Essential Nutrients and symptoms
of deficiency, excess, their
functions in plants, and fertilization
1. Match terms associated with soil fertility to the correct definitions.
2. Classify the essential nutrients for plant growth as being primary,
secondary or micronutrient.
3. Match the functions of nutrients for crop growth to the correct nutrient.
4. Match nutrients to their correct deficiency symptoms.
5 Select
5.
S l t factors
f t
that
th t influence
i fl
the
th use off fertilizers.
f tili
6. Discuss major points in collecting and handling a representative soil
sample.
7. Calculate amounts of fertilizer required per acre using soil test and
fertilizer guide information.
8. Discuss major points in collecting and handling a representative plant
tissue sample.
9. List four sources of nutrients.
10.
Select the information that must be stamped on fertilizer bags
according to state law.
law
11.
Match types of fertilizer analyses to their correct description.
12.
Match types of fertilizers to their correct description.
13.
Calculate problems comparing cost per pound of nutrient.
14.
Formulate a fertilizer blend.
15.
List three methods of fertilizer application.
16.
Complete a soil test report form.
1
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A. Essential nutrient--Element necessary for plant
growth and reproduction, for example: nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium
B. Deficiency--Plant condition where an essential
nutrient is not sufficiently available
C Symptom--A
C.
S
A visual
i
l sign
i
or condition
di i that
h results
l
from a deficiency; symptoms aid in diagnosing a
deficiency
D. Fertilizer--Natural, manufactured or processed
material or mixture of materials that contains one or
more of the essential nutrients; available in dry, liquid
or gaseous form
E. Analysis--Percentage
y
g water soluble content of
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) expressed as P2O5, and
potassium (K) expressed as K2O in the fertilizer
F. Brand--Trademark of the company which produced
the fertilizer
G. Complete fertilizer--Fertilizer which supplies all
three of the primary nutrients (N, P, K)
2
€ Carbon
(C)
How to remember:
€ Hydrogen (H)
C HOPKNS CaFe Mighty
C.
€ Oxygen (O)
Good
€ Phosphorus (P)
€ Potassium (K)
€ Nitrogen (N)
€ Sulfur (S)
€ Calcium (Ca)
€ Iron (Fe)
€ Magnesium (Mg)
3
€ Lower
leaves light
green to yellow in
color quickly
spreads to entire
plant
€ Due to the ability
of N to translocate
through the plant
going to the
younger leaves
from the older
leaves
€ Very
V
lush
l h foliage
f li
€ Sappy and soft
stems
€ delayed flowering
€ lower disease
resistance
€ Waste of $$$
Nitrogen Functions:
Ni
F
i
Synthesis of organic
compounds
amino acids
proteins
nucleic acids
chlorophyll
4
Important
p
to
germinating seedlings
€ Contributes to early
maturing crops
€ Necessary for seed
and fruit formation
€ Stimulates root growth
€
€ Excessive
E
i
amounts
P cause symptoms
that resemble those
found with a N
deficiency
Stunted growth
Dark dull leaves
Abnormally hard stems and
stalks
Poor root systems with little
branching
Functions include
ATP
nucleic acids
coenzymes
sugar phosphates
Plants in extreme cases of
deficiency may appear purple
5
€
€
€
€
€
Brown discoloration
Yellowing
Y
ll i and
d curling
li
Scorching may occur along
of the lower leaves
the edges of the leaves
drooping of the
younger leaves
leaves become molted
or scorched looking
soft stems and lack
luster flowers
more disease
susceptibility
(especially rusts and
mildews)
€ Produces
plumper
seeds
€ Controls water intake
and respiration
€ Sugar and starch
formation
6
€ Under-developed
roots
€ curled leaf edges
€ stunted dark plants
€ crinkled leaves
Function:
€ terminal bud death
cell walls
cellular division
€ emergence of
cell growth
primary leaves
delayed, terminal bud
May appear as an iron deficiency
deterioration
if in excess due to interference
with the absorption of iron (Fe)
€ Necessary
for
chlorophyll or green
plant color
€ Increases absorption
of phosphorus
€ Aids in formation of
fats and oils
€ Important in plant
enzyme system
7
€ Leaf
parts between veins show a whitish
color
€ Leaf tissue becomes yellow, veins
remain green (interveinal chlorosis)
€ Leaves curl upward along the margins
• (Note: It is important to note that other
conditions
diti
b
besides
id nutrient
t i t shortages
h t
may
cause abnormal plant growth. Cold, wet
weather, lack of sunlight, disease, insect
damage and improperly applied chemicals are
examples.)
