Nutrients/ Fertilizers Flashcards
What is a major essential element?(definition)
Elements that are needed in quite large amounts by all green plants
How many essential elements are there?
10
List the 10 essential elements
Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulphur Magnesium Potassium calcium iron
What is a minor/ trace element?
Elements that are required in only tiny amounts for plants
There are 10 minor elements, list them
boron Zinc copper aluminium Molybdenum Sodium Chlorine Silicon Magnesium? I'm not sure abt this word, it has magnese Cobalt
What is a fertilizer?
A fertilizer is a substance added to soil to provide one or more of the mineral irons necessary for healthy plant growth
What is the origin of organic fertilizers?
Derived from plants and animals Eg.manure, peat, compost treated sewage
What is the origin of inorganic (chemical or synthetic)?
Man-made product eg. (NH^4)^2 SO^4, Ca(H^2 PO^4) or certain industrial wastes eg. basic slag, usually contain N,P,K
What is the application of organic fertilizers?
Difficult to use: bulky and sticky also smelly
What is the application of inorganic fertilizers?
Easy to use: powders and granules, spray
How fast do organic fertilizers act?
Slow to act.
Needs decomposing first
Long-lasting
How fast do inorganic fertilizers act?
Quick to act.
Dissolve immediately
Short-lasting
Effects on soil of organic fertilizers:
Improves crumb structure (humus) improves water retention
Effects on soil of inorganic fertilizers:
Do not improve crumb structure.
Harmful is used continually, which can lead to the breakdown of soil crumbs resulting in erosion.
Leads to acid formation
Effects on earthworms for organic fertilizers
Encourage earthworms
