PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL FERTILITY MANUAL
CONTENTS SECTION I INTRODUCTION AND BASIC PRINCIPLES CHAPTER INTRODUCTION MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS PRODUCTIVITY FACTORS CLIMATIC FACTORS MOVING UP THE YIELD SCALE PRODUCT QUALITY CHAPTER SOIL FERTILITY PRINCIPLES FERTILE SOIL DEFINED MAKING AND KEEPING A SOIL FERTILE BIOLOGICAL FACTORS AN IDEAL SOIL SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS MULTIPLE FACTOR YIELD INFLUENCE SOIL CONDITION RELATED TO DEFICIENCY IN A MAJOR ELEMENT AND MICRONUTRIENT MAJOR ELEMENTS MICRONUTRIENTS ELEMENTAL CONTENT OF THE SOIL AND SOIL SOLUTION PLANT NUTRITION PRINCIPLES PHOTOSYNTHESIS THE FUNCTION OF PLANTS DETERMINATION OF ESSENTIALITY ESSENTIAL ELEMENT CONTENT IN PLANTS CLASSIFICATION OF THE THIRTEEN ESSENTIAL MINERAL ELEMENTS ROLE OF THE ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENT ELEMENTS PLANT NUTRIENT ELEMENT SOURCES ELEMENT ABSORPTION AND TRANSLOCATION ELEMENTAL ACCUMULATION 3 10 ELEMENT ABSORPTION AND PLANT GENETICS 3 11 PLANT NITROGEN FIXATION 3 12 DIAGNOSTIC PLANT SYMPTOMS OF ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENT ELEMENT INSUFFICIENCIES THE PLANT ROOT ROOT FUNCTION ROOT HAIRS LATERAL ROOTS THE RHIZOSPHERE ROOT ION ABSORPTION ROOT CROPS HOW TO BE A DIAGNOSTICIAN THE DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH BEING A DIAGNOSTICIAN DIAGNOSTIC FACTORS EVALUATING DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES SCOUTING WEATHER CONDITIONS FACTORS AFFECTING ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN PLANTS PLANT (CROP) WILTING SUMMARY 5 10 CERTIFIED CROP ADVISOR PROGRAMS SECTION II PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL CHAPTER SOIL TAXONOMY, HORIZONTAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND CLAY MINERALS SOIL ORDERS (U S SYSTEM OF SOIL TAXONOMY) DESIGNATIONS FOR SOIL HORIZONS AND LAYERS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS TEXTURAL CLASSIFICATION SOIL SEPARATES OR PRIMARY SOIL SEPARATES SOIL SEPARATE PROPERTIES SOIL TEXTURE CHARACTERIZATION DEFINITIONS SOIL STRUCTURE TILLAGE PRACTICES WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL MAJOR PHYLLOSILICATE MINERALS IN SOILS CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC) OF A SOIL BASED ON TEXTURE CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC) DETERMINATION OF A SOIL ANION EXCHANGE CAPACITY SOIL PH: ITS DETERMINATION AND INTERPRETATION DEFINITIONS CAUSES OF SOIL ACIDITY WATER PH DETERMINATION OF MINERAL SOIL, ORGANIC SOIL, AND ORGANIC SOILLESS ROOTING MEDIA PH DETERMINATION USING A CALIBRATED PH METER ANOTHER SOIL PH DETERMINATION PROCEDURE SALT PH DETERMINATION FOR A MINERAL SOIL PH INTERPRETATION: MINERAL SOIL PH INTERPRETATION: ORGANIC SOILS PH INTERPRETATION: ORGANIC SOILLESS MEDIUM 9 10 SOIL PH CONSTANCY 9 11 PLANT ROOT FUNCTION 9 12 SOIL ACIDITY AND NPK FERTILIZER EFFICIENCY 9 13 SOIL PH EFFECT ON ELEMENTAL AVAILABILITY AND/OR SOIL SOLUTION