1. Soil Fertility Original by Andrew Laca
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July, 2002

2. Terms and definitions
Essential Nutrient- Element necessary for plant growth and reproduction, for example: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Deficiency- Plant condition where an essential nutrient is not sufficiently available.
Symptom- A visual sign or condition that results from a deficiency: symptoms aids in diagnosing a deficiency.

3. More Terms and Definitions
Fertilizer- Natural, manufactured, or processed material or mixture of materials that contains one or more of the essential nutrients; available in:
dry form
liquid form
gaseous form

4. Fertilizer Terms
Analysis- Percentage water soluble content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) expressed as P2O5, and potassium (K) expressed as K2O in the fertilizer.
Brand- Trademark of the company which produced the fertilizer.
Complete Fertilizer- Fertilizer which supplies all three primary nutrients, (N,P,K)

5. Chemical Elements Essential To Plant Growth
Non-mineral- air and water
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Oxygen (O)
Nitrogen (N)
Mineral- from the soil
Primary
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Secondary
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)
Micronutrients
Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Molybdenum (Mo), Clorine (Cl)

6. 10 Essential Elements Essential Elements Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H)
Oxygen (O)
Phosphorus (P)
Potash (K)
Nitrogen (N)
Sulfur (S)
Calcium (Ca)
Iron (Fe)
Magnesium (Mg)
C. HOPKINS CAFÉ Mighty Good

8. Functions of Nutrients for plant growth
Carbon, Hydrogen, and oxygen are needed in the plant processes of photosynthesis of photosynthesis and respiration.
Approximately 95% of weight of plants comes from products of photosynthesis

9. Primary Nutrient Functions
Nitrogen (N)
Gives green color to plant
Induces vigorous , rapid growth in plants
Increases protein and yield
Aids and promotes seed and fruit development
Nitrogen constitutes 80% of the atmosphere, yet it is one of the most critical elements for plant growth.
Plants cannot utilize N as a gas, it must be combined with other elements.

10. More Primary Nutrient Functions
Phosphorus (P)
Important to germinating seedlings
Contributes to early maturing crops
Necessary for seed and fruit formation
Stimulates root growth

11. Primary Nutrient Functions Cont.
Potassium (K)
Necessary for production and translocation of carbohydrates
Produces plumper seeds
Controls Water intake and respiration
Stiffens straw and stalks

12. Secondary Nutrient Functions
Sulfur (S)
Necessary for nodule formation on legumes
Associated with plant enzyme systems
Stimulates seed production
Affects protein and crop quality

13. Secondary Nutrient Functions
Calcium (Ca)
Speeds decay of organic matter
Stimulates formation of nitrates
Promotes root and leaf growth
Necessary for nodulation of legumes

14. Secondary Nutrient Functions
Magnesium (Mg)
Necessary for chlorophyll or green plant color
Increases adsorption of phosphorus
Aids in the formations of fats and oils
Important in plant enzyme system

15. Symptoms of nutrient deficiencies
Review
Deficiency- Plant condition where an essential nutrient is not sufficiently available.
Symptom- A visual sign or condition that results from a deficiency: symptoms aids in diagnosing a deficiency.

16. Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Nitrogen (N)
Stunted and Spindly
Yellow, yellowish green or light green in color in foliage (chlorosis)
Older leaves affected first, starting at the tip and moves along the middle of the leaf.

18. Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Phosphorus (P)
Stunted Growth
Very dark green color
Purple leaves or portions of leaves in advanced stages
Older leaves affected first

19. Phosphorus Deficiency

20. Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Potassium (K)
Shorter plants
Bronzing or browning of leaf color
Lodging (bending of the stem) occurs
Leaves show yellow to brown coloring along leaf margins followed by complete browning.

21. Potassium Deficiency

22. Secondary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Sulfur (S)
Young plants have stunted appearance
Leaves have a light-green to yellow coloring
Stems are thin and spindly
Sulfur deficiency symptoms are similar in appearance to nitrogen deficiency symptoms.

23. Secondary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Magnesium (Mg)
Leaf parts between veins show a whitish color
Leaf tissue becomes yellow, veins remain green (interveinal chlorosis)
Leaves curl upward along the margins

24. Deficiency Continued
Other conditions besides deficiencies may cause abnormal plant growth.
Cold, wet weather, lack of sunlight, disease, insect damage, and improperly applied chemicals are examples.

25. Factors that Influence Fertilizer Use
Chemical and physical condition of the soil
Crop to be grown
Climatic Conditions
Time