€ Necessary
N
ffor
nodule formation on
legumes
€ Associated with
plant enzyme
systems
€ Stimulates seed
production
€ Affects protein and
crop quality
8
€ Young
plants have stunted appearance
€ Leaves have a light-green
light green to yellow coloring
€ Stems are thin and spindly
€ (Note: Sulfur deficiency symptoms are similar in
appearance to nitrogen deficiency symptoms.)
€
€
€
Fertility of the soil
(N t Th
(Note:
The ffertility
tilit off the
th soil
il is
i dependent
d
d t on the
th
availability of total nutrients in the soil, soil organic matter
and can be determined by soil test.)
Physical condition of the soil
x (Note: Moisture content, soil texture, soil structure and the ability to
prevent leaching are important physical conditions to consider in
fertilizer use.)
€
Crop to be grown
x (Note: Nutrient needs vary between crop plants. The cost of the
type of fertilizer compared to the value of the crop is an important
consideration.)
€
€
Climatic conditions, such as temperature and moisture
Time of application--fall, spring or during season
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€
A. Animal manure--The liquid and solid excrement of animals
mixed with bedding material; used to supply nutrients for plant
growth; helps
g
p add organic
g
matter to the soil
x Organic matter is the soil's storehouse for nitrogen. Almost all of the N in
the soil is part of the organic matter. When organic matter decomposes, N
is released and changes to available forms for plant use. The nutrient
content of animal manure may vary considerably under different livestock
production systems, amount and type of bedding and methods of handling
the manure produced.
€
€
€
B.
Crop residues--Leaves, stems, roots and other parts of
plants remaining in the field after harvest, for example: wheat
stubble, corn stover, potato vines, sugar beet tops, etc.
C. Green manure crops--A crop grown to be plowed under in
a green
green, succulent condition for soil improvement purposes;
usually a legume crop which fixes atmospheric nitrogen, such as
black peas, clover or vetch
D. Commercial fertilizers--Commercially prepared plant
nutrients are applied to soils to increase their productivity by
supplying additional essential nutrients
Guaranteed
Analysis
Name Brand
and
Trademark
Name &
Address of
Mfg.
10
€ The
Th
net weight
i h
€ Name and address of manufacturer or
distributor
€ The guaranteed analysis of the material
€ Name, brand or trademark
€ Others???
€A
fertilizer analysis consists of three
numbers These three figures indicate the
numbers.
water soluble plant nutrient content of the
material. The first figure represents the
actual pounds of nitrogen in 100 pounds of
fertilizer. The second figure represents
the pounds of phosphorus expressed as
P2O5. The third figure represents the
pounds of water soluble potassium
expressed as K2O. The fourth number, if
present, represents the actual pounds of
sulfur.
11
20-1020
10
10
Total
Available
N
€ 10%
Total
available
K
expressed
as K2O
Total
available
P
expresse
d as P2O5
P2O5 represents
t
the P values on our
bag. We know that
P2O5 weighs 142
AMU and P is only 62
of those AMU’s so
th t means that
that
th t
roughly 44% of the
value is actually P
or 4.4%
€ 10%
K2O represents
t
the K values on our
bag. We know that
K2O weighs 94 AMU
and K is only 62 of
those AMU’s so that
th t roughly
hl
means that
83% of the value is
actually K or 8.3%
Note: Since many producers realize that you don’t have time to convert these numbers
many nutrient recommendations are listed in the same format as the fertilizer
12
€ Lets
use our 20-20-20 Peters Mix:
• 20% N X 20# = 4# N
• 20% P2O5 X 20# = 4# P2O5
• 20% K2O X 20# = 4# K2O
€ So
€
€
what’s all the rest?????
No elemental forms of nutrients are
used in fertilizer mixes. This means
that each element is bonded to
other elements. These other
elements make up the additional
weight.
Some common elements include
oxygen, sulfur, magnesium,
calcium, to mention an few.
13
€No!
o Whilee some
o e things
g may
y be
e added
e
(such as dyes and wetting agents) it is
important to understand that the fertilizer
companies want these fertilizers to be as
compact as possible. Bulky fillers would
onl cost them more money
only
mone and red
reduce
ce
their competitiveness in the long run.
€ A.