COMPOSITION 9 14 SOIL BUFFER PH 9 15 PH DETERMINATION OF WATER CHAPTER 10 SOIL ORGANIC MATTER 10 1 DEFINITIONS OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND ITS COMPONENTS 10 1 1 DEFINITIONS 10 2 HUMUS 10 3 SOIL ORGANIC MATTER CHARACTERISTICS 10 3 1 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 10 3 2 PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS 10 3 3 BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 10 3 4 SOURCES OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER 10 3 5 CONTENT 10 4 METHODS OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER DETERMINATION 10 5 MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT SOILS 10 6 ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC MATTER ADDITIONS SECTION III PLANT ELEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS CHAPTER 11 MAJOR ESSENTIAL PLANT ELEMENTS 11 1 TERMINOLOGY 11 2 METHODS OF EXPRESSION 11 3 ESTABLISHED DATE FOR ESSENTIALITY/RESEARCHERS 11 4 CARBON, HYDROGEN, AND OXYGEN 11 5 MAJOR ESSENTIAL ELEMENT PROPERTIES 11 5 1 NITROGEN (N) 11 5 2 PHOSPHORUS (P) 11 5 3 POTASSIUM (K) 11 5 4 CALCIUM (CA) 11 5 5 MAGNESIUM (MG) 11 5 6 SULFUR (S) CHAPTER 12 MICRONUTRIENTS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO PLANTS 12 1 TERMINOLOGY 12 2 ESTABLISHED DATE FOR ESSENTIALITY/RESEARCHERS 12 3 CONTENT AND FUNCTION 12 4 SOIL AND PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS 12 5 MICRONUTRIENT CHARACTERISTICS 12 6 MICRONUTRIENT PROPERTIES 12 6 1 BORON (B) 12 6 2 CHLORINE (CL) 12 6 3 COPPER (CU) 12 6 4 IRON (FE) 12 6 5 MANGANESE (MN) 12 6 6 MOLYBDENUM (MO) 12 6 7 ZINC (ZN) 12 7 POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL MICRONUTRIENTS 12 7 1 NICKEL (NI) 12 7 2 SILICON (SI) CHAPTER 13 ELEMENTS CONSIDERED BENEFICIAL TO PLANTS 13 1 THE A TO Z NUTRIENT SOLUTION 13 2 ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL FOR ANIMALS 13 3 BASIS FOR ESSENTIALITY FOR BENEFICIAL ELEMENTS 13 4 POTENTIAL ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS 13 4 1 COBALT (CO) 13 4 2 SILICON (SI) 13 4 3 NICKEL (NI) 13 5 NEW BENEFICIAL ELEMENTS 13 6 ELEMENT SUBSTITUTION 13 7 FORM OF RESPONSE 13 8 SUMMARY CHAPTER 14 ELEMENTS CONSIDERED TOXIC TO PLANTS 14 1 INTRODUCTION 14 2 THE NATURE OF ELEMENTAL TOXICITY 14 3 ALUMINUM AND COPPER TOXICITY 14 4 OTHER ELEMENTS 14 5 PLANT SPECIES FACTOR 14 6 THE HEAVY METALS CHAPTER 15 TRACE ELEMENTS FOUND IN PLANTS 15 1 DEFINITION 15 2 ELEMENTS CATEGORIZED AS TRACE ELEMENTS 15 3 HIGH SOIL CONTENT ELEMENTS 15 4 AVAILABILITY FACTORS 15 5 ACCUMULATOR PLANTS AND ELEMENTS 15 6 SYMBIOTIC ELEMENT SECTION IV METHODS OF SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION ASSESSMENT CHAPTER 16 SOIL TESTING 16 1 PURPOSES 16 2 FIELD SAMPLING 16 2 1 BEST TIME TO SOIL SAMPLE 16 2 2 SUBSOIL SAMPLING 16 2 3 SOIL PREPARATION FOR LABORATORY SUBMISSION 16 3 SOIL LABORATORY SELECTION 16 4 LABORATORY SOIL TESTING PROCEDURES 16 5 INTERPRETATION OF A SOIL TEST RESULT 16 5 1 WORD DESIGNATION 16 5 2 CRITICAL