Soil NutrientsSoil Nutrients

DeciduousDeciduous ConiferousConiferous PrairiePrairie

Soil = Soil = ff (Climate, Parent material, Living (Climate, Parent material, Living organisms, Topography, Time )organisms, Topography, Time )

Optimum pH for turf and gardensOptimum pH for turf and gardens

depends on speciesdepends on species** ** pH range pH range kentucky bluegrasskentucky bluegrass 6.0 - 7.6 6.0 - 7.6 creeping red fescuecreeping red fescue 5.3 - 7.5 5.3 - 7.5 sweet cornsweet corn 6.0 6.0 potatopotato 5.4 – 6.0 5.4 – 6.0 green beangreen bean 6.8 6.8 tomatotomato 6.0 6.0

What nutrients do plants get What nutrients do plants get from the air and water?from the air and water?

CarbonCarbon HydrogenHydrogen OxygenOxygen

What are the Primary Nutrients?What are the Primary Nutrients? NitrogenNitrogen PhosphorousPhosphorous PotassiumPotassium

What are the Secondary What are the Secondary Nutrients?Nutrients?

SulferSulfer CalciumCalcium MagnesiumMagnesium

What are the Micronutrients?What are the Micronutrients? IronIron BoronBoron ZincZinc ManganeseManganese CopperCopper MolybdenumMolybdenum ChlorineChlorine

What are the 16 essential What are the 16 essential nutrients?nutrients?

C HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn ClMoC HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn ClMo

Functions of Primary Nutrients and the deficiency Functions of Primary Nutrients and the deficiency

symptoms?symptoms?

Nitrogen: other than water, most important, Nitrogen: other than water, most important, determines rate of growthdetermines rate of growth deficiency: yellowing of leavesdeficiency: yellowing of leaves

Phosphorous: needed most during Phosphorous: needed most during germination and during fruit/seed formationgermination and during fruit/seed formation deficiency: stunted growth, purple color in deficiency: stunted growth, purple color in

leavesleaves Potassium: mostly regulatoryPotassium: mostly regulatory

deficiency: stunted growth, mottled leavesdeficiency: stunted growth, mottled leaves

Are there non-essential plant Are there non-essential plant nutrients that need to be nutrients that need to be

considered?considered? Yes, iodine and cobalt are essential in animals Yes, iodine and cobalt are essential in animals

but found in plantsbut found in plants

Why is a knowledge of soil Why is a knowledge of soil nutrients necessary?nutrients necessary?

maximize yieldmaximize yield maximize profitmaximize profit maintain soil fertilitymaintain soil fertility

How do you determine soil How do you determine soil fertility?fertility?

soil testingsoil testing manage organic mattermanage organic matter fertilizefertilize

Soil test reportSoil test report

potential for deficiencypotential for deficiency which nutrient neededwhich nutrient needed how much to applyhow much to apply

fertilizer for nutrient needfertilizer for nutrient need lime, sulfur amendments for pH changelime, sulfur amendments for pH change

when to applywhen to apply when to when to STOP!STOP!

What is Fertilizer Analysis?What is Fertilizer Analysis?

it is the amount of the different nutrients it is the amount of the different nutrients found in a fertilizerfound in a fertilizer

the amount is listed as a percentthe amount is listed as a percent it is ALWAYS listed Nitrogen-it is ALWAYS listed Nitrogen-

Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K)Phosphorous-Potassium (N-P-K) a fertilizer labeled 10-15-10 is 10% a fertilizer labeled 10-15-10 is 10%

Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% PotassiumPotassium

if there is a fourth letter it is for Sulferif there is a fourth letter it is for Sulfer

How many pounds of Nitrogen How many pounds of Nitrogen are in a 50# bag of 10-15-10?are in a 50# bag of 10-15-10?

10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen10% of 50# = 5# Nitrogen

Pounds of Actual Nutrients in a Pounds of Actual Nutrients in a 50# bag of 10-15-10?50# bag of 10-15-10?

add up 10+15+10 = 35% nutrients or 17.5#add up 10+15+10 = 35% nutrients or 17.5#

What is the other 65% of this What is the other 65% of this bag?bag?

inert matterials (filler)inert matterials (filler)

CompostCompost

What is Compost ?What is Compost ?

Material left after the aerobic decomposition Material left after the aerobic decomposition of organic material(s)of organic material(s)

OrganicMaterial + “bugs” + O2 Compost + CO2 + H2O

General CharacteristicsGeneral Characteristics

N availability much lower than fresh materials N availability much lower than fresh materials like manures, biosolids, food processing like manures, biosolids, food processing wastes (<10% of TN)wastes (<10% of TN)

Diverse array of “feedstocks” used to make Diverse array of “feedstocks” used to make compostcompost

Variability in quality of finished compostVariability in quality of finished compost Comes with lots of “things” besides macro-Comes with lots of “things” besides macro-

nutrientsnutrients

Fresh Vs. Composted Organic Matter

Fresh Wastes• High biological activity• Some have high nutrient

availability• Can immobilize nutrients

during early stages of decomposition

• Highly variable in physical traits

• Instability can increase Pythium damping off of certain crops

Compost• Already gone through

decomposition, stable• Mature compost should

provide some nutrients• Improves drainage and

other physical properties

• Provides for biological control of Phytophthora root rot

Making Your Own CompostMaking Your Own Compost

Build a “bin” 5 x 5 x 5 ft.Build a “bin” 5 x 5 x 5 ft. Add organic materials and adjust to 40-60 % water Add organic materials and adjust to 40-60 % water

contentcontent Use bulking agent for wet materials, add water to dry Use bulking agent for wet materials, add water to dry

materialsmaterials High C:N materials take longerHigh C:N materials take longer

Maintain aeration by frequent turningMaintain aeration by frequent turning Compost is finished when pile doesn’t re-heat and it Compost is finished when pile doesn’t re-heat and it

is difficult to distinguish initial materialsis difficult to distinguish initial materials