Horticultural Science Unit A Horticulture CD
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.
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