Transcript Soil Properties Obj 5.01

Objective 5.01Explain the role of
nutrients and
fertilizers.
 Discuss
Horticulture soils
 Soils
and growing media are made up of two
types of materials


Organic matter
Inorganic compounds
 Dead
plant or animal tissue
 contains carbon
 usually has diseases or insects
 Compost
 bark-particles
too large to use in seed
germination media
 mulch-used to cover soil to help hold
moisture and prevent weeds
 straw
 peat moss
 Sphagnum
 Sawdust-high
carbon to nitrogen ratio makes
nitrogen unavailable for plant use
 Wood shavings- high carbon to nitrogen ratio
makes nitrogen unavailable for plant use
 Do
not contain carbon
 usually sterile
 Soilless
media-artificial soil
 Vermiculite-mica mineral matter used to
start seeds and cuttings, helps hold moisture,
has neutral pH
 Perlite-natural volcanic material that helps
aeration and water-holding capacity
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sterile.
pH is neutral.
Disease and weed free.
It is good for starting disease sensitive
seeds
•
5.
6.
7.
Tomato
It is easy to control the nutrient content
Improves crop uniformity.
It is easy to create a horticulture soil for
particular plant needs.
1.
2.
Expensive
It is light weight
 Materials


with a high carbon to nitrogen ratio
Sawdust
Wood shavings
 Makes
nitrogen unavailable for plant use