1. Nutrients & Plant Health
‘The Root Source’
Nutrients & Plant Health

2. Most of the raw materials plants need are found in the soil
How does this affect us?
What do plants need to be healthy?

3. NITROGEN Used in creation of proteins and nucleic acids Needed for
Stem and leaf growth
Chlorophyll production (photosynthesis)
Air has 78% free N
Can not be used by plants – not in the correct form
How do plants get nitrogen?

4. Nitrogen fixation
Changing free nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants
Done by certain types of bacteria in the soil
Found in the nodules of legumes

5. Nitrogen cycle
How else can nitrogen get into the soil?

6. Too little nitrogen in the soil…
Plants have poor or little growth
Are yellow in color
Too much nitrogen in the soil…
Can damage organisms
“Burns” or brown coloring
Fewer flowers

7. Too much phosphorus in the soil…
Composition of nucleic acids
Root and flower growth, reproduction
Too little phosphorus in the soil…
Plants have poor or little growth
Stem may turn purple
Leaves may have a blue-gray color
Too much phosphorus in the soil…
Prevents plant from absorbing other micronutrients
Leads to deficiencies in other areas

8. How can deficiencies be corrected?
Add fertilizer
Substance that enriches soil with specific nutrients to improve plant growth
Are described by the major nutrient elements they contain – N, P, K, some may contain S

9. Negative consequences of fertilizers
If fertilizer enters water sources, it may damage those ecosystems by changing the concentration of chemicals
Initial increase in plant growth
Algal blooms (Eutrophication)
Blocks sunlight
Decrease in photosynthesis
Algae overpopulate and die
Become food for decomposers
Increase in bacteria
Use up oxygen

10. Leads to a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water
Fewer species can survive
Final product – few or no consumers left in water
Dead zone