Fertilization

Question 1

What is decomposed leaves/branches on the ground called

Answer 1

Litter, Plant Litter, Organic Litter

Question 1

What is atmospheric depostion

Answer 1

rainfall and dust

Question 2

What do landscape trees usually have to use and why

Answer 2

Fertilizers

Altered, compacted, broken up and overwatered soils, do not have sufficient amounts of essential elements and nutrients. Organic matter is often missing because of raking and removing leaves

Question 3

Benefits of fertilizing trees

Answer 3

increase growth and improve flowering, fruit and in some cases, help slow down decline because of nutrient deficiencies

Question 4

Negatives of fertilizing wrong

Answer 4

Fertilizing trees that don’t need it or applying it wrong, may hurt the trees and hurt the environment by going to waste by leaching into deeper soils.

invited pests who are looking for tender foliage. Fertilizing can speed up growth and cell walls become thinner, making plants easy pickings

fertilizing can cause plants to focus more on growth than to defense

Applying fertilizers can suppress fruiting or flowering on some trees if done during the wrong time of season

Question 5

What is internal cycling

Answer 5

the contributions from various sources change, and more of the annual demand is met through reusing elements taken up from the soil during the previous year(s)

Question 6

What are the 3 Macronurtients that are required in trees

Answer 6

nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)

Question 7

What are the 3 micronutrients

Answer 7

sulfur (S), Magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca)

Question 8

What is the primary source of nitrogen in trees

Answer 8

the primary source of nitrogen is the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, a process driven by microorganisms ( including fungi and bacteria). Other natural sources of nitrogen include atmospheric deposition and nitrogen fixation (conversion to a plant-usable form of atmospheric nitrogen ).

Question 9

Problems with nutrient deficiencies in trees

Answer 9

adversely affect a tree’s ability to function properly. If left unchecked, deficiencies stress the tree, making it susceptible to other harmful agents, and can even lead to premature death

symptoms: reduced growth, small size, and chlorosis ( yellowing or whitening of leaves )

Question 10

negatives of removing organic layer of top soil in forests

Answer 10

soil nitrogen comes largely from decomposition organic matter, removing leaf litter and other natural sources of nitrogen can affect the quantity of nitrogen and other essential elements available to plants.

Question 11

How can nitrogen also be lost in trees

Answer 11

leaching or volatilization ( loss in gaseous form into the atmosphere).

Leaching occurs more frequently with well-drained, sandy soils with low organic matter content.

Nitrogen deficiencies are most common in sandy soils low in organic matter, especially if irrigation is heavy.

Question 12

How to determine soil content and what methods can you use

Answer 12

take a soil sample ( soil analysis ) and a Leaf sample ( foliar analysis ),

Question 13

what will a soil analysis provide

Answer 13

provide you with information on plant-available nutrients, soil organic matter content, and pH. Soil pH affects the availability of nutrients for plant uptake. A soil analysis test can tell you the organic matter levels and long-term nitrogen supplying power of the soil

**Plant- available nitrogen may limit annual growth in soils having less than 2 percent organic matter content.

Question 14

What can foliar analysis provide

Answer 14

help you see what’s the nutrient content in the leaves to show you the ability to acquire and use nutrients from the soil under current conditions. Results of samples can have different readings depending on growing location, rooting area, soil depth, and changes in soil grade

**they do not provide you with the information about why the elements are deficient.

Question 15

What is a fertilizer

Answer 15

complete fertilizer is defined as one that contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)

Question 16

What is the fertilizer analysis

Answer 16

listed on the container, expresses the composition of the fertilizer as a percentage by weight of total nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid ( P2O5 ), and soluble potash ( K2O ), always listed in the same order.

Question 17

What is fertilizer ratio

Answer 17

is calculated by dividing each of the analysis numbers by the lowest number in the group.

