Nutrition of Greenhouse & Nursery Plants

1. Nutrition of Greenhouse & Nursery Plants

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

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

18. Focus on Primary Nutrients • Nitrogen(N) • Phosphorous(P) • Potassium(K) A fertilizer bag has 3 numbers across the front and they represent the 3 nutrients above. Ex. 20-30-5

19. Nitrogen Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, development and reproduction. Despite nitrogen being one of the most abundant elements on earth, nitrogen deficiency is probably the most common nutritional problem affecting plants worldwide – nitrogen from the atmosphere and earth's crust is not directly available to plants.

20. Nitrogen • Nitrogen is so vital because it is a major component of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide (i.e., photosynthesis). Nitrogen = Green

21. Phosphorous •  If your plants are small, are producing little or no flowers and have a bright green or purplish cast to them, you have a phosphorus deficiency. Since most plants in the garden are grown for their flowers or fruit, replacing phosphorus in the soil if it is lacking is very important. Phosphorous = Flowering/fruiting

22. Potassium • Potassium is an essential plant nutrient and is required in large amounts for proper growth and reproduction of plants. •  If K is deficient or not supplied in adequate amounts, growth is stunted and yields are reduced. Potassium = Strong Roots/plant support

23. Potassium Various research efforts have shown that potassium • stimulates early growth, • increases protein production, • improves the efficiency of water use, • is vital for stand persistence, longevity, and winter hardiness of alfalfa, and • improves resistance to diseases and insects.