1. Soil Nutrients Original by Casey Osksa
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July, 2002

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

3. What are the Primary Nutrients?
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium

4. What are the Secondary Nutrients?
Sulfur
Calcium
Magnesium

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

6. What are the 16 essential nutrients?
C HOPKNS Ca Fe Mg B Mn Cu Zn Cl Mo

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

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

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

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

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

12. How many pounds of Nitrogen are in a 50# bag of 10-15-10?

13. Pounds of Actual Nutrients in a 50# bag of 10-15-10?
add up = 35% nutrients or 17.5#

14. What is the other 65% of this bag?
inert materials (filler)

15. Analysis
A hobby gardener buys a bag of "Scott's Turfbuilder" uptown for $ The bag weighs 62# and has an analysis of
How many pounds of actual nutrients?
17.2#
What is the cost per pound of actual nutrients?
$1.86

16. Analysis
A similar analysis of "Farmers Grade Fertilizer" runs about $0.40 per pound of actual nutrient.