Question 18

What is a organic fertilizer

Answer 18

come from plants or animals and provide the benefit of a carbon ( food ) source for soil organisms

Question 19

what is an inorganic fertilizer

Answer 19

are made of mineral based and typically release their elements relatively quickly when dissolved in water.

Question 20

What are ions and what are they responsible for

Answer 20

Available nutrients

responsible for plants “fertilizer burn” by drawing out of the roots

Question 21

What is an advantage of inorganic fertilizers

Answer 21

solubility in water is less affected by temperature.

Question 22

what is an advantage of organic fertilizers

Answer 22

they are not leached as readily from the soil

Question 23

What is the most preferred way of fertilizing trees

Answer 23

Slow release and controlled release nitrogen fertilizers

these types of fertilizers provide a long period of time for uptake by roots, reducing the amount of nutrients that may be leached and reducing salts or fertilizer burn.

Question 24

What happens when there is excess potassium

Answer 24

can limit utilization of calcium, magnesium, and nitrogen

Question 25

What happens when there is over application of phosphorus

Answer 25

excessive nutrient enrichment of fresh water and reduction of some mycorrhizal fungi populations.

Excess phosphorus can also affect the ability of roots to take up zinc, manganese, and iron even if it is present in the soil

Question 26

Why its important to have a correct amount of fertilizer

Answer 26

should be determined based on the objectives, such as promoting growth, flowering, fruit flowering or if a deficiency exits, improving the health and vigor of the tree

use soil and foliar analysis to provide info

Question 27

What is leaching and why is it bad

Answer 27

washing of chemicals through the soil from rainfall or irrigation

Not only does it make nutrients unavailable to the tree, but the leached nutrients can also pollute groundwater, lakes, and streams

Question 28

How to reduce and prevent leaching

Answer 28

apply the minimum amount of fertilizer to achieve management goals using organic or slow release forms, and avoid over irrigating sandy soils.

Question 29

Fertilizers not recommended

Answer 29

Quick release fertilizers are typically not recommended because they readily are leached from the root zone and have a higher potential to cause fertilizer burn

Question 30

Better fertilizers

Answer 30

Slow release fertilizers breakdown slower over months and makes them available to trees longer in the soil.

Question 31

Why is timing important when applying fertilizers

Answer 31

may not be readily absorbed or utilized until root growth begins. Uptake and metabolic demand are low in the dormant season, and some of the more soluble form of nitrogen may leach from the soil before being utilized. Nitrogen uptake peaks during the growing season when metabolic need is greatest.

Question 32

What is surface application

Answer 32

Applied by hand or spreader, applied on surface of soil. Must be watered in to break it down in the soil pass turf grass roots, easy to apply and is cheap. Disadvantages are contact with non-target organisms, runoff into waterways.

Question 33

What is subsurface application

Answer 33

Designed to place fertilizer below the majority of turfgrass roots. Tree’s absorbing roots are located in this same area.

Question 34

What is Liquid Application

Answer 34

a common application, mixed in water and watered in area of roots or dripline for quicker absorption by tree roots,

Question 35

What is Foliar application

Answer 35

easily applied to foliage if tree roots are mostly inaccessible, rapid nutrient application, short term quick treatment. Can stain hardscapes if drips off leaves.

Question 36

What are Injections and Implants

Answer 36

techniques that introduce nutrients directly into the xylem of the trees

used successfully to introduce essential elements into trees to treat micronutrients deficiencies, but they are not practical for supplementing macronutrients because of the volume of materials required

Uptake of injections and implants require a healthier tree for transpiring and moving water upward into the crown. For this reason do not not use these techniques on drought stressed trees

INJECTION DO HARM TREES

Question 37

How much nitrogen should you have in what seasons

Answer 37

In spring, have a higher number for nitrogen, in summer less. More of the middle number ( phosphorus ) in summer for blossoms, fruits and for favors and robustness

In summer you need more Calcium (made from the boney material from fish) along with phosphorus which are usually mixed in most fertilizers.