SOIL 206 Plant Nutrition

Lecture Hours: 2
Credits: 2

Provides an introduction to the general concepts of plant nutrition, soil fertility, fertilizers and fertilizers practices. Discusses essential plant nutrients and their behavior in soil and water and role in plant growth and production; soil fertility; environmental issues associated with fertilizers; and nutrient deficiencies. Interpret and understand soil, water and plant tissue analyses, the various types of fertilizers and application methods, and make fertilizer calculations. Covers case studies of balanced fertilizer regimes for common horticultural crops grown in the Willamette Valley.

Recommended: Completion of HOR 111 and SOIL 205, each with a grade of C or better.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Know the 17 essential plant nutrients and their role in plant growth and production.
Read and interpret soil, water and plant tissue analyses.
Identify the different types of fertilizers and application methods, and calculate fertilizer requirements.
Recognize common symptoms of nutrient deficiencies of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (M) and Sulfur (S).
Make fertility recommendations for horticultural crops.

Content Outline

Soil Fertility and Plant NutritionSoil fertility
- Soil fertility and productivity- defined
  - Nutrient movement in the soil
  - root interception
  - mass flow
  - diffusion
  - Cation Exchange Capacity
  - Anion Exchange Capacity
  - Leibig’s Law of the Minimum
- Essential plant nutrients for plant growthMacro and micronutrients
  - Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
  - Nitrogen
  - Phosphorus
  - Potassium
  - Sulfur, Calcium and Magnesium
  - Micronutrients
    - Nutrient uptake by the plant
    - Plant content
    - Nutrient mobility in plants (immobile vs mobile nutrients)
    - Function in plant and yield response
    - Nutrient cycling
    - Nutrient Deficiencies
      - Common symptoms of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S
- Factors Affecting Nutrient Availability
  - Effect of soil pH on nutrient availability
    - Acid soils
      - base saturation
      - liming
    - Alkaline, Saline and Sodic soils
  - Temperature
  - Soil aeration
  - Soil moisture
  - Soil texture
- Soilless media
  - Soilless media types and properties
  - Water and Nutrient storage
    - Water movement
    - Nutrient storage
    - Stability
    - Chemical properties
    - Physical properties
- Environmental issues associated with fertilizers
Soil, Water and Plant Tissue Tests
- Reading and interpreting soil analyses
- Reading and interpreting water analyses
- Reading and interpreting plant tissue tests
Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
- Types
  - Natural based fertilizers
  - Synthetic fertilizers
  - Soil amendments and biofertilizers
    - Gypsum
    - Lime
    - Cover crops and Green Manures
    - Plant residues
    - Compost and manures
    - Biochar
    - Sludges
    - Solid (granular) vs. liquid fertilizers
- Application methods
  - Injection
  - Fertigation
  - Foliar application
  - Broadcasting
  - Side dressing
  - Top dressing
  - Band application
  - Seed placement
Fertilizer Recommendations and Management
- Amount of each nutrient required for optimum yield
- How nutrient needs change during growing season (timing of nutrient uptake)
- Fertilizer calculations
- Integrated Soil Fertility Management
- Case studies (tbd)