Soil Treatment Flashcards
Provision of air to the soil to allow root and microbial respiration
Aeration
Having a pH greater than 7.0
Alkaline
State or quality of being alkaline
Alkalinity
Ability of a soil to maintain its pH
Buffering capacity
Mass of soil per unit volume; used as a measure of soil compaction; often written as grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm3)
Bulk density
Ability of a soil to absorb and hold cations; affected by soil, organic matter and particle size; a measure of soil, fertility and clay composition
Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
Chemical compounds that keep plant nutrients, usually iron and manganese, soluble and available for plant absorption over a broad range of pH
Chelates
Yellowish leaf discoloration caused by a lack of chlorophyll; often caused by nutrient deficiency
Chlorosis
Closely or firmly packed or joined together
Compaction
Fertilizer containing the three primary elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)
Complete fertilizer
- n. Organic matter that has been intentionally subjected to decay processes and is decomposed to the point of not being recognizable as the original parent material; 2. v. To subject organic matter to decay and decomposition processes.
Compost
Slow release or slowly soluble form of fertilizer
Controlled-release fertilizer
Pertaining to plant nutrition, lack or insufficient quantity of a required element
Deficiency
Applying fertilizer by drilling holes in the soil within the root zone
Drill-hole fertilization
Imaginary line defined by the branch spread of a single plant or group of plants, projected onto the ground
Drip line
Minerals essential to the growth and development of trees; these minerals are essential because plants cannot complete their lifecycle without them
Essential elements
Application of essential elements to a plant, usually through the soil
Fertilization
Material containing one or more of the elements essential for plant growth, development, and reproduction
Fertilizer
Composition of a fertilizer expressed as a percentage by weight of total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, soluble potash, and other nutrients
Fertilizer analysis
Injury to a plant resulting from excess fertilizer salts in the surrounding soil
Fertilizer burn
Ratio of total nitrogen, available, phosphoric acid, and soluble potash; for example, the ratio of a 30-10-10 fertilizer is 3:1:1
Fertilizer ratio
Laboratory analysis of the mineral content of foliage
Foliar analysis
Applying a fertilizer, pesticide, or other substance on foliage
Foliar application
Green (rather than woody) organic matter, that is not fully composted or decomposed and used as a mulch; also, cut or mowed herbaceous material (grasses, etc) that are left to decompose naturally and improve the underlying soil quality
Green mulch
Hydrated, calcium sulfate; sometimes recommended as a soil conditioner or source of calcium
Gypsum
Device, capsule, or pellet, inserted into the trees, xylem system to treat or prevent diseases, disorders, or pest problems; requires a hole in the trunk
Implant
Injection of a liquid substance into a plant or soil
Injection
Mineral fertilizer, not coming from a plant or animal sources
Inorganic fertilizer
(1) tendency for elements or compounds to wash down through and or out of the soil; (2) tendency for elements or compounds to wash into the soil
Leach (leaching)
Applying liquid formulation of fertilizer by injection into the root zone of a tree or by application to soil surface or to foliage
Liquid fertilization (liquid injection)
Essential element that is required by plants in relatively large quantities, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur
Macronutrient
Essential element that is required by plants in relatively small quantities, such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron
Micronutrient
Naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite chemical composition and possesses characteristic physical properties; certain minerals are considered essential elements for tree growth, and development
Mineral
Material that is spread on the soil surface to reduce weed growth, retain soil, moisture, moderate temperature, extremes, reduce compaction from pedestrian or vehicle traffic, and or to improve aesthetic appearance of the landscape ; mulch can be composed of chipped, ground, or shredded organic material, such as bark, wood, or recycled paper
Mulch
Symbiotic relationship between certain fungi and absorbing roots of plants
Mycorrizae
Mycorrhizae
Substance that provides nourishment essential for the growth and maintenance of life; in plants, often used synonymously with essential element
Nutrient
