1. Soil Nutrients
Modified by the GA Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July 2002

2. Nutrients Plants Acquire From Air And Water
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen

3. The Primary Nutrients
Potassium
Nitrogen
Phosphorus

4. The Secondary Nutrients
Magnesium
Calcium
Sulfur

5. The Micronutrients Boron Chlorine Copper Iron Manganese Molybdenum
Zinc

6. The 16 Essential Nutrients
Boron
Calcium
Carbon
Chlorine
Copper
Hydrogen
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Molybdenum
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Sulfur
Zinc

7. Functions Of Primary Nutrients And Deficiency Symptoms
Nitrogen (N): most important nutrient besides water; determines rate of growth
deficiency symptom: yellowing of leaves
Phosphorous (P): required during germination and fruit/seed formation
Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; purple-colored leaves
Potassium (K): regulatory
Deficiency symptoms: stunted growth; mottled leaves

8. Non-essential Nutrients That Need To Be Considered
Iodine
Cobalt
Silicon

9. Why Is A Knowledge Of Soil Nutrients Necessary?
To maximize yield
To maximize profit
To maintain soil fertility

10. Determining Soil Fertility
You can use any of the following methods to determine soil fertility:
soil tests
managing organic matter
fertilizing

11. What Is Fertilizer Analysis?
The amount of the different nutrients found in a fertilizer.
It is always listed as a percent.
It is always listed Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K).
For example, a fertilizer labeled is 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Potassium.
If there is a fourth letter, it designates the nutrient sulfur.

12. Example Problem For Determining The Amount Of A Nutrient In A Fertilizer
How many pounds of nitrogen are in a 50 pound bag of ?
10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen

13. Example Problem For Determining The Amount Of Total Nutrients In A Fertilizer
How many pounds of actual nutrients are in a 50 pound bag of ?
= 35% nutrients or 17.5#
The other 65% of the bag is inert matter

14. Another Analysis Problem
A hobby gardener buys a bag of "Scott's Turfbuilder" for $ The bag weighs 62 pounds and has an analysis of
How many pounds of actual nutrients does the bag contain?
21.7# of nutrients in one bag
( )=35%
35%*62=21.7

15. Another Analysis Problem (cont.)
What is the cost per pound of actual nutrients?
$1.47
$31.95/21.7# nutrients=1.47