5. TREE NUTRITION AND FERT WORKBOOK QUESTIONS

Question 1

How do trees take up essential elements?

Answer 1

Dissolved in water, through the roots.

Question 2

What are elements required by trees in relatively large quantities called?

Answer 2

Macronutrients

Question 3

What macronutrient is a constituent of chlorophyll and can cause reduced growth and chlorosis if deficient?

Answer 3

Nitrogen

Question 4

What type of fertilizers release nutrients over an extended period and can be a source of carbon?

Answer 4

Organic fertilizers

Question 5

What does the fertilizer analysis on a container indicate?

Answer 5

The relative percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

Question 6

How much actual nitrogen is in a 23 kg (50 lb) bag of 20-10-5 fertilizer?

Answer 6

4.6 kg (or 10 lb)

Question 7

What type of fertilizer helps prevent leaching and fertilizer ‘burn’?

Answer 7

Slow-release fertilizer

Question 8

What is the most important factor for good uptake of fertilizer elements?

Answer 8

Adequate water

Question 9

True or False—Surface application of fertilizer is relatively inexpensive and makes fertilizer available in the upper few centimeters of soil.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

True or False—Fertilization can increase susceptibility to certain pests.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

True or False—Foliar application of fertilizer usually lasts up to five years.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

Name two limitations to trunk implants and microinjections.

Answer 12

• Wounding
• Not suitable for macronutrients

Question 13

What is the process of chemicals washing out of the soil called?

Answer 13

Leaching

Question 14

Fertilization recommendations should be based on what two types of analysis?

Answer 14

• Soil analysis
• Foliar analysis

Question 15

Nitrogen fertilization can trigger a tree’s energy allocation toward growth, sometimes at the expense of what?

Answer 15

Defense

Question 16

A 36 kg (80 lb) bag of 10-6-4 fertilizer contains how much actual nitrogen?

Answer 16

3.6 kg (8 lb)

Question 17

What three elements make up a complete fertilizer?

Answer 17

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium

Question 18

A tree may not respond immediately to fertilizer if what conditions exist?

Answer 18

• A slow-release fertilizer was applied
• There is inadequate soil moisture
• The tree is not actively growing

Question 19

Why might a soil test fail to identify a nutrient deficiency in a plant?

Answer 19

The soil may contain adequate nutrients, but something may be inhibiting uptake.

Question 20

Which soil additive may contain heavy metals?

Answer 20

Some composts and organic matter sources

Question 21

Micronutrients

Answer 21

Iron, manganese, boron

Question 22

10-0-4

Answer 22

Fertilizer analysis

Question 23

Leaching

Answer 23

Washing down through the soil

Question 24

Macronutrients

Answer 24

Element needed in the largest quantity

Question 25

Nitrogen

Answer 25

Element needed in the largest quantity

Question 26

Soil analysis

Answer 26

Provides pH, CEC, nutrient information

Question 27

NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM, SULFUR, CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM ARE CONSIDERED?

Answer 27

Macronutrients

Question 28

IRON, MANGANESE, BORON, COPPER AND ZINC, MOLYBDENUM ARE CONSIDERED?

Answer 28

Micronutrients

Question 29

The ability of the soil to hold onto and release positively charged ions ( essential elements). Its high in clay soils and lower in sandy soils.

Answer 29

The cation exchange capacity (CEC)

Question 30

Conversion of a solid or liquid into a gas or vapor (fertilizer)

Answer 30

Volatilization

Question 31

When the soil pH is greater than 7(alkaline) , ______ tends to become unavailable for plant uptake. When the soil pH is lower then 7 (acidic), _______ tends to become unavailable for plant uptake.

Answer 31

Iron and Magnesium

Question 32

Application rates should not exceed __ to __lb of slow-release nitrogen per 1000ft2) OR __ to __lb of quick-release nitrogen per 1000ft2

Answer 32

3 to 6 lb Or 1 to 2 lb

Question 33

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are obtained from the atmosphere and water, account for more than ___% of the mass of the tree.

Answer 33

90%

Question 34

What determines if a fertalizer is slow release?

Answer 34

The percent of WATER-INSOLUBLE NITROGEN Preferred level is 50%