VALUES 16 5 3 RATIO CONCEPT OF SOIL INTERPRETATION 16 6 SOIL TEST RESULT TRACKING (MONITORING) 16 7 LIMING AND FERTILIZER USE STRATEGIES CHAPTER 17 PLANT ANALYSIS AND TISSUE TESTING 17 1 PLANT ANALYSIS OBJECTIVES 17 2 SEQUENCE OF PROCEDURES 17 3 SAMPLING TECHNIQUES 17 3 1 WHEN TO SAMPLE 17 3 2 NUMBER OF SAMPLES AND PLANTS TO SAMPLE 17 3 3 LACK OF HOMOGENEITY 17 3 4 PETIOLES 17 3 5 COMPARATIVE PLANT TISSUE SAMPLES 17 3 6 WHAT NOT TO SAMPLE 17 3 7 COLLECTING A SOIL SAMPLE 17 4 PLANT TISSUE HANDLING, PREPARATION, AND ANALYSIS 17 4 1 DRY WEIGHT PRESERVATION 17 4 2 SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION 17 4 3 DECONTAMINATION 17 4 5 ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS PROCEDURES 17 4 6 ELEMENTAL CONTENT 17 4 7 EXPRESSION OF ANALYTICAL RESULTS 17 5 METHODS OF INTERPRETATION 17 5 1 CRITICAL VALUES 17 5 2 STANDARD VALUES 17 5 3 SUFFICIENCY RANGE 17 5 4 EXPECTED ELEMENTAL CONTENT RANGE IN PLANT TISSUE 17 5 5 EXCESSIVE OR TOXIC CONCENTRATIONS 17 5 6 DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDATION INTEGRATED SYSTEM (DRIS) 17 6 WORD CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATIONS 17 7 PLANT ANALYSIS AS A DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE 17 8 EXPERIENCE REQUIRED 17 9 DATA LOGGING/TRACKING OF PLANT ANALYSES 17 10 UTILIZATION OF PLANT ANALYSES FOR NUTRIENT ELEMENT MANAGEMENT 17 11 TISSUE TESTING 17 12 INDIRECT EVALUATION PROCEDURES SECTION V AMENDMENTS FOR SOIL FERTILITY MAINTENANCE CHAPTER 18 LIME AND LIMING MATERIALS 18 1 LIMING TERMS 18 2 LIMING MATERIALS 18 3 LIMING MATERIALS AND THEIR CALCIUM CARBONATE EQUIVALENTS (CCES) 18 4 MESH SIZE 18 5 QUALITY FACTOR DESIGNATION 18 6 LIME REQUIREMENT (LR) 18 7 SOIL TEST RATIO OF CA TO MG DETERMINES FORM OF LIMESTONE TO APPLY 18 8 LIMING RATE DETERMINED BY ACIDIFYING EFFECT OF FERTILIZER 18 9 LIME SHOCK 18 10 LIME INCORPORATION 18 11 DEPTH OF INCORPORATION 18 12 SUBSOIL PH CHAPTER 19 INORGANIC CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND THEIR PROPERTIES 19 1 DEFINITIONS 19 2 FERTILIZER TERMINOLOGY 19 3 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAJOR ELEMENTS AS FERTILIZER 19 4 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR THE MAJOR ESSENTIAL FERTILIZER ELEMENTS 19 5 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MICRONUTRIENTS AS FERTILIZER 19 6 THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF FERTILIZERS 19 6 1 INORGANIC 19 6 2 FERTILIZER FACTORS 19 6 3 SOIL FACTORS 19 7 NATURALLY OCCURRING INORGANIC FERTILIZERS 19 7 1 ROCK PHOSPHATE 19 7 2 POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCL) AND POTASSIUM SULFATE (K2SO4) 19 7 3 LIMESTONE CHAPTER 20 ORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND THEIR PROPERTIES 20 1 VALUE 20 2 COMPOSTED ANIMAL MANURES 20 3 ANIMAL MANURE MAJOR ELEMENT COMPOSITION 20 4 OTHER ORGANIC MATERIALS 20 5 SOIL AND PLANT FACTORS CHAPTER 21 FERTILIZER PLACEMENT 21 1 OBJECTIVES 21 2 METHODS OF FERTILIZER PLACEMENT 21 2 1 BANDING 21 