LO 5.3 - Liquid feeding Flashcards
- Range of nutrient ratios in liquid feed formulations - Advantages and disadvantages - Uses and role in plant production - Methods of application
Question
Complete the sentence.
* Organic fertilisers are derived from material that was once living (_________________).
Fertiliser types
plant and animal matter
Fertiliser types
Question
Name some common Organic fertiliser types.
Fertiliser types
- Seaweed
- Mushroom compost
- Farmyard manure
- Chicken litter
The content can be variable, depending on animal feeding practices.
Fertiliser types
Question
How are Inorganic fertilisers produced?
Fertiliser types
- They are synthetically produced or are from quarried material such as limestone.
These products have a predictable nutrient content.
Fertiliser types
Question
Inorganic fertilisers can be described as ‘straight’ or ‘compound’. What does that mean?
Fertiliser types
- Straight fertilisers contain one main nutrient, eg urea (nitrogen), Superphosphate (phosphorus).
- Compounds contain a number of elements at different percentages, typically NPK and sometimes trace elements.
Fertiliser types
Question
How are Inorganic fertilisers produced?
Fertiliser types
- They are synthetically produced or are from quarried material such as limestone.
Fertiliser types
Question
What is Liquid Feeding?
Liquid Feeding
Used in nursery production systems. Proprietary feeds are more expensive but more convenient
Various formulations Eg: 18:10:18 or 14:10:30
Liquid Feeding
Question
Various systems exist for irrigating and liquid feeding. What are they?
Liquid Feeding
Irrigating systems
* Capillary irrigation
* Drip irrigation
* Overhead spray systems
Liquid Feeding
Question
What is Capillary irrigation?
Liquid Feeding
Capillary irrigation
* Layer of sand or matting, water is drawn into compost by capillary action. Beds/benches must be level. Salts can build up in matting.
Liquid Feeding
Question
What is Drip irrigation?
Liquid Feeding
Drip irrigation
* Individual drip line into each pot from a main line. Useful for pots over 7 litres (capillary action is less efficient at larger pot sizes).
Liquid Feeding
Question
What is an Overhead spray system?
Liquid Feeding
Overhead spray system
* Used with low crops such as lettuce. Large droplets needed to penetrate canopy. Overhead systems can be wasteful of water.
Liquid Feeding
Question
What is Foliar feeding?
Liquid Feeding
Foliar feeding
* It is taken up by stomata or through the leaf cuticle.
* Used to supplement and correct deficiencies of trace elements.
Liquid Feeding
Question
What precautions should we follow when Foliar feeding?
Liquid Feeding
Foliar feeding precautions
* Needs to be precisely controlled to avoid ‘burning’ the leaves.
* Dilution rates are critical.
* Application in direct sunlight should be avoided.
* Not as cost effective, large amount of nutrients drip off or washed away.
* Used in hydroponic systems.
Liquid Feeding
