Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Fertilizers Macro-Nutrients, Secondary Nutrients And Micro-Nutrients Sunset Western Garden Book and the Western Fertilizer Handbook Fertilizers Fertilizers encourage or enhance plant growth Soils contain many minerals required by plants Fertilizers are used to supplement, add to, or replace nutrients in the soil and used by plants Fertilizers Heavy feeders often require regular feeding (ornamental annuals and vegetables, lawns, fruit trees, flowering perennials and various immature plants) Mature trees and shrubs require little or no feeding Fertilizers There are 17 essential nutrients for healthy plant growth and development Fertilizers Carbon (C) . . . Hydrogen (H) and . . . Oxygen (O) These three elements are essential for all plant life on the earth’s surface Fertilizers The 3 macro-nutrients Nitrogen (N) . . . Phosphorus (P) and . . . Potassium (K) Fertilizers The 3 secondary nutrients Calcium (Ca) . . . Magnesium (Mg) and . . . Sulfur (S) And the 8 micro-nutrients Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), boron (B) and chlorine (Cl), nickel (Ni) Nitrogen (N) Nitrogen (N) Chlorophyll production – greening plants Also used for synthesis of proteins and enzymes Often deficient in garden soils Nitrogen (N) Mobile element in the plant – can be transfer from older foliage to new growth Symptoms of deficiencies: slow growth, stunted plants, chlorosis Nitrogen Cycle pH & Nitrogen Availability Nitrogen Deficiencies Nitrogen Deficiencies Nitrogen Deficiencies Nitrogen Deficiencies Nitrogen Deficiencies Nitrogen Deficiencies Phosphorus (P) Phosphorus (P) Applied as P2O5 Necessary for production of flowers and fruit Strong roots and wood Phosphorus (P) Symptoms of deficiencies include: Stunted growth Poor flower and fruit production Poor fruit and seed development Dark green coloration with leaf-tips dying Purplish color of foliage on some plants pH & Phosphorus Availability Phosphorus Deficiencies Phosphorus Deficiencies Phosphorus Deficiencies Potassium (K) Potassium (K) Applied as K20 Regulates the synthesis of proteins and starches Promotes disease resistance Promotes heat and cold tolerance Potassium (K) Symptoms of deficiencies include: Leaf tip and margin burn Weak stalks Reduced flower and fruit production Week stems and roots Spotted and curling foliage pH & Potassium Availability Potassium Deficiencies Potassium Deficiencies Potassium Deficiencies Potassium Deficiencies Secondary Nutrients – Ca, Mg & S Secondary nutrients as necessary as the macro-nutrients Secondary nutrients typically available in soil Calcium (Ca) Calcium (Ca) (Ca2+) – necessary for cell formation and growth, root tip development Symptoms of deficiencies include Die-back of terminal buds and root tips Abnormal dark green color of foliage Premature blossom and fruit drop Weak stems pH & Calcium Availability Calcium Deficiencies Calcium Deficiencies Calcium Deficiencies Magnesium (Mg) Magnesium (Mg) (Mg2+) – necessary for chlorophyll molecule, acts as an activator for many plant enzymes Symptoms of deficiencies include: Interveinal chlorosis of older leaves Upward curling of leaves along margins Marginal chlorosis with green midribs and veins causing a “Christmas tree” appearance on leaves pH & Magnesium Availability Magnesium Deficiencies Magnesium Deficiencies Magnesium Deficiencies Magnesium Deficiencies Magnesium Deficiencies Magnesium Deficiencies Magnesium Deficiencies Sulfur (S) Sulfur (S) (SO42-) – essential for protein synthesis, also used to reduce the pH of soil Symptoms of deficiencies include: Chlorosis of younger foliage – occasionally older foliage as well Small and spindly plants Slow growth Delayed maturity Ph & Sulfur Availability Sulfur Deficiencies Sulfur Deficiencies Sulfur Deficiencies Sulfur Deficiencies Sulfur Deficiencies Sulfur Deficiencies Micro-Nutrients Zn, Mn, Fe, Mo, B & Cl The seven micro-nutrients – Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Molybdenum (Mo), Copper (Cu), Boron (B) and Chlorine (Cl), Nickel (Ni) Micro-nutrients or trace elements Usually required in very small amounts Large amounts can be toxic to plants Micros are typically available in the soils Zinc (Zn) Zinc (Zn) (Zn2+) – necessary for various enzyme systems Zinc controls indoleacetic acid synthesis (IAA) a plant growth regulator Symptoms of zinc deficiencies include: Decreased stem length Rosetteing of terminal leaves Reduced fruit bud formation Interveinal chlorosis Dieback of twigs pH & Zinc Availability Zinc Deficiencies Zinc Deficiencies Zinc Deficiencies Zinc Deficiencies Zinc Deficiencies Zinc Deficiencies Manganese (Mn) Manganese (Mn) (Mn++) Activator for enzymes in the growth process Assists iron in the chlorophyll process High manganese content may cause iron deficiencies Manganese (Mn) Symptoms of manganese deficiencies include: Interveinal chlorosis in young leaves showing a gradation of dark green to pale green pH & Manganese Availability Manganese Deficiencies Manganese Deficiencies Manganese Deficiencies Iron (Fe) Iron (Fe) ferrous (Fe2+) or ferric (Fe3+) Required for formation of chlorophyll Activator of respiration, photosynthesis, symbiotic nitrogen fixation biochemicals Reasons for deficiencies: high levels of manganese or zinc, high pH, poor aeration Iron (Fe) Iron deficiencies affect turf and some ornamentals Symptoms of manganese deficiencies include: Interveinal chlorosis in young foliage – veins usually remain green Twig dieback In severe cases death of branches or entire plant pH & Iron Availability Iron Deficiencies Iron Deficiencies Molybdenum (Mo) Molybdenum (Mo) (MoO42-) Required by plants for the uptake of nitrogen Used by plants to transform nitrate nitrogen into amino acids Typically requires very little to correct deficiencies Molybdenum (Mo) Symptoms of molybdenum deficiencies include: Stunting and lack of vigor Marginal scorch Cupping or rolling of leaves Yellow spotting on citrus leaves pH & Molybdenum Availability Molybdenum Deficiencies Molybdenum Deficiencies Boron (B) Boron (B) (BO32-) Differentiation of meristem cells Deficiencies may cause continued cell division Regulates metabolism of carbohydrates Non-mobile – plants require a continuous supply Deficiencies first show in new growth Boron (B) Symptoms of boron deficiencies include: Death of terminal buds causing lateral buds to grow causing a ‘witch’s broom’ Thickened, curled, wilted, chlorotic leaves; damage to tubers Reduced flowering Improper pollination pH & Boron Availability Boron Deficiencies Boron Deficiencies Chlorine (Cl) Chlorine (Cl) (Cl-) Chlorine is required for photosynthesis Symptoms of chlorine deficiencies include: Wilting Chlorosis Excessive branching of lateral roots Bronzing of foliage Chlorine Deficiencies Balance of Nutrients Excesses in one nutrient can inhibit the uptake of another Nutrient deficiencies can be caused by over-irrigation Balance of Nutrients Nutrient deficiencies can also be caused by excessive applications of other nutrients Excess irrigation, poor aeration in the soil, herbicide damage or toxic levels of various nutrients often produce similarly appearing damage Balance of Nutrients Soil and tissue analysis can be an effective tool in proper soil and plant management The main objective of fertilizer programs is to supplement the capacity of soils to supply adequate nutrients to growing plants