water and soils. water unique chemical and physical properties high specific heat it takes a lot of...

Water and Soils

WATER Unique CHEMICAL and

PHYSICAL properties

HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT

It takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of H20

540 calories / gram of H20

Stabilizes plant temperatures

BASIS for many PLANT PROCESSES

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

WATER UNIVERSAL SOLVENT

Mostly in LIQUID form High BOILING POINT and low FREEZING POINT

DISSOLVES and carries NUTRIENTS (ions) due to POLARITY

NUTRIENTS from SOILS easily available to plant

FORMATION and MAINTENANCE of PLANT STRUCTURE

TURGIDITY CELL ENLARGEMENT GUARD CELL activity

SUMMER INJURIESWATER STRESS

WILTDEATH of TISSUESDEATH of PLANT

PREVENTION Adequate WATER in soil Decrease TRANSPIRATION

ANTI-TRANSPIRANTS Increases HUMIDITY

SUMMER INJURIESWATER and HEAT

STRESS

SUMMER SUNSCALD

SUMMER INJURIESWATER and HEAT

STRESS

SUMMER SUNSCALD

PREVENTION Adequate WATER in soil MISTING plants

SUMMER INJURIESWATER and SALT

INJURY

SOLUBLE SALT INJURY

PREVENTION Adequate WATER in soil Use the right AMOUNT of

FERTILIZER Use SAND for de-icing

SOILSProvide plants with

physical SUPPORT, WATER (H2O), NUTRIENTS and OXYGEN (O2)

SOILSSOIL PROFILE

SOILSSOIL MATRIX

SOILSSOIL TEXTURE

SOILSSOIL ORGANISMS

SOILSSOIL STRUCTURE

SOILSSOIL NUTRIENTS – 17 essential, 14 from

soils