1. Chap 13. Plant Nutrition 1.Plant Nutrients  Macronutrients  Micronutrients 2.Chemical Fertilizers  Commercial Analysis  Elemental Analysis 3.Fertilizer Concentration Calculations  ppm  mM  Meq/liter 4.Fertilizer Application  Preplant Application  Top Dressing  Liquid Feeding

2. 1. Essential Nutrietns of Plants ChemicalAtomicIonic formsApproximate dry Element symbolweightAbsorbed by plants____concentration_____ Mccronutrients NitrogenN14.01NO 3 -, NH 4 + 4.0 % PhosphorusP30.98PO 4 3-, HPO 4 2-, H 2 PO 4 - 0.5 % PotassiumK39.10K + 4.0 % MagnesiumMg24.32Mg 2+ 0.5 % SulfurS32.07SO 4 2- 0.5 % CalciumCa40.08Ca 2+ 1.0 % Micronutrients IronFe55.85Fe 2 +, Fe 3 + 200 ppm ManganeseMn54.94Mn 2 + 200 ppm ZincZn65.38Zn 2 + 30 ppm CopperCu63.54Cu 2 + 10 ppm BoronB10.82BO 3 2-, B 4 O 7 2- 60 ppm MolybdenumMo95.95MoO 4 2- 2 ppm ChlorineCl35.46Cl - 3000 ppm Essential But Not Applied CarbonC12.01CO 2 40 % HydrogenH 1.01H 2 O 6 % OxygenO16.00O 2, H 2 O 40 % ________________________________________________________________ Plant tissues also contain other elements (Na, Se, Co, Si, Rb, Sr, F, I) which are not needed for the normal growth and development.

3. 2. Macronutrients a. Nitrogen (N) 1) Soil Nitrogen Cycle

4. a.Nitrogen (N) 1) Soil Nitrogen Cycle a)Nitrogen Fixation -Transformation of atmospheric N to nitrogen forms available to plants - Mediated by N-fixing bacteria: Rhizobium (symbiotic) found in legumes (bean, soybean) Azotobacter (non-symbiotic bacteria) b) Soil Nitrification - Decomposition of organic matter into ammonium and nitrate - Mediated by ammonifying and nitrifying bacteria Ammonifying bacteria Nitrifying bacteria (Actinomycetes)(Nitrosomonas) (Nitrobacter) Plant residue → NH 4 + → NO 2 → NO 3 - (Protein, aa, etc) Ammonium Nitrite Nitrate

5. Nitrogen (N) Deficiency Symptoms Yellowing of mature lower leaves- nitrogen is highly mobile in plants

6. Macronutrient Deficiencies Beans

7. Macronutrients N, P, K Deficiencies Leaf Lettuce Control

8. Phosphorus (P) Availability

9. Leaf Margin Necrosis in n Poinsettia Potassium (K) Deficiency

10. Blossom End Rot of Tomato Calcium Deficiency Right-Hydroponic tomatoes grown in the greenhouse, Left-Blossom end rot of tomato fruits induced by calcium (Ca ++ ) deficiency

11. Influence of Calcium on Root Induction on Rose Cuttings

12. Magnesium (Mg) Deficiency on Poinsettia Interveinal Chlorosis on Mature Leaves

13. Micronutrients Micronutrient elements –Iron (Fe) –Manganese (Mn) –Boron (B) –Zinc (Zn) –Molybdenum (Mo) Zinc (Zn) –Copper (Cu) –Chloride (Cl) Usually supplied by irrigation water and soil Deficiency and toxicity occur at pH extremes

14. Influence of pH on Nutrient Availability

15. Iron (Fe) Deficiency Symptoms 12 4 3 1-Piggyback Plant, 2- Petunia, 3-Silver Maple, 4-Rose (A-normal, B-Fe-deficient) AB

16. Iron Chelates

17. Iron (Fe) Absorption by Plants

18. Micronutrient Toxicity on Seed Geranium B Cu Fe Mn Mo Zn Concentration (mM) Cont 0.250.5 123456

19. Molybdenum Deficiency on Poinsettia

20. Fertilizer Analysis

21. Fertilizer Concentrations Fertilizer Analysis –Commercial Analysis –Elemental Analysis Fertilizer Concentrations –Parts per million (ppm) –Mili-molar (mM) –Mili-equivalent per liter (meq/L)

22. Fertilizer Application Plant growth in influenced by a nutrient of lowest concentration as a denominator

23. Amounts of Fertilizer Applied

24. Fertilizer Application

26. Liquid Feeding of Greenhouse Crops

27. Use of Soluble Fertilizers Peter’s 20-20-20 Soluble Fertilizer Lack of Soluble Fertilizer in Mexico Lowers the Quality of Crops Grown in Greenhouse

28. Fertilizer Injector A Two-head Injector (Proportioner) Used for Greenhouse Crops

29. Purification of Water by Filtration (RO Water)

30. The Ebb-and-Flow System

31. The Floor Irrigation Seystem (Subirrigation)

32. Crops Grown with Sub-Irrigation System