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Environmental Requirements for Good Plant Growth
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Soil composed of sand, silt, and clay, organic
matter, living organisms, and pore spaces classified according to percentage of sand,
silt, and clay they contain.
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Ideal Soil Composition 45% Mineral Matter 25% Water 25% Air 5% Organic Matter
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Soil Particles vary greatly in size sand is the largest silt - medium clay - smallest
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Soil Profile Consists of 3 basic layers
Topsoil represents depth normally plowed
Subsoil deep rooting plants send roots down into subsoil
soil bedrock
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Water in Soil Gravitational Water
Soil is unable to hold against the force of gravity Of little value to plant as it drains away quickly Seen more in soils with large pore space
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Water in Soil Capillary Water
Free moving capillary water Moves in all directions
Available capillary water (field capacity) Remaining water after capillary movement stops Soil surface is dry and water is a thin film around soil Most important water for plants (half available)
Unavailable capillary water Not available to plants Held tightly by soil particles and moved as vapor
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Types of Soil Sandy Clay Loamy
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Sandy Soil Silt and clay make up less than 20% by
weight Drain well Little water holding capacity
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Clay Soil Must contain at least 30% clay Holds more moisture than is good for plants Poor drainage
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Loamy Soil Most desirable soil Equal parts sand, silt and clay If more sand, it is sandy loam If more clay, clay loam If more silt, silty loam
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Soil less Planting Media Mixes Many greenhouses and nurseries use soil less
mixes Advantages of soil less planting media
Sterile Lightweight Easier to handle and ship Good moisture retention and drainage Free of weed seeds
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Soil less Planting Media Mixes Disadvantages
Light weight - pots tip in strong wind Minor elements are missing
Iron Sulfur Manganese Zinc Calcium
Transplants may not adjust well to new media
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Soil less Media Options Perlite
Gray-white material of volcanic origin Improve aeration Larger particles provide better drainage and
aeration Vermiculite
Exploded Mica Improves aeration Neutral pH
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Plant food and fertilizers divided into two groups Major elements (macro)
Nitrogen - N Phosphorus - P Potassium - K
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Plant requirements large amounts of major elements relatively small amounts of
minor elements
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Commercial fertilizers shows % or pounds per cwt.
(100#) of the three major elements in large numbers on the container or bag.
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Commercial fertilizers 5-10-5 5% N, 10% P, 5% K remaining 80% is filler NP&K are always listed in that
order.
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Soil tests determine amount of elements
needed for various plants.
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Nitrogen has most noticeable effect on
plants encourages above ground
vegetative growth regulates use of other elements
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Phosphorous held tightly by soil particles not easily leached effects plants in several ways encourage cell division
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Phosphorous flowers and seeds don’t form
without it hastens maturity, offsetting quick
growth caused by N. encourage root growth makes K more available
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Phosphorous increase disease resistance improves quality of grain, root and fruit
crops container plants can be damaged by
excess P increases soluble salt content of medium causes dehydration of roots
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Potassium modifies both fast soft growth of
N and early maturity of P is essential
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Potassium increase disease resistance encourages healthy root systems essential for starch formation development of chlorophyll efficient use of CO2
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pH measure of acidity or alkalinity pH scale - runs from 0 - 14 most plants grow best from 5.6-
7.0
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pH 7.0 is neutral pH of 7 or above is alkaline or
basic pH below 7 is acidic
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pH as numbers decrease, solution
becomes more acidic. As numbers increase, solution
becomes more basic or alkaline
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pH if soil is too acidic, lime is added
to raise the pH if soil is too alkaline, sulfur is
added
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Above ground environment temperature
some plants prefer cool weather some plants prefer warm weather
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Temperature there are temperatures above and
below which plants stop growth generally, plant growth rate
increases as temps increase up to about 90 degrees
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Light must be present before plants can
manufacture food plants vary in light requirement effects flowering
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Photoperiodism response to different periods of
day and night in terms of growth and maturity
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Photoperiodism short day plants
chrysanthemum and Christmas Cactus
bloom when days are short and nights are long
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Photoperiodism long day plants
lettuce and radishes bloom when days are long and
nights are short
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Photoperiodism day length indifferent
do not depend on length of light or darkness
African Violet and tomato
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Phototropism plants appear to grow towards the
sun or light source
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Humidity moisture level of the air most plants grow best in 40-80%
RH Relative Humidity
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Humidity too high humidity may cause the
spread of fungus diseases
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Plant diseases and Insects reduce production lower fruit and vegetable quality
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Gases and Air Particles CO2 is vital to plants for Ps Air pollutants can cause damage
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Air Pollutants Sulfur Dioxide - SO2 - from
burning coal Carbon Monoxide - CO - exhaust
from cars
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Carbon Monoxide reduces plant growth can kill plants