Lab Quiz #1

Question 1

CEA

Answer 1

Controlled Environment Ag.

Question 2

nutrient optimizes flowering, short, small leaves, roots grow to the bottom of the pot

Answer 2

Nitrates

Question 3

nutrient makes softer, lush growth, leafy, tall with large leaves, roots only grow on the top of the pot; makes pH lower/more acidic

Answer 3

Ammonium and Urea

Question 4

fertilizer composed of manure, fishmeal, or compost - releases NPK as it decomposes, need to add a lot more to get the same amount of nutrients

Answer 4

organic fertilizer

Question 5

pH lower than 5 can cause…

Answer 5

Al3+ is toxic and becomes more soluble which stunts growth and prevents Ca uptake

Question 6

how many essential nutrients

Answer 6

17 - 9 macro and 8 micro (C4 and CAM plant also require Sodium; sometimes doesn’t add sulfur)

Question 7

Immobile nutrients

Answer 7

boron, Ca, Fe - symptoms seen in new growth

Question 8

Mobile nutrients

Answer 8

Cl, Mg, N, P, K, and Sulfur - symptoms seen on old growth (apical meristem always has priority)

Question 9

easy fix for micronutrient deficiencies

Answer 9

foliar sprays on symptom-showing leaves

Question 10

optimal pH

Answer 10

5.7/5.8-6.3

Question 11

Lime causes pH to…

Answer 11

rise - become more alkaline

Question 12

citric acid causes pH to…

Answer 12

lower - become more acidic

Question 13

ratio of NO3:K and Ca:Mg

Answer 13

3:1

Question 14

optimal EC

Answer 14

0.75-2.5 uS

Question 15

When do you want lower/higher EC?

Answer 15

lower - greens/leaves
higher - fruit

Question 16

too high of this can cause plants to wilt even though they’re getting enough water

Answer 16

Electrical Conductivity

Question 17

benefits of calcium

Answer 17

prevents blossom end rot; gives lettuce its crunch - in cell walls

Question 18

How to add Ca

Answer 18

CaNO3 (calcium nitrate); CaCO3 (lime - raise pH); CaSO4 (gypsum - pH stays the same); egg shells or bonemeal for organic option

Question 19

what causes plants to not be able to take up Ca?

Answer 19

humidity - not as much transpiration happening

Question 20

NFT

Answer 20

nutrient film technique

Question 21

goals of a hydroponics system

Answer 21

deliver water, nutrients, and oxygen to the plant

Question 22

benefits of hydroponics compared to field production

Answer 22

yield is greater in weight, nutrients are sent directly to the roots (plants require less energy to uptake nutrients), requires less water, faster growth, no soil, less disease, less pesticides

Question 23

when do you need an air pump?

Answer 23

when there’s no air gap in the water to add oxygen - when there’s no water falling

Question 24

Flow rate

Answer 24

0.2-1 liter per minute

Question 25

optimal slope for NFT

Answer 25

1”:50”

Question 26

what does a lower slope cause?

Answer 26

algae blooms, stagnate water, hotter water, plants won’t get nutrients fast enough

Question 27

causes of algae blooms

Answer 27

lower slope, oxygen depletion, stagnate water

Question 28

most common soilless media

Answer 28

rockwool (volcanic rock and limestone) and perlite (neutral with lots of air space)

Question 29

What causes the price of local food to become the same prices as shipped food?

Answer 29

the price of fuel - higher fuel price causes shipped food to be more expensive

Question 30

optimal temperature for growth (most plants)

Answer 30

80-85 degrees