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Environmental Requirements for Good Plant Growth. Soil. composed of sand, silt, and clay, organic matter, living organisms, and pore spaces classified according to percentage of sand, silt, and clay they contain. Ideal Soil Composition. 45% Mineral Matter 25% Water 25% Air
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Soil • composed of sand, silt, and clay, organic matter, living organisms, and pore spaces • classified according to percentage of sand, silt, and clay they contain.
Ideal Soil Composition • 45% Mineral Matter • 25% Water • 25% Air • 5% Organic Matter
Soil Particles • vary greatly in size • sand is the largest • silt - medium • clay - smallest
Soil Profile • Consists of 3 basic layers • Topsoil • represents depth normally plowed • Subsoil • deep rooting plants send roots down into subsoil • soil bedrock
Water in Soil • Gravitational Water • Soil is unable to hold against the force of gravity • Of little value to plant as it drains away quickly • Seen more in soils with large pore space
Water in Soil • Capillary Water • Free moving capillary water • Moves in all directions • Available capillary water (field capacity) • Remaining water after capillary movement stops • Soil surface is dry and water is a thin film around soil • Most important water for plants (half available) • Unavailable capillary water • Not available to plants • Held tightly by soil particles and moved as vapor
Types of Soil • Sandy • Clay • Loamy
Sandy Soil • Silt and clay make up less than 20% by weight • Drain well • Little water holding capacity
Clay Soil • Must contain at least 30% clay • Holds more moisture than is good for plants • Poor drainage
Loamy Soil • Most desirable soil • Equal parts sand, silt and clay • If more sand, it is sandy loam • If more clay, clay loam • If more silt, silty loam
Soil less Planting Media Mixes • Many greenhouses and nurseries use soil less mixes • Advantages of soil less planting media • Sterile • Lightweight • Easier to handle and ship • Good moisture retention and drainage • Free of weed seeds
Soil less Planting Media Mixes • Disadvantages • Light weight - pots tip in strong wind • Minor elements are missing • Iron • Sulfur • Manganese • Zinc • Calcium • Transplants may not adjust well to new media
Soil less Media Options • Perlite • Gray-white material of volcanic origin • Improve aeration • Larger particles provide better drainage and aeration • Vermiculite • Exploded Mica • Improves aeration • Neutral pH
Plant food and fertilizers • divided into two groups • Major elements (macro) • Nitrogen - N • Phosphorus - P • Potassium - K
Plant requirements • large amounts of major elements • relatively small amounts of minor elements
Commercial fertilizers • shows % or pounds per cwt. (100#) of the three major elements in large numbers on the container or bag.
Commercial fertilizers • 5-10-5 • 5% N, 10% P, 5% K • remaining 80% is filler • NP&K are always listed in that order.
Soil tests • determine amount of elements needed for various plants.
Nitrogen • has most noticeable effect on plants • encourages above ground vegetative growth • regulates use of other elements
Phosphorous • held tightly by soil particles • not easily leached • effects plants in several ways • encourage cell division
Phosphorous • flowers and seeds don’t form without it • hastens maturity, offsetting quick growth caused by N. • encourage root growth • makes K more available
Phosphorous • increase disease resistance • improves quality of grain, root and fruit crops • container plants can be damaged by excess P • increases soluble salt content of medium • causes dehydration of roots
Potassium • modifies both fast soft growth of N and early maturity of P • is essential
Potassium • increase disease resistance • encourages healthy root systems • essential for starch formation • development of chlorophyll • efficient use of CO2
pH • measure of acidity or alkalinity • pH scale - runs from 0 - 14 • most plants grow best from 5.6-7.0
pH • 7.0 is neutral • pH of 7 or above is alkaline or basic • pH below 7 is acidic
pH • as numbers decrease, solution becomes more acidic. • As numbers increase, solution becomes more basic or alkaline
pH • if soil is too acidic, lime is added to raise the pH • if soil is too alkaline, sulfur is added
Above ground environment • temperature • some plants prefer cool weather • some plants prefer warm weather
Temperature • there are temperatures above and below which plants stop growth • generally, plant growth rate increases as temps increase up to about 90 degrees
Light • must be present before plants can manufacture food • plants vary in light requirement • effects flowering
Photoperiodism • response to different periods of day and night in terms of growth and maturity
Photoperiodism • short day plants • chrysanthemum and Christmas Cactus • bloom when days are short and nights are long
Photoperiodism • long day plants • lettuce and radishes • bloom when days are long and nights are short
Photoperiodism • day length indifferent • do not depend on length of light or darkness • African Violet and tomato
Phototropism • plants appear to grow towards the sun or light source
Humidity • moisture level of the air • most plants grow best in 40-80% RH • Relative Humidity
Humidity • too high humidity may cause the spread of fungus diseases
Plant diseases and Insects • reduce production • lower fruit and vegetable quality
Gases and Air Particles • CO2 is vital to plants for Ps • Air pollutants can cause damage
Air Pollutants • Sulfur Dioxide - SO2 - from burning coal • Carbon Monoxide - CO - exhaust from cars
Carbon Monoxide • reduces plant growth • can kill plants