Liquid--Fertilizer made by dissolving the
correctt proportion
ti off the
th solid
lid plant
l t nutrient
t i t
carriers into water; may be in solution or
suspension
€ B. Dry mixed--Granulated fertilizer made
by combining selected plant nutrient
materials to obtain certain ratios and
quantities
titi off plant
l t nutrients
t i t
€ C. Gas--Liquid fertilizer containing solid
fertilizer materials which is dispensed under
pressure and usually contains a higher
analysis than clear liquid mixes
14
€ Compare
fertilizer prices on the basis of
cost per pound of nutrient, not on the
cost per pound of fertilizer material
Price of Fertilizer Per Pound of Material
Guaranteed Percentage
Example: Fertilizer analysis -- 20 - 10 - 10
Fertilizer cost -- $150.00/ton or 7.5¢/lb
7.5¢/lb
7
5¢/lb
0.4 (40%)
=
18 75¢/lb of nutrient
18.75¢/lb
15
Fertilizer A
Fertilizer B
Fertilizer C
Fertilizer D
Fertilizer E
Fertilizer F
Fertilizer G
21-0-5
10-12-8
5-2-3
20-8-12
0-12-0
20-20-20
3-3-18
(40 pounds)
(20 pounds)
(8 pounds)
(40 pounds)
(4 pounds)
(60 pounds)
(120 pounds)
$20
$17
$8
$21
$5
$56
$35
Using these fertilizers calculate what percent represents the nutrients
you are paying for and what percent are free nutrients. Then calculate
the price per pound of N in the 6 mixes that include nitrogen.
€ Using
the numbers your groups have
calculated for these fertilizers, create a
circle graph on the board for each
fertilizer
Note: a circle with a radius of 3’ 2 1/4” will create a circle where each foot
of the circumference represents roughly 5% of the total circle.
16
The math behind every great
greenhouse crop
€ Any
number multiplied by a factor of one
is equal to the original number.
Example:
100 × 1 = 100
17
€ Movement
of all items on one side of the
equal sign to the other side of the equal
sign as a divisor creates a statement
equal to 1
€ Examples:
€ 100= 25×4
so: 100/ 25×4=1
€ 1gram=1000mg so: 1g/1000mg=1
€ 1pound=16 ounces
so: 1#/16 oz=1
€ Our
fertilizer tank holds 25 gallons of
mixture
1 tank=25 gal. so
1tank/25gallons=1
or
25 gal./1tank=1
1 bench has 13 ft2
so 13ft2/1bench=1
or
1 bench/13ft2=1
18
€ Calculations
using the unit conversion
method will give you accurate
calculations by allowing you to multiply
the beginning product by one until the
units remaining are the desired final
units.
€ You
Y
need
d to find
fi d out how
h
gallons
ll
are
represented by 12000 milliliters:
12000 mL
1L
X
1
1 gal
X
1000 mL
=
3.16 gallons
3.8 L
€ By
canceling out units we see that the units
we are left with are gallons and that our
answer is in the correct units
19
€
€
€
By starting with 1 mL in 1
1,000,000
000 000 mL we know we
have PPM.
Now we want it in something we can use like mg/L
By following the previous examples we get the
following:
1 mL
1000mL
X
1 000 000 L
1,000,000mL
€
€
1g
X
L
1000 mg
X
1 L
1mL
=
1mg/L
= 1 PPM
1
1g
The 1mg = 1mL is true because with water 1 mL
equals 1mg. If we weren’t using water as our fertilizer
base this wouldn’t work
As in all our examples we eliminate all units that will
cancel and we now have a workable mg/L
You need
Y
d to
t apply
l 100
100ppm nitrogen
it
from
f
a 20
20-20-20
20 20
fertilizer how much do you add to a 5 gallon bucket
that is diluted 1:15 as it goes to the crop?
.1 g
75 gal on crop
X
L
3.8L
X
1 bucket
1 cup
X
Gal
=
.114 cups
250 g
20
This method eliminates easy mistakes in
everyday conversions
Some Examples:
4 ft3 is equal to _______yd3?
10 ft2 is equal to _________in
in2 ?
1800 in3 is equal to ________yd3?
55 mph is equal to ______in/sec?
(5280 ft in 1 mile)
€ An
A
example
l off that
h ffollows.
ll
H
How many 3 yd
d3
bales of growing media do you need to fill
300 pots if each pot will hold .25 ft3 of
material?
.25 ft3
300 pots
1
1 yd
X
X
1 pot
1 yd
X
3 ft
1yd
X
3 ft
1 bale
X
3 ft
=
.93 bales
3 yd3
21
€
Using
U
i unit
it cancellation
ll ti create
t a conversion
i chart
h t off
some common conversions you will need in
horticulture, one is provided, as a class come up
with 11 more conversions you think you may use:
__ in3=1yd3
How many 3.8
H
3 8 ft3 bales
b l off media
di are
needed to fill 378 4” pots if each pot holds
32 in3 of media if a 3.8 ft3 compacted bale
has 7 ft3 of media?
€
378 pots
X
1
X
X
X
X
=
Bales
Remember always place what you are given first and what you need to end up with
last. Then multiply it by one to convert the units you have to the units you need.
22
€
If one 6” geranium requires 81 in2 of
bench space, how many pots fit on a 45”
X 90” bench?
23