1. Plant Nutrients
Jason Gehrke
2164A, B, E, F, G

2. Macro/Micro Nutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
Sulfur
Micro
Boron
Copper
Chlorine
Manganese
Molybdenum
Nickel
Zinc
Iron

3. Macro-Nutrients Nitrogen Phosphorus Amino acid synthesis Proteins
Chlorophyll
Enzymes
Phosphorus
Storage and transfer of energy as ATP
Proteins
Co-enzymes
Make phospholipids and nucleic acids

4. Macro-Nutrients Potassium Magnesium
Maintain plant cell structure (turgidity)
Plant cell processes
Enzyme activation
Sugar translocation
Magnesium
Central atom of the chlorophyll molecule
Aids in phosphorus uptake

5. Macro-Nutrients Calcium Sulfur
Maintains Plant cell walls and cell division
Sulfur
Required for several amino acids
Cell respiration
Crucial for protein synthesis

6. Deficienies Color Plant Stunting Decrease in flower budding
Yellowing of leaves (chlorosis)
Nitrogen
Potassium
Plant Stunting
Decrease in flower budding
Decrease in Plant Size

7. MicroNutrients Boron Copper Flowering, fruiting, cell division
Translocation of sugars in plants
Copper
Chlorophyll synthesis
Catalyst for respiration
Catalyst for carbohydrate and protein metabolism

8. MicroNutrients Manganese Molybdenum Crucial in chlorophyll synthesis
Phosphorylation
Activation of enzymes
Carbohydrate metabolism
Molybdenum
Protein Synthesis
Required by some enzymes

9. MicroNutrients Zinc Iron An enzyme activator Chlorophyll production
Enzyme reactions
Chlorophyll production

10. Nutrient Uptake Process
Minerals dissolve in water and become small electrically charged particles (ions)
Soil surface is negatively charged
Positive minerals bind to negative soil surface
Water displaces the minerals in the soil
Free minerals are absorbed by plant root cells

11. pH Indicates the level of acidity or alkalinity
Acidity pH < 7 (less than)
Alkalinity pH > 7 (greater then)
Plants prefer soil pH around
Many nutrients are abundant in this range
pH preference is different for each plant
Low pH can kill microorganism Example: nitrogen fixing bacteria

12. pH and Nutrient Availability
tools/FertCalc_files/pH.htm

13. Nutrient Sources Natural Organisms Crop Residues Animal Wastes
Commercial Fertilizers

14. Nutrient Sources Natural Organisms Nodulation Mycorrhiza

15. Nodulation
Symbiotic relationship is Mutualism between legume plants roots and bacteria
Rhizobacteria- living soil bacteria convert nitrogen gas N2 to ammonia NH3
Attach to root hairs of plants and plant roots curl around them
Bacteria stimulate the root cortex cells to divide
Form a nodule
program/ub2002/rhiz_host.htm

16. Nodulation
Nodule is a modified lateral root with own meristem and vascular tissue.
1/3 of nitrogen for plant comes from fixation
3 different rhizobacteria, each specific to a legume species

17. Mycorrhiza Symbiotic relationship is Mutualism
Fungal hyphae closely associate with active root
Fungus uses photosynthates flowing from shoot to root as a source of food
Plant receives phosphate taken up by mycorrhiza from the soil

18. Crop Residues Left over crops are chopped up and plowed under soil
Corn stalks
Alfalfa
Sunflowers

19. Animal Wastes Animal wastes differ with different Animal types
Feeds fed to animals
Human handling (dry or wet storage)
soilccr_mcropres.htm

20. Commercial Fertilizers
Types
Dry granules
Liquids
Gas
Grades
(N-P-K)
fertilizing_food.htm

21. Examples Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
Ammonium Nitrate (33-0-0) dry granules
Urea (45-0-0) dry granules
Ammonium Sulfate (21-0-0) dry granules
Phosphorus
Super phosphate (0-20-0) contains 24% sulfur
Potassium
Potassium chloride (0-0-62) dry granules

23. Conversions Nitrogen Phosphorus is in the form P2O5
No conversion needed 100% nitrogen
Phosphorus is in the form P2O5
Atomic weight P=31, O=16
2(31) + 5(16) = 142
P = %P/total weight, so 62/142 = 0.44
P= 44% of P2O5
Potassium is in the form K2O
Atomic weight K=39.1, O=16
2(39.1) + (16) = 94.2
K = %/K/total weight, so 78.2/94.2 = 0.83
K= 83% of P2O5

24. Example Conversion 10-25-30 In 1500 lbs of Fertilizer
N= 1500 x .10 = 150 lbs
P2O5= 1500 x .25 = 375 lbs
K2O= 1500 x .30 = 450 lbs

25. Example Conversion 10-25-30 Total amount of N-P-K N= 150 Lbs
In 1500 lbs of Fertilizer
N= 1500 x .10 = 150 lbs
P2O5= 1500 x .25 = 375 lbs
K2O= 1500 x .30 = 450 lbs
Total amount of N-P-K
N= 150 Lbs
P = 375 x .44 = 165 lbs
K= 450 x .83 = lbs

26. Nutrient Testing
To determine how much fertilizer to apply have soil tested
Take soil sample to lab
Lab will test for available P & K in soil

27. Environmental Factors
Soil Composition
Sandy soils will drain faster, hold less nutrients
Clay soils will retain more nutrients, but will drain slower
Water/Rain
Need some rain so fertilizer will dissolve if it is in dry granule form
Heavy rain will cause fertilizer to leach through soil pass plant roots
Too Little Water (drought conditions) and fertilizer application is worthless