Presented to: Prof. Dr.

Kanya Lal Khatri

Group
 Muhammad Aslam (KF16CE-76) – Group Leader
 Shabab Ali (KF16CE-72) – Assistant Group Leader
 Abdul Rehmaan (KF16CE-06) – Member
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Essential Nutrient- Element necessary for plant growth
and reproduction, for example: nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium.
Deficiency- Plant condition where an essential nutrient
is not sufficiently available.
Symptom- A visual sign or condition that results from a
deficiency: symptoms aids in diagnosing a deficiency.
Terms and Definitions continued
Fertilizer- Natural, manufactured, or processed
material or mixture of materials that contains one or
more of the essential nutrients; availible in:
dry form
liquid form
gaseous form
Fertilizer Terms
Analysis- Percentage water soluble content of nitrogen
(N), phosphorus (P) expressed as P2O5, and potassium
(K) expressed as K2O in the fertilizer.

Brand- Trademark of the company which produced the

fertilizer.
Complete Fertilizer- Fertilizer which supplies all three
primary nutrients, (N,P,K)
SOIL FERTILITY
A soil is said to be fertile when it contains:
1)Ample supplies of organic material
2)The sources of nitrogen
3)Sufficient soluble compounds of the mineral elements
needed for the growth of food plants.
Conditions other than Essential nutrients leading to rich
production of crops, include:
Surface topography
Physical properties
Sub-soil drainage
Application of adequate water at proper intervals
 CHEMICAL ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL
Non-mineral-  TO PLANT GROWTH
air and water Mineral- from the soil
 Carbon (C)  Primary
 Hydrogen (H)  Nitrogen (N)
 Phosphorus (P)
 Oxygen (O)
 Potassium (K)
 Nitrogen (N)
 Secondary
 Calcium (Ca)
 Magnesium (Mg)
 Sulfur (S)
 Micronutrients
 Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Manganese
(Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn),
Molybdenum (Mo), Clorine (Cl)
10 Essential Elements
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Oxygen (O)
Phosphorus (P)
Potash (K)
Nitrogen (N)
Sulfur (S)
Calcium (Ca)
Iron (Fe)
Magnesium (Mg)
 FUNCTIONS OF NUTRIENTS FOR PLANT GROWTH

Carbon, Hydrogen, and oxygen are needed in the

plant processes of photosynthesis and respiration.

Approximately 95% of weight of plants comes from

products of photosynthesis
Primary Nutrient Functions
Nitrogen (N)
Gives green color to plant
Induces vigorous, rapid growth in plants
Increases protein and yield
Aids and promotes seed and fruit development
Nitrogen constitutes 80% of the atmosphere, yet it
is one of the most critical elements for plant growth.
Plants cannot utilize N as a gas, it must be
combined with other elements.
Primary Nutrient Functions Cont.
Phosphorus (P)
Important to germinating seedlings

Contributes to early maturing crops

Necessary for seed and fruit formation

Stimulates root growth

Primary Nutrient Functions Cont.
Potassium (K)
Necessary for production and translocation of
carbohydrates

Produces plumper seeds

Controls water intake and respiration

Stiffens straw and stalks

Secondary Nutrient Functions
Sulfur (S)
Necessary for nodule formation on legumes

Associated with plant enzyme systems

Stimulates seed production

Affects protein and crop quality

Secondary Nutrient Functions Continued
Calcium (Ca)
Speeds decay of organic matter

Stimulates formation of nitrates

Promotes root and leaf growth

Necessary for nodulation of legumes

Secondary Nutrient Functions Continued
Magnesium (Mg)
Necessary for chlorophyll or green plant color

Increases adsorption of phosphorus

Aids in the formations of fats and oils

Important in plant enzyme system

SYMPTOMS OF NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
Review
Deficiency- Plant condition where an essential nutrient
is not sufficiently available.

Symptom- A visual sign or condition that results from a

deficiency: symptoms aids in diagnosing a deficiency.
Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Nitrogen (N)

Plant growth stopped giving very slim fruit

Yellow, yellowish green or light green in color in leaf

(chlorosis)

Older leaves affected first, starting at the tip and moves

along the middle of the leaf.
Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Phosphorus (P)
Stunted Growth

Very dark green color

Purple leaves or portions of leaves in advanced stages

Older leaves affected first

Primary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Potassium (K)
Shorter plants

Bronzing or browning of leaf color

Lodging (bending of the stem) occurs

Leaves show yellow to brown coloring along leaf margins

followed by complete browning.
Secondary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Sulfur (S)
Young plants have stunted appearance

Leaves have a light-green to yellow coloring

Stems are thin and spindly

Sulfur deficiency symptoms are similar in appearance to

nitrogen deficiency symptoms.
Secondary nutrient deficiency symptoms
Magnesium (Mg)

Leaf parts between veins show a whitish color

Leaf tissue becomes yellow, veins remain green

(interveinal chlorosis)

Leaves curl upward along the margins

Deficiency Continued…
Other conditions besides deficiencies may cause
abnormal plant growth, include:
 Cold weather
 Wet weather
 Lack of sunlight
 Disease
 Insect damage
 Improperly applied chemicals
Factors that Influence Fertilizer Use
Chemical and physical condition of the soil

Crop to be grown

Climatic Conditions

Time
Maintenance of Soil Fertility
Soil fertility can be maintained by
Using proper cultivation methods
Spreading all the farmyard manure which supply
organic materials as well as fertilizing elements
Adopting crop rotation
Selecting proper commercial fertilizers
Applying green manure
Maintenance of Soil Fertility…
Stubble-mulch-farming: Stubble and other residue of
the preceding is left on the soil surface to provide a
surface mulch, that conserves moisture and soil
fertility.
It also reduces compaction of the surface soil by
rainfall, decreases surface runoff and prevents soil
erosion by wind.
Maintenance of Soil Fertility…
Reducing/controlling erosions
Irrigating with silty water
Acidic soils can be improved by applying 1000 kg of
calcium oxide per hectare.