Plant Nutrition Flashcards
Name a range of nutrients required for plant growth
Magnesium Nitrogen Calcium Potassium Phosphorus Iron
Role of Magnesium and signs of deficiency
Required for photosynthesis - a constituent of chlorophyll
Intervein chlorosis on older leaves first
Leaf tips curl upwards
Early leaf fall
Role of nitrogen and signs of deficiency
Leafy growth Constituent of chlorophyll proteins and nucleic acid Slow spindly growth Chlorosis - general yellowing Small flowers and fruit
Role of Calcium and signs of deficiency
Required for activity in meristems
Constituent of cell walls
Symptoms - weakened cell walls mean inward curling in young pale leaves
Tissues die
E.g. Blossom end rot in tomatoes and bitter pit in apples
Role of Phosphorus and signs of deficiency
Essential in seeds for germination Essential at seedling stage for root growth Symptoms Poor root growth so all growth retarded Bluefish colouring to stem and leaves Delayed and small fruit growth
Role of Potassium and signs of deficiency
Essential for good flower and fruit growth
Increases hardiness
Increases scent
Symptoms
Poor quality fruit and seeds
Leaf scorch
Leaves bronze and curl inwards and downwards
Role of Iron and signs of deficiency
Involved with chlorophyll production
Symptoms
Yellowing of leaves -younger ones first
Failure to flower and fruit.
Describe pH scale
7 is neutral
Below 7 is acidic
Above 7 alkaline
What is pH of garden soils?
4-8
Which pH is best in U.K.
6.5
What is the standard way to raise pH?
Adding lime
To surface of the soil in the form of calcium carbonate (ground limestone) in autumn
Do not manure at same time
What are the effects of pH on soil structure?
Lime causes flocculation (grouping together of clay particles) thus improving structure - crumb formation
Encourages worm and bacteria population
What is flocculation?
Grouping together of individual clay particles making soil less dense
Materials used to influence soil pH?
Sulphur - lowers
Lime - raises
Organic materials
Advantages of liming
Raises pH
Provides calcium
Encourages worm population
Discourages some diseases such as clubroot in brassicas
Makes clay soils workable by flocculation
Can make other nutrients available
Name 3 plants that prefer acid soils (calcifuges)
Rhododendron
Camelia japonica
Pieris japonica
Name 3 plants for neutral soils
Malus
Cucumbers
Carrots
3 plants for alkaline soils (calcicoles)
Clematis montana
Agapanthus africanus
Fagus sylvatica
What is meant by fertiliser?
Concentrated source of nutrients added to growing media
Which nutrient is most likely leached form soil and therefore needed to be replace
Nitrogen
Characteristics of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients
Organic matter (compost or fertiliser) was once living. Inorganic are manufactured or derived from minerals
What is meant by soluble fertiliser and give example
Dissolve immediately with water
Ammonium sulphate
What is meant by slow release fertiliser and give example
Don’t dissolve immediately with water but provide nutrients in soluble form over a long period of time.
Bone meal
What is meant by straight fertilisers and give example
Supply one major nutrient Ammonium sulphate (N)
What is meant by compound fertiliser and give example
Supply 2 or more nutrients
Growmore 7:7:7 NPK
What is meant by controlled release fertiliser and give example
Fertilisers held within a permeable resin coating so they release at the right time for plant.
Osmocote
What is meant by base dressing and when would you apply it?
Fertiliser incorporated into soil. Domestic Gardens dug in before sowing/planting
What is meant by top dressing and when would you apply it?
Added to surface of soil
When nutrients are needed after plants are established e.g lawns in autumn
What is meant by liquid feed and when would you apply it?
Fertilisers dissolved and watered onto soils
Hanging baskets pot plants
What is meant by Foliar feed and when would you apply it?
Liquid feed diluted sufficiently so can be watered onto leaves without damaging/scorching
Immediate uptake
Routine
First thing in morning
Comparison of organic matter to fertilisers
OM bulky F concentrated
OM low nutrient content F high
OM imprecise control F precise control
OM slow effect F quick effect except slow release
OM effective over long period F effect may be quickly lost
OM improves soil structure F no impact on soil structure
OM will contain pests and diseases F no pests and diseases
Describe construction of a compost heap
accessibility of the site, positioned in a sheltered area away from wind, orientated away from heat e.g. south and west.
ii) mixture of soft green and brown (woody) material, ratio of 30:1 brown (woody) : green material, avoid perennial weeds/seeds /diseased/cooked material, material to be shredded to increase surface area, suitable materials include vegetable peelings, shredded prunings, herbaceous material etc.
iii) to be constructed on bare soil, wooden sides, cover to keep excessive rain off, compost heap to be minimum size of 1m3, material to be layered inside the compost heap.
iv) Important to ensure that the compost heap does not dry out, water when required, turn the compost heap regularly by turning the outer edges into the centre to ensure that all the material can become hot
Name 2 organic fertilisers
Fish blood and bone
Bonemeal
Name 2 inorganic fertilisers
Growmore
Ammonium sulphate
What is meant by the term pH
Expresses the amount of acidity or alkalinity in the soil in terms of hydrogen ions concentration. The more hydrogen ions the more
