Transcript H - Fertilizers 1 - Charleville Gardens

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