Condition in which the supply or availability of an essential element causes sensation of critical plant processes, resulting in visible, physical symptoms, such as chronic leaves or necrotic margins, and which, if left untreated, will reduce tree health and may eventually lead to premature death
Nutrient deficiency
Condition in which the supply or availability of an essential element reduces the growth rate, but does not cause plant dysfunction or premature death
Nutrient limitation
Fertilizer derived from plants or animals
Organic fertilizer
Layer of organic matter at the soil surface
Organic layer
Material derived from the growth of living organisms; the organic components of soil
Organic matter
Basing fertilization recommendations on a plant needs to be determined by conducting soil and or foyer, nutrient analysis, setting plant health, goals, and selecting a fertilizer to achieve the goals
Prescription fertilization
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; included in various ratios and fertilizer
Primary elements
Fertilizer with less than 50% water and insoluble nitrogen (WIN)
Quick-release fertilizer
Soils with a high concentration of soluble salts; can cause poor plant growth
Saline soils
Soils with high concentrations of both soluble salts, and sodium ions
Saline-Sodic soils
Osmotic potential ratio of a fertilizer compared to sodium nitrate, based on the relative value of 100; the higher the salt index, the more likely plant damage will occur
Salt index
Mineral elements, such as calcium, and magnesium, required in moderate amounts by plants
Secondary nutrients
Fertilizer formulation that is slowly hydrolyzed in the soil
Slowly soluble fertilizer
Fertilizer containing plant nutrients in a form that delays availability for plant uptake and use after application or that extends availability to the plant
Slow-release fertilizer
Soils with relatively low levels of soluble salts, and a concentration of sodium high enough to adversely affect soil structure. Symptoms include waterlogging, erosion, soil, surface, crusting, and poor plant growth;
Sodic soils
Measure of soil, sodium content; ratio of sodium ion concentration to that of calcium and magnesium
Sodium absorption ratio (SAR)
Material added to the soil to improve its physical, chemical, and or biological properties
Soil amendment
Analysis of soil to determine pH, mineral, composition, texture, structure, salinity, organic matter, and other characteristics
Soil analysis
(1) device for removing cores of soil for inspecting or testing; (2) device (drill bit) used to drill holes in the soil, often used for vertical mulching or for the drill-hole method of fertilizing
Soil auger
Dry mass of soil per unit volume; often used as a measure of compaction
Soil bulk density (SBD)
Compression of the soil, often as a result of animal, vehicle, or heavy equipment, traffic, that breaks down soil, aggregates and reduces soil volume and total pore space, especially macro pore space
Soil compaction
Complex network of interconnected food chains within the soil ecosystem
Soil food web
Layer or zone of the soil profile with physical, chemical, and biological character characteristics that differ from adjacent layers
Soil horizon
Soil amendments that use beneficial microbes to promote plant health
Soil inoculant
Amount of organic material and soil, measured as a percentage by dry weight
Soil organic matter (SOM)
Anyone of a number of instruments used to take soil, corder samples; usually some variation of a metal tube with a sharpened or serrated point and a T shaped handle
Soil probe
Vertical section through the soil and all of the soil horizons
Soil profile
pH (acidity or alkaline) of a soil
Soil reaction
Measure of the soluble salts in a soil
Soil salinity
Arrangement of the soil particles into aggregates
Soil structure
Relative fineness or coarseness of a soil based on particle size (sand, silt, and clay)
Soil texture
Method of applying chemicals to trees through the soil
Soil-drench application
Modular system, consisting of integrated support structures filled with soil that serves as both a foundation for paved surfaces and hospitable environment for tree root growth
Structural cells
Pavement substrate that can be compacted to meet engineering specifications, yet remain penetrable by tree roots in the urban environment; Cornell University developed and trademarked a CU-Structure Soil, composed of angular, crushed stone, clay, loam, and hydrogel mixed in a weight ratio of 100:25:0.03
Structural soil
Placement of fertilizer or other material below the soil surface
Subsurface application
Placement of fertilizer or other material on the ground surface; also called broadcast application
Surface application
Conversion of a solid or liquid into a gas or vapor
Volatilization
Nitrogen fertilizer any form that is not readily soluble in water
Water-insoluble nitrogen (WIN)
