1. Dr. Bob Lippert Soil Fertility Specialist Clemson University
Soils 101
Dr. Bob Lippert
Soil Fertility Specialist
Clemson University

2. Soil Components
AIR
Mineral
WATER
Organic
Matter

3. Soil Components Sand = 2.0 to 0.05mm Silt = 0.05 to 0.002mm Mineral
Clay = less than 0.002mm
Mineral

4. 1 Millimeter between these lines
Six Inch Ruler

5. 50% silt 15% sand 35% clay

6. Scanning Electron Microscope

7. Single Cell Animal with “Tail”

8. Stink Bug Hatching
???

9. Kaolinite
European Union Geochemical facility at Bristol University

10. Kaolinite

11. Negative Charge Due To:
Isomorphic substitution
Edge-of-clay oxygen ions
Ionized hydrogen from clay hydroxyl ions
Ionized hydrogen from organic materials

12. Isomorphic Substitution
Mg+2
Al+3

15. Plant Nutrients C HOPKN’S CaFe Mg B Mn Cu Zn Mo Cl
See Hopkin’s Cafe Managed By My Cousin Mo Clay

16. Major Plant Nutrients Hydrogen Carbon Oxygen Nitrogen* Phosphorus*
Potassium*
* = mobile in the plant

17. Secondary Plant Nutrients
Calcium
Magnesium*
Sulfur
* = mobile in the plant

18. Micronutrients
Boron
Copper
Manganese
Zinc
Iron
Molybdenum
Chloride

19. The terms Major, Secondary and Micronutrients does not imply that some nutrients are more important than others. The term refers to the relative quantity required by the plants.

20. Sample Corn Crop Nutrient Requirements
120 pounds/acre nitrogen (major nutrient)
15 pounds/acre magnesium (secondary nutrient)
0.5 pounds/acre boron (micronutrient)
The corn yield will be decreased if all of these nutrients are not at optimum soil levels!

21. Principle of Limiting Factors

22. Helminthosporium blight
Potassium deficiency
Nitrogen deficiency

23. Magnesium deficiency
Phosphorus deficiency

24. Nitrogen Deficiency

25. Potassium Deficiency

26. Phosphorus Deficiency

27. Magnesium Deficiency

28. Adding fertilizer to the soil without testing is like baking a cake without:
1. Reading the recipe
2. Measuring the ingredients

35. 100 pound bag of
= 5 pounds of nitrogen
= 10 pounds of phosphorus
= 15 pounds of potassium

36. Fertilizer Bags

37. Chemical Forms and Charges of Plant Nutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sulfur
Zinc
Manganese
NH4+, NO3-
H2PO4-, HPO4-2 K+
Ca+2
Mg+2
SO4-2
Zn+2
Mn+2

38. Clay Minerals & Plant Nutrients
NH4+ - -
Mg+2 - - - -
Ca+2 - - - - - - K+ P
NO3-
SO4-2

39. Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
One source of the

40. How Soils Become Acid Nitrogen fertilizers Carbonic acid & Pollutants
Aluminum
Iron
Organic Matter
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium

41. pH
A measure of the concentration of acidic hydrogen ions (H+) in the soil solution

42. The Buffer pH Measures the Exchangeable and Active Acidity

44. Determining Lime Requirement
Norfolk Cecil
pH = pH = 5.2
Buff. pH = Buff. pH = 7.4
Lime = 2 t/ac Lime = 3 t/ac

45. Ideal

46. Lime recommendations are based on the type of plant
Blueberries = no lime
Azaleas & Centipede = pH 5.5 to 6.0
Vegetable Garden = pH 6.0 to 6.5

47. Liming Materials Calcitic Lime Dolomitic Lime Hydrated Lime Wood Ashes
(Use 75% of the above recommended amount)
Wood Ashes
(Use with caution!)

48.
Questions