Horticultural Science

Unit A

Horticulture CD

Problem Area 4

Growing Media, Nutrients, and Fertilizers

Supplying Nutrients toFloriculture Crops

Lesson 3

Interest ApproachWhat Does for Plants What

Vitamins Do for You?– Vitamins:

• C – health

• D – strength

• A – eyesight

• Calcium-bones

• Iron-blood

– Elements

• N – growth

• P – blossoms

• Ca – cell strength

• K - roots

Interest Approach cont.When Do Plants Need

Differing Nutrients?• New verses ______________?

• Flowers verses ___________?

• Going into winter vs.______?

• Trees verses _____________?

• Grasses verses ___________?

• Vegetables verses _________?

Student ObjectivesAfter this lesson you will be

able to:1. Name the nutrients needed for plant

growth.

2. Describe pH and how it is modified.

3. Describe the components of a fertilizer.

4. Explain the methods of applying fertilizers to floriculture crops.

Terms

• Chlorosis• Complete fertilizer• Deficient• Fertilizer• Fertilizer analysis• Incomplete Fertilizer• Limestone• Macronutrient

• Micronutrient• Nitrogen (N)• Phosphorus (P)• Potassium (K)• Slow release fertilizer• Soil pH• Soil test• Sulfur

What are the nutrients needed for plant growth?

• 2 groups

1. Supplied by nature (mostly)C, H, & O

2. Supplied by fertilizerNitrogen, Sulfur, …

Macronutrients - elements that are needed by the plant in the largest amount.

• Primary macros• nitrogen (N)• phosphorus (P)• potassium (K)

• Secondary macros• calcium (Ca)• magnesium (Mg)• sulfur (S).

Micronutrients -Needed in Smaller Amounts by the Plants, but Are Still

Essential

• Boron (B)

• Copper(Cu)

• Chlorine (Cl)

• Iron (Fe)

• Manganese (Mn)

• Molybdenum (Mo)

• Zinc (Zn)

C HOPKNS CaFe Mg(mighty-good)

• This pneumonic is and easy way to remember the macronutrients.

• Now just remember the Micros!– Cu, B, Zn, Cl, Mo, Mn

• CuBZn Clean up Mo & Mn!

Soil Tests

• can be performed on the soil to determine which nutrients are present or deficient (absent or lacking).

• Are only as accurate as the test – you get what you pay for

• Can confirm nutrient deficiency shown by plant leaves.

pH

• potential of Hydrogen.• A measure of alkalinity or acidity.• pH ranges from 1 to 14.

– 1 being acid– 14 being base (alkaline)

• Most plants prefer pH of 6.5 to 7.0 (neutral)• pH is adjusted by using limestone or sulfur,

as well as acid type fertilizers.

Fertilizer

• Material provided to supply nutrients needed for plant growth. – 2 types of fertilizer

• Complete – contains the 3 Primary Macros• Incomplete – missing 1 or more Primaries• Fertilizer analysis states the percentage of

primary nutrients.

16 – 4 – 8

• 16 % N

• 4 % P2O5

• 8 % K2O

• Equals 28%??? Where is the rest?!?

• Salts and other carriers make up the remaining 72%

Fertilizer

• Available in three phases– Liquid, solid, gas (rarely used in floriculture)

• Applied by several methods• Premixed into soil.• Sprayed onto foliage.• Injected into irrigation water.• Slow release – dissolves over extended

period of time.

Review           

What are the nutrients needed for plant growth?

• Name the 3 nature supplied nutrients.• CHO• Name the 3 primary macronutrients.• NPK• Name the 3 secondary macronutrients.• CaSMg• The micronutrients?• Fe., Cu B, Zn, Cl, Mo, MN

What is pH and how is it modified?

• Define pH.

• Measure of acidity / alkalinity– potential of Hydrogen

• Add limestone to _________ pH?

• Add sulfur to ___________pH?

What are the components of a fertilizer?

• Incomplete vs. complete?

• Complete has the 3 primary macros

• Incomplete is missing some primaries

• What is fertilizer analysis?

How are fertilizers applied to floriculture crops?

• List the 3 phases of fertilizers.

• Liquid, solid, gas

• List the application methods.

• Irrigation injection

• Slow release

• Premix into soil

• Spray onto foliage