Plant NutritionPlant Nutrition16 Essential Nutrients for 16 Essential Nutrients for

Normal Plant GrowthNormal Plant Growth

3 ways to increase yields3 ways to increase yields

1. Select good genetic potential crop1. Select good genetic potential crop

2. Select the best management 2. Select the best management practicespractices

3. Good environment conditions3. Good environment conditions

Plant NutritionPlant Nutrition Plant nutritionPlant nutrition –– the availability and types of basic the availability and types of basic

chemical elements required by the chemical elements required by the plant – to grow & reproduce plant – to grow & reproduce

Plant FertilizerPlant Fertilizer –– the process of adding nutrients to the the process of adding nutrients to the

soil or leaves so these chemicals are soil or leaves so these chemicals are added to growing environment. added to growing environment.

Soil-water solution

98% obtained in soil-water solution

2% directly from soil

What if there is too much water?

How do plants uptake nutrients?

Primary Nutrients in Agriculture Primary Nutrients in Agriculture

MacronutrientsMacronutrients – –

are needed/used in large amounts are needed/used in large amounts

N,P,K C, H, O, Ca, Mg, SN,P,K C, H, O, Ca, Mg, S

If a plant receives to much nutrients If a plant receives to much nutrients

What is it called What is it called Plant ToxicityPlant Toxicity

Primary NutrientsPrimary NutrientsNitrogen (N) – –

is needed for vegetative is needed for vegetative growth and dark green growth and dark green color. (easily leached color. (easily leached out)out)

Nitrogen is the most Nitrogen is the most important important

nutrient.nutrient.

Deficiency signsDeficiency signs – –

reduced growth & yellowing reduced growth & yellowing of lower leaves. of lower leaves.

Yellowing is called Yellowing is called ChlorosisChlorosis

Primary Nutrients in AgriculturePrimary Nutrients in Agriculture 2. Phosphorus (P)2. Phosphorus (P) – –

important for seedling important for seedling and young plant and young plant growth and develop growth and develop good root system. good root system. (not (not easily leached out) easily leached out)

AKA – Potash AKA – Potash Deficiency signs-Deficiency signs- reduced growth, poor reduced growth, poor

root systems, reduced root systems, reduced flowering. Also thin flowering. Also thin stems and browning or stems and browning or purpling of foliage. purpling of foliage.

Primary Nutrients in AgriculturePrimary Nutrients in Agriculture 3. Potassium (K)3. Potassium (K) – – mined as a rock and mined as a rock and

made made into a fertilizer – can be into a fertilizer – can be leached.leached. Deficiency signsDeficiency signs – – reduced growth, reduced growth,

shortened internodes and shortened internodes and some burn, scorched some burn, scorched marks (brown leaves). marks (brown leaves).

Too Much (K ) – can cause Too Much (K ) – can cause nitrogen deficiency.nitrogen deficiency.

Secondary Nutrients 1. Calcium (Ca)2. Carbon (C)3. Hydrogen (H)4. Magnesium (Mg)5. Oxygen (O)6. Sulfur (S) Where does the plant get C,H,O?

From the Air & Water

Micronutrients in Agriculture

They are used in small quantities – and obtained from the soil. (excess amounts are toxic)

Boron, (B) Chlorine (Cl) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Molybenum (Mo) Zinc (Zn)

16 Essential Nutrients for 16 Essential Nutrients for Normal Plant GrowthNormal Plant Growth

The absence of any one essential The absence of any one essential plant nutrient will cause the plant to plant nutrient will cause the plant to grow poorly or show signs of poor grow poorly or show signs of poor healthhealth

C Hopkns Cafe Mg (10)C Hopkns Cafe Mg (10) B, Cu, Cl, Mn. Mo, Zn (6)B, Cu, Cl, Mn. Mo, Zn (6)

Ways to apply NutrientsWays to apply NutrientsApplication MethodsApplication Methods1. Premergence – applied before germination 1. Premergence – applied before germination 2. Top Dress – done early in plants life2. Top Dress – done early in plants life3. Side Dress – done later in plants life3. Side Dress – done later in plants life

Types of fertilizerTypes of fertilizer 1. Organic 1. Organic > liquid or dry > liquid or dry 2. Inorganic 2. Inorganic > liquid or dry > liquid or dry

If there is to much fertilizer what could If there is to much fertilizer what could happen?happen?Leaching Leaching Plants Burn Plants Burn