FertilizersChandler Vaughan

What are Fertilizers? Materials used to increase plant growth,

production, and increase health. Six primary Nutrients

Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Sulfur Magnesium Calcium

How does it Relate? All fertilizers are composed of elements,

compounds, or polyatomic ions Nitrogen – NH4 NO3 CH4N2O (Urea) Phosphorus – minerals containing PO4

-3

Potassium – K20 (Potash) KCl KSO4-2

Sulfur - SO4-2

Magnesium – MgO MgSO4-2

Calcium – CaCO3 Ca3(PO4)2

Relationship to Organic Chemistry Definition of Organic Chemistry:

The chemistry of carbon compounds (other than simple salts such as carbonates, oxides, and carbides).

What are Carbon Compounds? Compounds (a combination of elements)

containing carbon

Nitrogen Gives plants a dark

green color Required in the

largest quantities Allows

photosynthesis to occur at higher rates

Phosphorus Promotes root growth Hastens maturity Important to cell division and plant

growth

Potassium Improves drought resistance Assists fruit growth Regulates CO2 uptake

Sulfur Provides a direct nutritive value Provides indirect nutritive value as soil

amendments Improves the use efficiency of other

essential plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus

Magnesium Increases resistance to disease Serves as the building block of

chlorophyll A deficiency turns leaves yellow

Calcium Strengthens a plant’s cell walls Helps to neutralize naturally occurring

acids inside of the plant Plants deficient in calcium first show

stunted growth in new leaves and roots

pH Regulators Lime – CaO

Raises pH Applied to acidic

soils Neutralizing

effects Commonly found

in biosolids

Aluminum Sulfate – AlSO4

-2

Lowers pH Applied to basic soils Used to neutralize Other pH-lowering

substances exist

Joke Why did someone apply Aluminum

Sulfate to a sorority house? Because they wanted them to stop being

basic

Video To the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlPr5UC5QP4

Questions1. What are three primary nutrients

for plants?A. Nitrogen, Titanium, and SulfurB. Hydrogen, Oxygen, and HeliumC. Potassium, Sulfur, and CalciumD. Uranium, Nitrogen, and Iron

Questions1. What fertilizer can be composed of

NO3?

a. Magnesiumb. Nitrogenc. Potassiumd. Calcium

Questions1. What is one benefit of Potassium?A. Assists fruit growthB. Makes plants greenerC. Builds cell wallsD. Promotes root growth

Questions1. What do the three numbers on a

fertilizer bag stand for?A. Weight, water content, and number of

fertilizersB. The date it was madeC. Sulfur, Calcium, and Magnesium

percentagesD. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium

percentages

Questions1. What fertilizer raises pH?

A. NitrogenB. Aluminum SulfateC. LimeD. Sulfur

Works Cited"Fertilizer 101." Fertilizer 101. Meister Media, 2013. Web. 28Apr. 2015. <http://www.fertilizer101.org/science/?seq=10>. "Definition of Organic Chemistry in English:." Organic Chemistry: Definition of Organic Chemistry in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Oxford, n.d. Web. 28Apr. 2015."Nitrogen." Soil Management. University of Hawaii, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015."Potassium in Plants." Soil. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. "Soils - Part 6: Phosphorus and Potassium in the Soil." Plant and Soil Sciences ELibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr.2015. "Learn More About Sulphur - FAQ." The Sulphur Institute. The Sulphur Institure, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. "Magnesium in Plants and Soil." - Smart! Fertilizer Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. "Calcium in Fertilizers." GardenGuides. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.