CHEMICAL

PROPERTIES OF
THE SOIL
TEACHER MARTIN
GRADE 9
 OBJECTIVES
◦ Explain the essential elements contribute to
plant growth and development
◦ List the ALL primary nutrients required for
plant growth
◦ Group soil nutrients using the heading
Micronutrients and Macronutrients
 OBJECTIVES
4. Be able to identify nutrients using their
chemical symbols;
5. Evaluate plants based on characteristic
displayed (symptoms) to determine
nutrient that is deficient
 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

THERE ARE FOUR ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR PLANT

GROWTH, THEY ARE:

AMOUNT OF AVAILABILIT AVAILABILIT AVAILABILIT

SUNLIGHT Y OF AIR Y OF WATER Y OF
NUTRIENTS
 CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES OF
THE SOIL
◦ PLANTS REQUIRE 17 ESSENTIAL
NUTRIENT ELEMENTS FOR THEIR
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

◦ 14 ARE SUPPLIED BY THE SOIL AND THE

OTHER THREE FROM AIR OR WATER.
(HYDROGEN, OXYGEN AND CARBON)
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES OF
THE SOIL (cont.)
◦ NB.

◦ Soil Nutrients are dissolved in

water and absorbed through the
plant's roots. There are not always
enough of these nutrients in the
soil for a plant to grow healthy.
 NUTRIENTS IN
THE SOIL
◦ MACRONUTRIENTS
are the nutrients that are need in
larger quantities

◦ MICRONUTRIENTS
These are nutrients that are needed in
small quantities
 MACRONUTRIENTS
(MAJOR)
The elements essential for plant growth which are needed in Large (macro) quantities .
MACRONUTRIENTS

PRIMARY
NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASSIUM
ELEMENTS

SECONDARY
CALCIUM MAGNESIUM SULPHUR
ELEMENTS

FROM AIR
HYDROGEN CARBON OXYGEN
AND WATER
MICRONUTRIENTS
(MINOR/TRACE)
The elements essential for plant growth which are needed in very small (micro) quantities .
MICRONUTRIENTS
◦ IRON
◦ ZINC
◦ COPPER
◦ MANGANESE
◦ COBALT
◦ MOLYBDENUM
◦ CHLORINE
◦ BORON
 Nitrogen N
◦ Nitrogen is a very important and needed

for plant growth. It is found in healthy soils,

and give plants the energy to grow, and

produce fruit or vegetables. Promotes

general growth and juiciness of fruits and

grains.

◦ Essential for making protein.

 Nitrogen N
SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY
◦ Reduced Growth of the whole
plant (Stunted Plant Growth)
◦ Shoot Development (Stem
are thin (spindly)
◦ Yellowish Leaves
◦ Older Leaver Go Yellow First
 NITROGEN
DEFICIENCY
 PHOSPHORUS P
◦ Phosphorus' primary role in a
plant is to store and transfer
energy produced by
photosynthesis for use in growth
and reproductive processes.

◦ Promotes growth and

development of roots systems.
PHOSPHORUS P
SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY
◦ Reduce (stunted) growth, particularly of
the root system
◦ Leaves going purple in colour and fall off
early
◦ Reduce growth because root growth is poor;
◦ Fruits and seed are of poor quality
PHOSPHORUS
DEFICIENCY
 POTASSIUM K
oPotassium is associated with
the movement of water,
nutrients and carbohydrates
in plant tissue. It is also
essential for chlorophyll
development and
photosynthesis.
oInvolved in transport
mechanisms in plants
 POTASSIUM K
SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY
o Leaves become mottled with scorching
at the edges
o Leaves go yellow from the tips and
margins.
o Some leaves go dark green;
o Older leaves have a mottled
appearance due to patches of dead
tissues
POTASSIUM
DEFICIENCY
CALCIUM Ca
◦ Essential For The Growth
And Development Of Root
Tips And Cell Wall
Development.
◦ SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY
Stunted Growth
Yellowish Colour In Leaves
 CALCIUM
DEFICIENCY
 MAGNESIUM Mg
◦ Essential for chlorophyll
formation (the green pigment
found in plants);

◦ SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY
◦ CHLOROSIS (yellowing of
leaves) the yellowing occurs
between the veins.
MAGENSIUM
DEFICIENCY
 SULPHUR
◦ Needed for making proteins

◦ SIGNS OF DEFICIENCY
◦ Thin or slender plants
◦ Pale green or yellow leaves
◦ Late ripening of fruits
 SULPHUR
DEFICIENCY
 HYDROGEN
It has positive effects on seed germination, seedling growth, adventitious rooting, root elongation
CARBON
Helps give soil its water-retention capacity, its
structure, and its fertility.
 OXYGEN
◦ Oxygen is an important element for plant growth. Reducing its
concentration in the soil affects plant physiological processes such
as nutrient and water uptake as well as respiration.
ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY – MATCH THE NUTRIENT WITH
ITS SYMBOL
◦ CA
◦ P
NITROGEN POTASSIUM MAGNESIUM
◦ N
◦ S
CALCIUM SULPHUR CHLORINE ◦ Mg
◦ Mn
◦ C
PHOSPHORUS MANGANESE
◦ K
 QUESTIONS

1.WHAT ARE THE NINE MACRONUTRIENTS

REQUIRED BY PLANTS?
2.WHICH OF THE MACRONUTRIENT COMES
FROM THE SOIL?
3.LIST THE PRIMARY NUTRIENTS
4.LIST THE SECONDARY NUTRIENTS
QUESTIONS?