen Nitrogen Phosphorous Phosphorous Potassium Potassium

What are the Secondary Nutrients? Sulfer Sulfer Calcium Calcium Magnesium Magnesium

What are the Micronutrients? Iron Iron Boron Boron Zinc Zinc Manganese Manganese Copper Copper Molybdenum Molybdenum Chlorine Chlorine

What are the 16 essential nutrients? C HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn ClMo C HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn ClMo

Functions of Primary Nutrients and the deficiency symptoms? Functions of Primary Nutrients and the deficiency symptoms? Nitrogen: other than water, most important, determines rate of growth Nitrogen: other than water, most important, determines rate of growth deficiency: yellowing of leaves deficiency: yellowing of leaves Phosphorous: needed most during germination and during fruit/seed formation Phosphorous: needed most during germination and during fruit/seed formation deficiency: stunted growth, purple color in leaves deficiency: stunted growth, purple color in leaves Potassium: mostly regulatory Potassium: mostly regulatory deficiency: stunted growth, mottled leaves deficiency: stunted growth, mottled leaves

Are there non-essential plant nutrients that need to be considered? Yes, iodine and cobalt are essential in animals but found in plants Yes, iodine and cobalt are essential in animals but found in plants

Why is a knowledge of soil nutrients necessary? maximize yield maximize yield maximize profit maximize profit maintain soil fertility maintain soil fertility

How do you determine soil fertility? soil testing soil testing manage organic matter manage organic matter fertilize fertilize

Soil test report potential for deficiency potential for deficiency which nutrient needed which nutrient needed how much to apply how much to apply fertilizer for nutrient need fertilizer for nutrient need lime, sulfur amendments for pH change lime, sulfur amendments for pH change when to apply when to apply when to STOP! when to STOP!

What is Fertilizer Analysis? What is Fertilizer Analysis? it is the amount of the different nutrients found in a fertilizer it is the amount of the different nutrients found in a fertilizer the amount is listed as a percent the amount is listed as a percent it is ALWAYS listed Nitrogen- Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K) it is ALWAYS listed Nitrogen- Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K) a fertilizer labeled is 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Potassium a fertilizer labeled is 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Potassium if there is a fourth letter it is for Sulfer if there is a fourth letter it is for Sulfer

How many pounds of Nitrogen are in a 50# bag of ? 10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen 10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen

Pounds of Actual Nutrients in a 50# bag of ? Pounds of Actual Nutrients in a 50# bag of ? add up = 35% nutrients or 17.5# add up = 35% nutrients or 17.5#

What is the other 65% of this bag? inert matterials (filler) inert matterials (filler)

Compost

What is Compost ? Material left after the aerobic decomposition of organic material(s) Material left after the aerobic decomposition of organic material(s) Organic Material + “bugs” + O 2  Compost + CO 2 + H 2 O

General Characteristics N availability much lower than fresh materials like manures, biosolids, food processing wastes (<10% of TN) N availability much lower than fresh materials like manures, biosolids, food processing wastes (<10% of TN) Diverse array of “feedstocks” used to make compost Diverse array of “feedstocks” used to make compost Variability in quality of finished compost Variability in quality of finished compost Comes with lots of “things” besides macro- nutrients Comes with lots of “things” besides macro- nutrients

Fresh Vs. Composted Organic Matter Fresh Wastes High biological activity Some have high nutrient availability Can immobilize nutrients during early stages of decomposition Highly variable in physical traits Instability can increase Pythium damping off of certain crops Compost Already gone through decomposition, stable Mature compost should provide some nutrients Improves drainage and other physical properties Provides for biological control of Phytophthora root rot

Making Your Own Compost Build a “bin” 5 x 5 x 5 ft. Build a “bin” 5 x 5 x 5 ft. Add organic materials and adjust to % water content Add organic materials and adjust to % water content Use bulking agent for wet materials, add water to dry materials Use bulking agent for wet materials, add water to dry materials High C:N materials take longer High C:N materials take longer Maintain aeration by frequent turning Maintain aeration by frequent turning Compost is finished when pile doesn’t re-heat and it is difficult to distinguish initial materials Compost is finished when pile doesn’t re-heat and it is difficult to distinguish initial materials