1. AG-GH/PS-5 GROWING MEDIA

2. Read the story provided. Write a brief essay explaining the importance of soils in the production of food and fiber for our use. Explain how soil impacts the production of: 1. Your favorite foods 2. Your favorite items of clothing Describe how the study of soils has changed our world. ASSIGNMENT

3.  Loose mineral and organic material on the earth’s surface that serves as a medium for the growth of land plants. WHAT IS SOIL?

4.  Soil particles  Air space  Pore space  Water WHAT MAKES UP THE SOIL?

5.  Topsoil  Subsoil  Bedrock MOST COMMON LAYERS OF SOIL

7.  Topsoil  Soil stirred during tillage  Horizon A MOST COMMON LAYERS OF SOIL

8.  Subsoil  Soil below the plow layer  Generally Horizon B MOST COMMON LAYERS OF SOIL

9.  Bedrock  Solid, or consolidated rock lying under the soil  Can be, but is usually not, the parent material of the soil lying above it MOST COMMON LAYERS OF SOIL

10. SOIL PROFI LE

11. SOIL HORIZON S

12.  The ideal soil has minerals, correct density, permeability, structure, and consistency that soils need in order to allow vegetation to thrive IDEAL SOIL

13.  50% solid material  50% pore space  25% air space  25% water IDEAL SOIL

14.  Moisture holding capacity and aeration  The growing medium must hold adequate water for plant growth and must not dry out rapidly WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF A GOOD GROWING MEDIA?

15.  Nutrient holding capacity  The growing medium most hold adequate nutrients for plants to grow  Support for plants  Being able to support the plant as it grows WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF A GOOD GROWING MEDIA?

16.  Availability  A growing medium should be selected that is available in the area  It would be useless to select a growing medium containing topsoil if topsoil is not easily available in your area.  Many of these materials are heavy and bulky and costly to ship  Be sure to check on the availability of any ingredient before reaching a conclusion WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF A GOOD GROWING MEDIA?

17.  Weight  Drainage  Cleanness  Free of insects, nematodes, and disease causing organisms  Cost THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN SELECTING A GROWING MEDIA…

18.  Media that does not contain any soil  Contains mixtures of organic and inorganic ingredients WHAT IS SOILLESS MEDIA?

19.  Peat moss  Bark  Sand WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS IN THE SOILLESS MEDIA?

20.  Perlite  Vermiculite  Compost  Anything that can decompose over a certain amount of time  Most people use pine bark, sticks, leaves, mushrooms, wood chips, grass clippings, manure, and other materials of that nature  Some people use plastic and paper WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS IN THE SOILLESS MEDIA?

21.  Soil texture & Soil horizons  Water movement  Water availability  Aeration  Temperature  Salinity  Organisms within the soil WHAT FACTORS AFFECT THE ROOT SYSTEM?

22.  Particles in the soil vary in both size and density  Smaller particles hold more water and tend to be more compacted, such as clay  Larger particles hold less water and tend to not be very compacted, such as sand HOW DOES SOIL TEXTURE EFFECT WATER MOVEMENT AND WATER AVAILABILITY?

23.  Water will move more quickly through sand and therefore will be less available to the plant  Although class will hold more water than sand, it is also more compacted making initial absorption more difficult HOW DOES SOIL TEXTURE EFFECT WATER MOVEMENT AND WATER AVAILABILITY?

24.  Roots must have oxygen  In sandy soils there is more oxygen available because the soil is less compacted  In clay soils, less oxygen is available because the soil is very compacted WHY IS AIR IN SOIL IMPORTANT?

25.  Soils are rich in bacteria, fungus, and other microorganisms that can help or hinder root growth  Larger animals such as worms or moles will also have an effect HOW DO ORGANISMS EFFECT ROOT GROWTH?

26.  The growing media that is used in the greenhouse will ultimately influence the quality of the crop.  Several types of growing media are available.  Growers can mix their own or they can purchase. GROWING MEDIA IN GREENHOUSES

27.  By knowing how to make your own compost and how it is decomposed, it can help you save money and time in trying to find and haul the type of media that you want GROWING MEDIA IN GREENHOUSES

28.  Soil is important as a plant growth medium  There are many factors that effect root systems  Water is stored in the soil for use by plants  The texture and structure of the soil determine how water, nutrients, and air is made available SOIL

29.  Gravitational water  Water in excess of capillary water  gravitational water percolates 24 to 48 hours after rain or irrigation WHAT IS GRAVITATIONAL WATER?

30.  Capillary water  Water held in the capillaries of the soil  Meets essentially the entire water needs of a plant WHAT IS CAPILLARY WATER?

31.  Gravitational water moves downward through the plant and is lost in the topsoil  Capillary water is essential all of the water taken up through the plant roots GRAVITATIONAL VS. CAPILLARY

32.  The speed and amount of water removal from soil by runoff or downward flow through soil  Amount of time when soil is free of saturation WHAT IS DRAINAGE?

33. SOIL TRIANGL E

34.  Sandy soil  Clay soil  Silty/Loamy soil GENERAL TYPES OF SOIL

35.  Largest soil particle  Composed mainly of weathered grains of quartz  Enough sand in soils creates large pores, so sand improves water infiltration and aeration  Infiltration: rate at which water enters the soil SANDY SOIL

36.  Large amounts of sand in soil can also cause problems  Lower ability of the soil to retain water and nutrients  Soils can range from very coarse to very fine  Usually hold more air than water because of the macro pores that are available SANDY SOIL

37.  Depending on the size of the sand, grains vary  Very coarse sand is gritty and grains are large enough to be seen  Fine sand grains are gritty and very hard to see SANDY SOIL

38.  Smallest soil particle  Mostly tiny sheet-like crystals  Clay results from chemical reaction between weathered minerals to form tiny particles of new minerals CLAY SOIL

39.  New minerals are able to hold nutrients chemically to their surfaces, holding plant nutrients in the soils  Grains of clay feel sticky when wet, and dry pellets hard and harsh CLAY SOIL

40.  A medium soil texture class, in which sand, silt, and clay contribute almost equally to soil properties  Grains are invisible to the eye but silky to the touch SILTY/LOAMY SOILS

41.  Amount of moisture that the soil can retain WHAT IS MOISTURE RETENTION?