Components of Functional Soils Soil Fertility Components of Functional Soils

Terms and definitions Essential Nutrient: Deficiency: Symptom: Element necessary for plant growth and reproduction. For example: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Deficiency: Plant condition where an essential nutrient is not sufficiently available. Symptom: A visual sign or condition that results from a deficiency: symptoms aid in diagnosing a deficiency.

Terms and Definitions (Cont.) Fertilizer: Natural, manufactured, or processed material or mixture of materials that contains one or more of the essential nutrients; available in: dry form liquid form gaseous form

Fertilizer Terms Analysis: Sources of Nutrients: Complete Fertilizer: Percentage water soluble content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the fertilizer. Sources of Nutrients: N: Ammonia (NH4); P: (MgPO4) or any other phosphate; K: Potash (K2CO3) Complete Fertilizer: Fertilizer which supplies all three primary nutrients, (N,P,K)

Chemical Elements Essential To Plant Growth Non-mineral (sourced from air and water) Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O) Nitrogen (N) Mineral (sourced from the soil) Primary Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Secondary Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S) Micronutrients Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), etc.

10 Essential Elements C. HOPKNS CaFé Mighty good Essential Elements Carbon (C) Hydrogen (H) Oxygen (O) Phosphorus (P) Potash (K) Nitrogen (N) Sulfur (S) Calcium (Ca) Iron (Fe) Magnesium (Mg) C. HOPKNS CaFé Mighty good

Functions of Nutrients for plant growth Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen are needed in the plant processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Approximately 95% of the weight of plants comes from products of photosynthesis

Primary Nutrient Functions Nitrogen (N) Gives green color to plant Induces vigorous , rapid growth in plants Increases protein and yield Aids and promotes seed and fruit development Plants cannot utilize N as a gas, it must be combined with other elements.

More Primary Nutrient Functions Phosphorus (P) Important to germinating seedlings Contributes to early maturing crops Necessary for seed and fruit formation Stimulates root growth

Primary Nutrient Functions (Cont.) Potassium (K) Controls water intake and respiration Necessary for production and translocation (“positioning”) of carbohydrates Produces plumper seeds Stiffens straw and stalks

Secondary Nutrient Functions Sulfur (S) Necessary for nodule formation on legumes Associated with plant enzyme systems Stimulates seed production Affects protein and crop quality

Secondary Nutrient Functions Calcium (Ca) Promotes root and leaf growth Speeds decay of organic matter Stimulates formation of nitrates Necessary for nodulation of legumes

Secondary Nutrient Functions Magnesium (Mg) Aids in the formations of fats and oils Necessary for chlorophyll or green plant color Increases adsorption of phosphorus Important in plant enzyme system

Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms Nitrogen (N) Stunted and Spindly Yellow, yellowish green or light green in color in foliage (chlorosis) Older leaves affected first, starting at the tip and moves along the middle of the leaf.

Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms (Cont.) Phosphorus (P) Purple leaves or portions of leaves in advanced stages Stunted Growth Very dark green color Older leaves affected first

Phosphorus Deficiency

Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms (Cont.) Potassium (K) Lodging (bending of the stem) occurs Shorter plants Bronzing or browning of leaf color Leaves show yellow to brown coloring along leaf margins followed by complete browning.

Potassium Deficiency

Secondary nutrient deficiency symptoms Sulfur (S) Young plants have stunted appearance Leaves have a light-green to yellow coloring Stems are thin and spindly Sulfur deficiency symptoms are similar in appearance to nitrogen deficiency symptoms.

Secondary nutrient deficiency symptoms Magnesium (Mg) Leaf tissue becomes yellow, veins remain green (interveinal chlorosis) Leaf parts between veins show a whitish color Leaves curl upward along the margins

Deficiency By Other Means Other conditions besides deficiencies may cause abnormal plant growth. Cold, wet weather, lack of sunlight, disease, insect damage, and improperly applied chemicals are examples.