Nutrition of Greenhouse & Nursery Plants

1. Nutrition of Greenhouse & Nursery Plants Original Power Point Created by Carlos Ramos Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June 2002

2. Nutrition • We all eat • Why? • To survive • What if we didn’t eat? • Plants have the same needs as we do • Fertilization

3. Objectives • To recognize the importance of plant nutrition • Identify the essential nutrients and fertilizers needed for plant growth • Discuss the difference between Micro and Macro nutrients • Determine availability of nutrients

4. Fertilization • What is a fertilizer • Why is it important • Fertilizer is a product made of elements that are required or beneficial for plant growth • Plants stay healthy and are maintained in vigorous growing condition • Are less susceptible to pests and diseases

5. Nutrient Requirements • Nutrients are required for plant processes to function • Transpiration • Respiration • Photosynthesis

6. Nutrients Availability • The nutrients required for growth are absorbed by the plant roots • Nutrients from growing medium are depleted • In addition some nutrients are attracted so tightly by soil particles that they are not available for plant use

7. Nutrient Loss • Nutrients are lost in many ways • Depleted by plants • Used by microorganisms • Leached because of watering • Conversion to gaseous form

8. Fertilizer Use • Fertilizer returns nutrients to growing medium • Adequate levels of nutrients increases the health and quality of plants • Increases the yield of plant crops • Promotes foliage of ornamental crops

9. Essential Element • What is an essential element? • an element required by plants for normal growth, development and completion of its life cycle, and which cannot be substituted for by other chemicalcompounds. • Classified based on quantity required • Macro-nutrients • Micro-nutrients • Both are equally important

10. Macro-Nutrients Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium Calcium Magnesium Sulfur Micro-Nutrients Iron Copper Zinc Boron Molybdenum Manganese Chlorine Nickel Essential Elements

11. Non-Mineral Elements • Elements that are supplied air and water • Carbon • Hydrogen • Oxygen

12. Mineral Elements • Are supplied by soil or growing medium • Remainder of nutrients

13. Primary Nutrients • Those elements which the plant consumes in largest amounts • Nitrogen (N) • Phosphorous(P) • Potassium(K) • Most deficient in the soil

14. Secondary Nutrients • Not used by plants in as large quantity as primary nutrients • Not as deficient in soils • Calcium • Magnesium • Sulfur

15. Micro-Nutrients • Needed by plants in very small quantities • Removed from soils in much smaller amounts • Considered trace minerals

16. All elements have specific functions in the growth and development of plants • When a nutrient is deficient, what do you think happens to the plant process that is being supported by that nutrient? • Process is slowed down or stopped

17. Determining availability of nutrients and the need for fertilizer • Visual • Most obvious • Less accurate • Trained eye required • Soil/Media testing • Tests soil nutrients • Tissue testing • Tests nutrients in plant