Transcript Turf Grass - Kentucky Department of Education

Media and Soils
Chapter 6
Learning Targets
 I can identify various types of growing
media?
 I can explain the PH Scale?
 I can identify 3 sections of the Soil
Triangle?
Growing Medium
 Material in which the
roots plants grow.
Roles of Media
 Provides nutrients
and a anchor for
plant.
Nutrients
 Substance that
roots absorb from
the medium and
water.
Anchor
 Roots hold plant in
place.
Pore Space
 Air holes between
the growing
medium particles
which allows
oxygen to reach
the roots of plants.
Soil Amendment
 Anything added to
the soil to improve
plant growth.
 Vermiculite
 Perlite
Soil
 Top few inches of
earths surface that
provide soil
growth.
Soilless Medium
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Contains no soil.
Made from:
Vermiculite
Perlite
Peat Moss
Bark
Can be pre-mixed
Hydroponics
 Nutrients are
provided by
nutrient solution.
Nutrient Solution
 Contains water
with dissolved
nutrients.
Hydroponic Advantages
1. Nutrients Control
2. Yield is greater
3. Roots do not
spread
4. Reduced Weed,
Insect, Disease
Mineral Materials
 Come from
inorganic sources.
 3 kinds of Mineral
Materials
Sand #1
 Largest material in
soil.
 Good for soil
drainage.
Silt #2
 Smaller than sand.
 Areas near rivers
are high in silt.
Clay #3
 Smallest size
particle in soil.
 Holds water well.
 Fills gaps between
Sand and Silt
Organic Matter
 Decayed remains
from plants and
animals.
Soil Texture
 % of Sand, Silt,
Clay present in the
soil.
Soil Triangle
 Used to classify
soil on the basis
texture content.
 Most crops prefer
a Loamy soil.
Loam Soil
 High in Silt lower
in Sand and Clay.
Soil Structure
 Physical
arrangement of
soil particles.
Soil Aeration
 Movement of air in
the soil.
 Clay soil least air
movement.
Soil Compaction
 Soil compressed
into a dense
mass.
Wear
 Physical
deterioration of a
plant community.
Soil Profile
 Vertical section of
soil at a location.
Soil Horizon (A)
 Topsoil: 10”
Made of:
 Humus
 Roots
 Organisms
Soil Horizon (B)
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Subsoil: 30”
Made of:
Fine Particles
Leached materials
Some Roots
Soil Horizon (C)
 Parent Material:
48”
 Made of:
 Bedrock
 Leached materials
Soil Horizon (R)
 Bedrock:
 Made of:
 Solid Rock
Plant Nutrients
 17 elements are
needed for plants
to grow.
Macronutrients
 Most important
nutrients needed
in large amount.
Macronutrients
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(N) – Nitrogen
(P) – Phosphorus
(K) – Potassium
(Ca) – Calcium
(Mg) – Magnesium
(S) – Sulfur
Primary Nutrients
 N-P-K
 Needed in largest
amounts.
Secondary Nutrients
 Ca-Mg-S
 Needed in
moderate amounts
Micronutrients
 Needed in smaller
amounts.
 AKA-Trace
Elements
Micronutrients
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(Fe) – Iron
(Mn) – Maganese
(Zn) – Zinc
(Cu) – Copper
(B) – Boron
(Mo) – Molybdenum
(Cl) – Chlorine
(Ni) - Nickel
Soil Testing
 Determines what
nutrients are
present in the soil.
Nitrogen
 Key element
 Helps plant
recover from
damage.
Nitrogen Deficient
Example
 Older leaves turn
yellow. (Chlorosis)
 Death can happen
Phosphorus
 Helps plant hold
and transfer
energy for
metabolism.
Phosphorus Deficient
 Reduced growth
 Dark to reddish
leaf colorations.
Potassium
 Important for plant
life process.
Potassium Deficient
 Reduced growth
 Increase disease
 Stress of plant
Soil PH
 Ph is used to
measure the
amount of
Alkalinity or acidity
in soil.
PH Scale
 14 Point Scale
PH Scale
 7.0 = Neutral
PH Scale
 Below 7.0 = Acidic
 Above 7.0 = Alkaline
Modifying PH
 Adding Lime will
raise PH.
 Adding Sulfur will
lower PH.
Modifying PH
 Most plants prefer
PH of 5.5-8.0
Fertilizer
 Any material used
to provide the
nutrients plants
need.
Fertilizer
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Can be applied as:
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Elemental Fertilizer
 Provides only 1
plant nutrient.
Complete Fertilizer
 Contains all 3
elemental
nutrients.
 Nitrogen
 Potassium
 Phosphorus
Active Ingredient
 Total % of
nutrients that is
being applied to
plants.
Inert Ingredient
 The carrier or filler
ingredient that
allows for the
spreading of the
fertilizer.
Complete Fertilizer
Example
 16% Nitrogen
 4% Phosphate
 8% Potash
=28% Active
Ingredient
72% Inert Ingredient
or carrier
Application Equipment
 Sprayers for liquid
fertilizer.
Application Equipment
 Dry fertilizer for
Granular
Equipment.
 Spreader
Granular Fertilizer
 Applied with
Rotary, Gravity
Flow Spreader.
 Most common way
of spreading
fertilizer.
Fertigation
 Application of
fertilizer with the
use of irrigation
system.
 Very fast to use.
 Water and fertilize
at the same time.