Soil Nutrition

Overview

• Soil Additives

• Ph of the soil

• Nutrition and Fertilizer– Organic– Inorganic

Soil Additives

• Perlite– Volcanic ash– Adds pores (air)

Soil Additives

• Vermiculite – Looks like mica– Good for starting

plants and cuttings

Soil Additives

• Sphagnum Moss– Root growth

• Peat Moss– Used in almost all soils

Ph of the Soil

• Affects nutrients ability to get in plant

0 714

Acid Base

Add Sulfur (acid) it goes down Add Lime (base) it goes up

Nutrition

• Nutrients must be in liquid form to be used by plant– Rain– Liquid fertilizer

• Three Primary Nutrients in Fertilizer– (N) nitrogen– (P) phosphorus – (K) potassium

Fertilizer Application

• Foliar– Sprayed on the leaves

• Broadcasting– Spread evenly over

entire ground

• Side-dressing– Placing in bands about 8 inches from row of

plants

Types of Fertilizer

• Organic– (used to be alive) ex. Manure– Slow acting– Long lasting

• Inorganic– Usually “complete”

• All three nutrients (N, P, K)• Fast acting (soluble)