Objectives

To understand the importance of fertilizers and pH To distinguish fertilizer types To calculate fertilizer rates for their home gardens Apply fertility concepts to a vegetable experiment

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

What is a fertilizer?
Definition - a material added to the garden that supplies essential nutrients plants need for ____________________ and reproductive growth.

Why are fertilizers important?

Build-up - increasing the level of minerals and OM in the soil. _____________________- replenishing nutrients lost through leaching, removal during plant growth, and harvest

Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N)
Most ____________________ nutrient; subject to loss by leaching Used to form proteins and pigments (chlorophyll)

Phosphorus (P)
_______________________ nutrient; must be incorporated into soil Important for energy transfer (ATP) in plants

Potassium (K)
Immobile nutrient; must be incorporated also Important for cell wall formation and cell liquid balance

Fertilizers and pH
Optimum soil pH is plant species dependent
Most plants will grow well at pH _____ IL soils slightly acidic - 5.8-6.8
Slightly Moderately Tolerant Tolerant (pH 6.5-6.8) (pH 5.5-6.8) Asparagus Beet Broccoli Cabbage Bean Carrot Corn Cucumber Very Tolerant (pH 5.0-6.8) Potato Rhubarb Sweet Potato Watermelon

Fertilizers and pH
pH influences nutrient availability
Determines nutrient form in soil How strongly nutrients are bound to soil particles

Nutrients deficient in ______________ soils

Ca, P, Mg, Mo

Nutrients deficient in _____________ soils

Cu, Fe, Mn

Nutrient availability by pH

Adjusting pH
Lime replaces ___ ions with ___ ions Amount applied depends on soil type and pH change desired
Desired pH 4.5 6.5 5.5 6.5 6.0 6.5 Sand 2200 1200 600 Loam 5800 3400 1800 Silt Loam 7000 4000 2200 Clay Loam 8400 4600 2400

----------------------Lbs/Acre of limestone------------------------

Types of Fertilizers
By physical state
Solid - manure, compost, granulated Liquid - seaweed extract, anhydrous

By _____
Organic - manure, fish meal, bone meal Synthetic - Miracle Grow, Osmocote

By rate of release
Fast release - mostly synthetic types Slow release - carbon-based (organic), Osmocote

Fertilizer Grade
Definition guaranteed minimum % of total N, available P, and water-soluble K
10-10-5 =
10% total nitrogen 10% available phosphoric acid 5% water-soluble potash

Determining Fertilizer Needs

Soil Testing
Must collect __________________ samples Professional labs analyze soil for a fee
Also provide fertilizer recommendations

Home testing kits available Indicates levels of P, K, Mg, pH, and CEC Poor indicator of ______________ levels due to
Leaching losses Mineralization

Calculating Fertilizer Rates

Measure area to be fertilized
10ft x 40ft = ____________

Determine amount applied/Acre using soil test recommendations

Need - 100lb/A total N 100lb/A available P 50lb/A water-soluble K

Calculating Fertilizer Rates

Use fertilizer grade to convert amount of nutrients/A to amount fertilizer/A
100lbs/A total N = _______________ fertilizer/A .10 100lbs/A available P = 1000lbs fertilizer/A .10 50lbs/A water-soluble K = ______________fertilizer/A .05

Calculating Fertilizer Rates

Determine amount fertilizer for your garden space - 400ft2
43,560 ft2 in an acre Set up a proportion 1000lbs fertilizer = x__ 43,560 ft2 400ft2 x = ___________ lbs fertilizer 9.18 lbs x 454.6g/lb = 4,172g fertilizer!