1. Soil Nutrients & Fertilizers

2. Plant Nutrients
Substances that are primary (macro) and secondary requirements for growth and development of plants.
Macronutrient plants get from air and water:
carbon, oxygen, hydrogen
Macronutrients plants get from the soil:
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Secondary Nutrients found in soil
Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur

3. Nitrogen (N) Most important nutrient
Required for proper growth and green color of stems and leaves
Determines fruit size
Comes from organic matter humus (nitrogen cycle)
Lack of nitrogen results in
slow growth and yellow leaves
Too much nitrogen
creates weak stems and plants are more susceptible to disease
Too much nitrogen in food can
cause nitrogen poisoning in animals (cattle)

4. Leaf Lacking Nitrogen

5. Phosphorus (P) Necessary for root, flower and seed development
Found only in certain rocks and may become limited
Lack of phosphorus causes slow growth and purple leaves

6. Potassium (K)
necessary for the development of strong stems and resistance to disease
needed for the development and ripening of fruit
found in many rocks so the supply is less limited than phosphorus
lack of potassium causes browning of leaf edges

7. pH
The measure of acidity and alkalinity of a soil > extremely important!
If the pH is too acidic or basic for a plant, nutrients will not be absorbed by the roots
Most plants prefer 6.0 – 7.0

8. Fertilizer
Any substance added to the soil to supply plants with nutrients.
Two types:
Synthetic (man-made)
Organic (found naturally)

9. So now you’re a farmer…
How do you use N-P-K values to fertilize your crops?
Look up fertilizers and how you might “pick” the right fertilizer based on NPK of the bag…what do the NPK values mean?
On your farms, you notice you have slightly purple leaves on your corn, VERY small sized fruit and it takes a VERY long time for your fruit to ripen. Find me a fertilizer that will work for your farm to maybe solve your problems.

10. Each has their advantages
List Advantages and Disadvantages of each from page (worksheet table)