Plant Nutrition Vs Plant Fertilization Nutrition: Availability and type of chemical elements in plant Fertilization: Adding nutrients to soil

Nutrients 16 elements:  C, H, O,  Macronutrients  Micronutrients

Macronutrients  Nutrients required in large quantities  N (Nitrogen)  P (Phosphorus)  K (Potassium)  Ca (Calcium)  Mg (Magnesium)  S (Sulfur)

Primary Nutrients  N  P  K  Primary because they are needed in large amounts

Secondary Macronutrients  Ca  Mg  S Only moderate amounts required

Micronutrients (Nutrients needed in small quantities)  B (Boron)  Cu (Copper)  Cl (Chlorine)  Fe (Iron)  Mn (Manganese)  Mo (Molybdenum)  Na (Sodium)  Zn (Zinc)

What are the role of nutrients? Refer to Handout

What makes plant look Unhealthy?  Discoloration of leaves  Death of leaf tissue  Stunted growth

Examples Discoloration of Leaves

Chlorosis  Chlorosis is a yellowing of leaf tissue due to a lack of chlorophyll. Possible causes of chlorosis include poor drainage, damaged roots, compacted roots, high alkalinity, and nutrient deficiencies in the plant. Nutrient deficiencies may occur because there is an insufficient amount in the soil or because the nutrients are unavailable due to a high pH (alkaline soil). Or the nutrients may not be absorbed due to injured roots or poor root growth.

Nutrient Deficiencies  N  Chlorosis on lower leaves

Nutrient Deficiencies NN  Chlorosis of leaves

PP  Purplish coloration of leaves

 K  Chlorosis of leaves  Brown leaf edges

 K  Chlorosis of leaves  Brown leaf edges

Nutrient Deficiencies S: yellowing of entire plant; leaves

How can you correct nutrient deficiency?

Fertilizer

What is fertilizer? Any material added to the soil to provide nutrients that will increase growth, yield, or nutritional value of the plants.

Fert Classifications  Inorganic  Natural Organic  Synthetic Organic

Inorganic Fert  Non-living sources (minerals/rocks)  Chemically made

Inorganic Fert Characteristics:  Nutrients in soluble form and quickly made available to plants  Should not come in contact with roots or foliage for long time period

Natural Organic  From plant/animal material Characteristics:  N usually predominant  Nutrients are only made available to the plants as the materials decay in soil, so SLOW ACTING & LONG LASTING

Natural Organic Examples:  Animal manure  Cottonseed meal  Soybean meal  Dried blood  Dried ground/sewage sludge  Bone meal

Synthetic Organic Fert  Made from carbon based materials