R2102 3.3 Describe how plant nutrients can be provided and maintained

Question 1

What is fertiliser?

Answer 1

Concentrated sources of plant nutrients that are added to growing media

Question 2

What is organic fertiliser?

Answer 2

1. Material derived from plant or animal remains
2. They are natural, not artificially produced
3. Nutrients are not immediately soluble - they need the action of bacteria to break them down so plants can take them up
4. Slow release. Difficult to overfeed

Examples of plant organic fertiliser: soot, wood, ash
Examples of animal organic fertiliser: Dried blood, fish blood and bone, bone meal

Question 2

What is organic fertiliser?

Answer 2

1. Material derived from plant or animal remains
2. They are natural, not artificially produced
3. Nutrients are not immediately soluble - they need the action of bacteria to break them down so plants can take them up
4. Slow release

Examples of plant organic fertiliser: soot, wood, ash
Examples of animal organic fertiliser: Dried blood, fish blood and bone, bone meal

Question 3

What are inorganic fertilisers?

Answer 3

1. Either artificially produced or mined from soil or rock
2. Nutrients are soluble so immediately available
3. Have a high proportion of nutrient present in the material, which means they are stronger than organic fertilisers

Example of artifically produced : Ammonium Nitrate
Example of mined from rock: Sulphate of ammonia, Urea

Question 4

What is a straight fertiliser & three examples

Answer 4

Supplies **only one **of the major nutrients
Examples:
1. Sulphate of Ammonia (Nitrogen)
2. Sulphate of potash (potassium)
3. Superphosphate of lime (phosphorus)

Question 5

What is a compound fertiliser & two examples

Answer 5

Contains two or more of the major nutrients
Examples@
1. Inorganic: Growmore (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus)
2. Organic: Nitrate of potash (nitrogen, potassium)

Question 6

Strength of fertilisers

Answer 6

The amount present in compound fertiliser is expressed as a ratio -N P K
* Nitrogen is expressed as %N
* Potassium is expressed as %KO2 (potassium dioxide)
* Phosphorous is expressed as %P2O5 (phosphorouse pentoxide)

The amount of fertiliser is expressed as a percentage by weight in each 100 kg of fertiliser
e.g. Ammonium sulphate 21% Nitrogen (79% bulk carrier)

Question 7

Law of limiting factors in nutrients

Answer 7

The rate of plant growth will depend on the nutrient in *least *supply to it

Question 8

Quick release (soluble) fertiliser

Answer 8

Those that dissolve in water immediately, for example ammonium sulphate or Urea, both of which yield nitrogen that can be taken up within days of application.

If too much is applied it can harm of kill plants. Care needs to be taken that gound water is not polluted by run-off

Question 9

Slow release fertiliser

Answer 9

Where a high proportion of the nutrient is released over a peroid of time.
All organic fertilisers can be categorised as slow release
The rate of nutrient release is dependant on levels of bacteria present and the factors that affect their activity e.g. temperature, soil ph
Examples included bone meal, rock phosphate

Question 10

Controlled release fertiliser (CRF) (6)

Answer 10

1. Formulated to release nutrients in a controlled way over a specified period
2. One group - quick release fertilisers held within a permeable resin coating that lets water in and nutrients to diffuse out
3. Other group - soluable fertiliser coated in sulphur which is broken down my micro-organisms so nutrients are released.
4. In both groups the thickness of the coating can be varied for different timescales
5. Can be expensive
6. Plants under glass could receive an overdose as temperature in compost rises
7. e.g. Osmocote, Osmocote Gold

Question 11

Base dressing

Answer 11

Applied before crop is sown or planted to make sure has all major nutrients
Use:
* After vegetable plot has been cropped to replenish nutrients
* Newly cultivated ground may need special attention if planting something that will remain for a long time e.g. fruit trees, hedges

Examples:
* well rotted farmyard manure
* Pelleted chicken manure
* Seaweed
* Growmore (inorganic)

Important on light sandy soils

Question 12

Top dressing

Answer 12

Applied during growing season to make sure a good crop is produced - remember law of limiting factors
Use:
* Top-up growing brassicas, also cucumbers, marrows, sweetcorn
* Also useful in flower borders, containers and summer lawn

Examples
* fish, blood and bone
* Growmore (inorganic)

Question 13

Top dressing

Answer 13

Applied during growing season to make sure a good crop is produced - remember law of limiting factors
Use:
* Top-up growing brassicas, also cucumbers, marrows, sweetcorn
* Also useful in flower borders, containers and summer lawn

Examples
* fish, blood and bone
* Growmore (inorganic)

Question 14

Foliar feed and why

Answer 14

Rapid boost of fertiliser in liquid form that is absorbed through the plants leaves
Use:
* Used to feed pots and containers where nutrients are rapidly usedup during the growing season
* Useful in soil that is too cold for microbial action to break down and release organic fertiliser
* Or where there is an underdeveloped root system that cannot take up nutrients effectively

Examples:
* liquid seaweed extract, comfrey solution
* Vitax soluble (inorganic)

Question 15

Liquid feed

Answer 15

Can be absorbed more readily by the plant through its roots without waiting for a chemical to dissolve in the soil water. A quick fix.

Use:
* Pot plants, house plants, hanging baskets, bedding and in greenhouse production

Examples:
* Comfrey solution (high in potassium)
* Tomorite (inorganic, high in potassium)