Soil and Nutrients Test Flashcards
What does soil provide for plants?
support, nutrients, and a network of water and air to the plant’s roots.
Clay
-Smallest particles (clay platelets)
-“Heavy”
-Nutrient rich
-Holds water for a long time
-Air and water movie slowly through it
-Good for brassicas
Loam/silt
-Medium particles
-Good amount of nutrients
-Balance of clay and sand properties
-Decent water retention
Sand
-Largest particles
-Little nutrients
-Doesn’t hold water well
Inorganic fertilizers pros
-More concentrated
-Cheaper
-Nutrient ratios guaranteed
-Slow- and fast-release forms
Inorganic fertilizer cons
-Requires multiple applications
-leach or runoff or burn plants
-Kill beneficial organisms
-Harvesting required materials is harmful to the environment
3 numbers on a fertilizer label
N-Nitrogen
P-Phosphorus
K-Potassium
Nitrogen
Stimulates rapid vegetative growth
Phosphorus
Influences flowering, fruiting, root development, disease resistance, and maturation
Potassium
Essential for starch formation,movement of sugars, formation of chlorophyll, fruit/flower coloring, and opening and closing of stomata
Chlorosis
a yellowing of normally green leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll
Macro vs. Micronutrients
Macronutrients are elements which plants require in relatively large amounts where micronutrients are those which plants require in much smaller amounts
Determining nutrient deficiencies
visual symptoms, plant tissue analysis and soil analysis
What are organic fertilizers derived from?
plant- or animal-based materials
Arthropods
-invertebrates (bugs)
-Shred organic material
-enhance soil aggregation
-stimulate microbial activity
