2. Agriscience Unit 18: Plant Growth 681030

3. Soil or growing media pH Proper soil or growing media pH will have the most impact on the availability of nutrients in the soil

4. pH pH stands for the potential hydrogen ions in the soil Is a characteristic of water and it affects the growth of plants Affects the availability of nutrients in the soil Is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil

5. pH range 5.0 – 7.5 is ideal pH range suited for most plants

6. Lime Is used to raise the pH in soils Is usually applied as finely ground dolomite limestone that supplies both calcium and magnesium for plant growth

7. Sulfur Is used to lower the pH in soils

8. High alkalinity A soil or growing media with a high alkalinity level is made more acidic by lowering the pH value with sulfur or aluminum sulfate

9. High acidic levels A soil or growing media with high a acidic level is can be made more alkaline by adding lime to raise the pH value

10. Types of Growing Media Soil (sand, silt and clay) (inorganic) Perlite (inorganic Water (inorganic) Sphagnum moss (organic) Peat moss (organic) Vermiculite (inorganic) Tree Bark (organic)

11. Perlite Is a volcanic glass material used for starting new plants and is used in media mixes

12. Sphagnum moss Is a growing media used for encouraging root growth on plants under certain conditions

13. Vermiculite Is a mineral mica-type material used for starting new plants from seeds or cuttings and is used in growing media mixes

14. Soil Is the top layer of the earth’s surface and is the primary medium for cultivated plants

15. Temperature 60 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit is best temperature range for plant growth of warm season vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, peas, cucumbers, squash, peppers, butter beans, okra, water melons, sweet corn, or eggplant) and annual flowering plants

16. Compost Is partially decayed organic matter composed of leaves, manure, or household waste

17. Hydroponics Means growing plants in water (cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes) Plants grown in a hydroponics system will need mechanical support mechanisms

18. Amendment Is anything added to make a soil better such as organic matter, nutrients, and pH modifiers (lime or sulfur)

19. Ions Most plant nutrients are absorbed in solutions called ions

20. Plant Nutrition The availability and type of basic chemical elements in the plant

21. Fertilizer in the soil When fertilizer is added to soil, it causes more nutrients to be available to the plant and high concentration of nutrients moves to areas of low concentrations in the plant

22. Fertilizers Come in various forms, but most nutrients within a fertilizer must become liquid forms (soluble) in order for plants to use them

23. Organic fertilizers Organic fertilizers are usually slow acting and long lasting forms of nitrogen but lacking in the other primary nutrients (except bone meal). Include animal manures and compost make with plant or animal by-products

24. Examples of organic fertilizers Dried and pulverized manures which are slow acting and long lasting Bone meal (phosphorus's is the primary element) Soybean meal Cotton seed meal

25. Complete fertilizer Is a fertilizer that contains the 3 primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

26. Primary Nutrients Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Plants need large amounts of these nutrients to grow and be productive

27. Macronutrients (N-P-K) Are nutrients needed in large amounts by the plant

28. Inorganic fertilizers Have a higher analysis of soluble nutrients which have been blended together for a specific purpose in growing plants

29. Side-dressing Is a fertilizer application that involves placing fertilizer in bands about 8 inches from the growing plants planted in rows by growers

30. Broadcasting Is a fertilizer application that involves spreading evenly fertilizer over the entire area and is used on turf and home lawns

31. Foliar application Is a fertilizer application that involves the spraying of a water soluble fertilizer (micronutrients) directly onto the leaves of the plants

32. 80 lb. Of 5-10-10 How many lbs of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are in a 80 lb bag of fertilizer? nitrogen _______ phosphorus _______ Potassium _________ Formula: 80 x.05 = 4.00 (N) 80 x.10 = 8.00 (P) 80 x.10 = 8.00 (K)

33. Chlorosis Is the yellowing of the leaves of a plant caused by lack of nitrogen

34. Plant Growth