2 2 SURFACE STRIP OR DRIBBLE BANDING 21 2 3 DEEP BANDING 21 2 4 HIGH PRESSURE INJECTION 21 2 5 POINT INJECTION OF FLUIDS 21 2 6 POINT PLACEMENT OF SOLIDS 21 2 7 STARTER 21 2 8 SIDEDRESSING 21 2 9 FERTIGATION 21 2 10 FOLIAR FERTILIZATION CHAPTER 22 SOIL WATER, IRRIGATION, AND WATER QUALITY 22 1 SOIL WATER TERMINOLOGY 22 2 SOIL FACTORS AFFECTING SOIL WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY AND MOVEMENT 22 3 DRAINAGE 22 4 IRRIGATION METHODS 22 5 IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY 22 6 WATER TREATMENT PROCEDURES 22 7 WHAT IS WATER? SECTION VI METHODS OF SOILLESS PLANT PRODUCTION CHAPTER 23 HYDROPONICS 23 1 HYDROPONICS DEFINED 23 2 HISTORICAL EVENTS 23 3 HYDROPONIC TECHNIQUES 23 4 HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS 23 4 1 SYSTEMS WITHOUT THE USE OF A ROOTING MEDIUM 23 4 2 SYSTEMS WITH THE USE OF A ROOTING MEDIUM 23 5 ROOTING MEDIA 23 6 WATER QUALITY 23 7 THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION 23 7 1 ELEMENTAL CONTENT 23 7 2 ELEMENTAL FORMS 23 7 3 CONCENTRATION RANGES AND RATIOS 23 7 4 NITRATE AND AMMONIUM 23 7 5 BENEFICIAL ELEMENTS 23 7 6 CHELATES 23 7 7 NUTRIENT SOLUTION/WATER TEMPERATURE 23 7 8 PH AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC) 23 7 9 OTHER FACTORS 23 7 10 NUTRIENT SOLUTION ELEMENTAL CONTENT DETERMINATION AND MONITORING 23 7 11 USE FACTORS 23 8 REAGENTS AND NUTRIENT SOLUTION FORMULATIONS 23 9 CONCENTRATION RANGES AND RATIOS 23 10 PH INTERPRETATION-HYDROPONIC NUTRIENT SOLUTION 23 11 RECONSTITUTION OF THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION 23 12 ACCUMULATION OF NUTRIENT ELEMENTS AND PRECIPITATES CHAPTER 24 SOILLESS ROOTING GROWING MEDIA 24 1 SOILLESS MEDIA INGREDIENTS 24 2 SOILLESS MEDIA FORMULATIONS 24 3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 24 4 PHYSIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES 24 5 CONTROL OF PH 24 6 USE FORMULATIONS 24 7 BAG CULTURE SYSTEMS 24 8 FERTILITY DETERMINATION PROCEDURE FOR AN ORGANIC SOILLESS MIX SECTION VII MISCELLANEOUS CHAPTER 25 ORGANIC FARMING/GARDENING 25 1 CHEMICALIZATION OF CROP PRODUCTION 25 2 “ORGANICALLY GROWN” DEFINED 25 3 SUITABLE INORGANIC FERTILIZERS 25 4 SUITABLE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS 25 5 ORGANIC SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT 25 6 SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 25 7 FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ISSUES CHAPTER 26 WEATHER AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 26 1 DEFINITIONS 26 2 CLIMATIC FACTORS 26 2 1 AIR TEMPERATURE 26 2 2 RAINFALL 26 2 3 WIND 26 2 4 SOLAR RADIATION INTENSITY AND DURATION 26 2 5 CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) 26 3 WEATHER AS A DIAGNOSTIC FACTOR CHAPTER 27 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) 27 1 ORIGIN 27 2 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE APPLICATION BROADENED 27 3 BEST PRACTICE 27 4 IMPORTANT PROTOCOL CONSIDERATIONS 27 5 PRECISION FARMING