1. Ch. 4: Soil Water, Plant Nutrition, Soil Symbioses

2. Soil Supplies H2O & nutrients 1) What influences soil water? 2) What nutrients plants need, & what influences nutrient supply?

3. Plant nutrition 17 essential elements Deficiency: < needed Toxicity: > needed Molybdenum (Mo) deficiency in citrus Aluminum (Al) toxicity

4. Plant nutrition 17 essential elements Macronutrients (9): > 0.1% of plant C, H, O, P, K, N, S, Ca, Mg “C Hopkin’s car is an MG” “C HOPKiNS Car is an Mg” >1% plant dry weight is C,H,O,N,K (Chonk!) Chuck Hopkins and his car

5. Plant nutrition 17 essential elements Micronutrients (8): < 0.02% plant Fe, Mo, B, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cl, Ni “A festive mob comes in clapping nicely” “A Festive MoB CuMnZn Clapping Nicely”

6. Plant nutrition Ex, Mo deficiency Australia Mo used N-fixing bacteria 140 g/ha (13 oz/acre!) Mo every 5-10 yr Increased growth 6-7 times! Another Moe

7. Soil Fertility: Recall….. CEC (organic matter and clay): “potential fertility” pH determines BS & influences “actual fertility” Overall, hi CEC & hi BS means pH high & soil fertile

8. Recall…… pH influences nutrient availability

9. Nutrient sources 1) Soil 2) Some nutrients mobile: recycled old to new leaves Removal nutrients: resorption –Important N, P, K, Mg (mobile nutrients)

10. Ch. 4: Soils, Nutrition etc.

11. Soil Taxonomy Soils classified Tony Danza?

12. Soil Taxonomy Smallest unit: series. Basic unit classification. = species (biology) Largest: order (ends in -sol). = domain (biology) What official AL state soil??

13. Soil Taxonomy Bama series!

14. Soil Taxonomy Tour 7 orders (AL) Major profile characteristics, vegetation

15. 1: Entisols Named for RECENT Little profile (young): A/C or A/R Steep rocky places, new sediments, etc. A/C A/R

16. 1: Entisols Scattered AL

17. 2: Inceptisols Little profile (inceptus=beginning): > Entisols –A & weak B Steep slopes, young soils Appalachian forest soil on sandstone

18. 2: Inceptisols Widespread AL

19. 3: Histosols Histos=tissue: High organic matter (20-30%) –Thick O Drainage restricted: little decomposition—flooded, anaerobic

20. 3: Histosols Shrink when dry (subsidence) Everglades swamp histosol 1924: post top @ surface 1975: photo taken (4 ft drop)

21. 3: Histosols Burns when dry! Peat = fuel When farmed: can burn/blow away N. Carolina histosol

22. 3: Histosols AL: pitcher plant bogs & swamps (lower coastal plain)

23. 4: Vertisols High clay (shrink-swell type) Cracks when dry –Self-turning (verto=to turn)

24. 4: Vertisols Self-turning: little profile development Peds have slickensides (smooth shiny surfaces) Engineering problems

25. 4: Vertisols AL: common Black Belt

26. 5: Mollisols From mollis=soft Grassland (prairie) soils

27. 5: Mollisols From mollis=soft Grassland (prairie) soils Thick, dark A. Hi OM Hi CEC & BS. (Fertility?)

28. 5: Mollisols Good ag soils. Little prairie left

29. 5: Mollisols Few N AL

30. 6: Alfisols Hi Al & Fe (AlFe) –Well developed (A, E, B) –B claypan (Bt layer) BS high (>35%)

31. 6: Alfisols Fertile ag soils Most midwest/north US

32. 7: Ultisols Well developed, acidic. Humid climate B: claypan (Bt), red/yellow Fe oxides

33. 7: Ultisols Low BS (<35%) Good ag soil if fertilized & limed.

34. 7: Ultisols #1 AL (SE US)