1. Media and Soils
Chapter 6

2. Learning Targets I can identify various types of growing media?
I can explain the PH Scale?
I can identify 3 sections of the Soil Triangle?

3. Growing Medium
Material in which the roots plants grow.

4. Roles of Media
Provides nutrients and a anchor for plant.

5. Nutrients
Substance that roots absorb from the medium and water.

6. Anchor
Roots hold plant in place.

7. Pore Space
Air holes between the growing medium particles which allows oxygen to reach the roots of plants.

8. Soil Amendment Anything added to the soil to improve plant growth.
Vermiculite
Perlite

9. Soil
Top few inches of earths surface that provide soil growth.

10. Soilless Medium Contains no soil. Made from: Vermiculite Perlite
Peat Moss
Bark
Can be pre-mixed

11. Hydroponics
Nutrients are provided by nutrient solution.

12. Nutrient Solution
Contains water with dissolved nutrients.

13. Hydroponic Advantages
Nutrients Control
Yield is greater
Roots do not spread
Reduced Weed, Insect, Disease

14. Mineral Materials Come from inorganic sources.
3 kinds of Mineral Materials

15. Sand #1
Largest material in soil.
Good for soil drainage.

16. Silt #2
Smaller than sand.
Areas near rivers are high in silt.

17. Clay #3 Smallest size particle in soil. Holds water well.
Fills gaps between Sand and Silt

18. Organic Matter
Decayed remains from plants and animals.

19. Soil Texture
% of Sand, Silt, Clay present in the soil.

20. Soil Triangle Used to classify soil on the basis texture content.
Most crops prefer a Loamy soil.

21. Loam Soil
High in Silt lower in Sand and Clay.

22. Soil Structure
Physical arrangement of soil particles.

23. Soil Aeration Movement of air in the soil.
Clay soil least air movement.

24. Soil Compaction
Soil compressed into a dense mass.

25. Wear
Physical deterioration of a plant community.

26. Soil Profile
Vertical section of soil at a location.

27. Soil Horizon (A)
Topsoil: 10”
Made of:
Humus
Roots
Organisms

28. Soil Horizon (B) Subsoil: 30” Made of: Fine Particles
Leached materials
Some Roots

29. Soil Horizon (C) Parent Material: 48” Made of: Bedrock
Leached materials

30. Soil Horizon (R)
Bedrock:
Made of:
Solid Rock

31. Plant Nutrients
17 elements are needed for plants to grow.

32. Macronutrients
Most important nutrients needed in large amount.

33. Macronutrients (N) – Nitrogen (P) – Phosphorus (K) – Potassium
(Ca) – Calcium
(Mg) – Magnesium
(S) – Sulfur

34. Primary Nutrients
N-P-K
Needed in largest amounts.

35. Secondary Nutrients
Ca-Mg-S
Needed in moderate amounts

36. Micronutrients
Needed in smaller amounts.
AKA-Trace Elements

37. Micronutrients (Fe) – Iron (Mn) – Maganese (Zn) – Zinc (Cu) – Copper
(B) – Boron
(Mo) – Molybdenum
(Cl) – Chlorine
(Ni) - Nickel

38. Soil Testing
Determines what nutrients are present in the soil.

39. Nitrogen
Key element
Helps plant recover from damage.

40. Nitrogen Deficient Example
Older leaves turn yellow. (Chlorosis)
Death can happen

41. Phosphorus
Helps plant hold and transfer energy for metabolism.

42. Phosphorus Deficient
Reduced growth
Dark to reddish leaf colorations.

43. Potassium
Important for plant life process.

44. Potassium Deficient
Reduced growth
Increase disease
Stress of plant

45. Soil PH
Ph is used to measure the amount of Alkalinity or acidity in soil.

46. PH Scale
14 Point Scale

47. PH Scale
7.0 = Neutral

48. PH Scale
Below 7.0 = Acidic
Above 7.0 = Alkaline

49. Modifying PH
Adding Lime will raise PH.
Adding Sulfur will lower PH.

50. Modifying PH
Most plants prefer PH of

51. Fertilizer
Any material used to provide the nutrients plants need.

52. Fertilizer
Can be applied as:
Solid
Liquid
Gas

53. Elemental Fertilizer
Provides only 1 plant nutrient.

54. Complete Fertilizer Contains all 3 elemental nutrients. Nitrogen
Potassium
Phosphorus

55. Active Ingredient
Total % of nutrients that is being applied to plants.

56. Inert Ingredient
The carrier or filler ingredient that allows for the spreading of the fertilizer.

57. Complete Fertilizer Example
16% Nitrogen
4% Phosphate
8% Potash
=28% Active Ingredient
72% Inert Ingredient or carrier

58. Application Equipment
Sprayers for liquid fertilizer.

59. Application Equipment
Dry fertilizer for Granular Equipment.
Spreader

60. Granular Fertilizer Applied with Rotary, Gravity Flow Spreader.
Most common way of spreading fertilizer.

61. Fertigation
Application of fertilizer with the use of irrigation system.
Very fast to use.
Water and fertilize at the same time.