Interior

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Lecture 8 Interior Fertilization Procedures
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Nitrogen Can Be A Significant Limiting Factor In
Plant Growth
Nitrogen is absorbed from the soil solution
surrounding the root hairs. As nitrogen is taken
up, the solution just outside the root becomes
nitrogen depleted. If there is very little
nitrogen in the surrounding solution, nitrogen
starvation, and slow growth can
occur. Therefore, keeping nitrogen in the soil
solution at an adequate level is essential to
plant growth.
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high nutrient level
Nutrient concentration in the soil solution
low nutrient level
Distance from the root surface
Formation of a nutrient depletion zone in the
region of the soil adjacent to the plant root.
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Effect of Fertilizer on Aglaonema
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Effect of Fertilizer on Ferns
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What Happens to Applied Nitrogen
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VOLATILITY
15 and 20
Escapes as gases to the air
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What Happens to Applied Nitrogen
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LEACHING
Little to a lot.Most on overirrigated sandy
soils.
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What Happens to Applied Nitrogen
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Organic matter
33 to 66Tied up both temporary and permanently.
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What Happens to Applied Nitrogen
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15 - 75 Average 50Crops get what's left.
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What Happens to Applied Nitrogen
It will fly away. And...
N
even when caught as a fertilizer and put to
work...
It may still escape !
Wearing any of these names NITROGEN GASES ARE
N2 (molecular nitrogen) NO (nitric
oxide)NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) NH4
(ammonia)N2O (nitrous oxide).
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Functions of Minerals in Plants
C, H, O - basic elements of all organic molecules.
N, S - protein components.
P - essential element of plant membranes
involved in energy transduction.
Ca - combines with pectic materials to form the
cell wall and the middle lamella energy
transduction.
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Functions of Minerals in Plants
Mg - cental role in chlorophyll molecule.
B - regulates Ca utilization.
Trace elements - involved in enzyme action
(co-factors).
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The Essential Nutrient Elements, Their Sources
and the RelativeAmounts Needed by Plants
NUTRIENT ELEMENTS USED IN RELATIVELY LARGE AMOUNTS
From Airand Water
From theSoil Solution
NitrogenPhosphorusPotassiumCalciumMagnesiumSu
lfur
CarbonHydrogenOxygen
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The Essential Nutrient Elements, Their Sources
and the RelativeAmounts Needed by Plants
NUTRIENT ELEMENTS USED IN RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS
From theSoil Solution
CopperZincChlorine
IronManganeseBoronMolybdenum
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The Elements of Plant Nutrition
MACRONUTRIENTS
MICRONUTRIENTS
NitrogenPhosphorusPotassiumCalciumMagnesiumSu
lfur
IronManganeseBoronMolybdenum
CopperZincChlorine
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Definitions of Various Types of Fertilizers
FERTILIZER TYPE DEFINITION
Required elements become available over an
extended time. Origin - plant or animal
sources. Required elements from various sources
completely dissolved in water.
Controlled orslow release Organic Liquid
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Definitions of Various Types of Fertilizers
FERTILIZER TYPE DEFINITION
Required element is held by a complex molecule
that maintains its availability. Fertilizers
applied without dissolving in water.
ChelatedDry
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A Summary of Mineral Elements Required by Plants
Approximate Concentrationin Whole Plant(as
of dry wgt)
Forms in Which Absorbed
Element Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N)Potassium (K)Calcium
(Ca)Phosphorus (P)Magnesium (Mg)Sulfur (S)
NO3- or NH4-KCa2H2PO4 or HPO42-Mg2SO42-
1 - 3 0.3 - 6 0.1 - 3.5 0.05 - 1.0 0.05 -
0.7 0.05 - 1.5
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A Summary of Mineral Elements Required by Plants
Approximate cc in Whole Plant(as of dry wgt)
ElementMicronutrients
Forms in Which Absorbed
Iron (Fe)Chlorine (Cl)Copper (Cu)Manganese
(Mn)Zinc (Zn)Molybdenum (Mo)Boron (B) Cobalt
(Co)
Fe2 , Fe3Cl-Cu2Mn2Zn2MoO42-BO3- or
B4O72-Co3
10 - 1500 ppm100 - 10,000 ppm2 - 75 ppm5 -
1500 ppm3 - 150 ppm0.1 - 5.0 ppm2 - 75
ppmTrace
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Magnesium Deficiency in Philodendron
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Micronutrient Deficiency
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Iron Deficiency
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Severe Iron Deficiency
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Chemical structure of the chelatorethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid (EDTA)
O
O

-

-
O - C - CH
CH - C - O
2
2
O
O
N - CH - CH - N

2
-
2
-

CH - C - O
O - C - CH
2
2
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Chemical structure of the chelatorethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelated to an
Fe3 ion
O
-

O
C
O

CH
C
CH
2
2
-
O
N
Fe
-
CH
2
O
N
CH
2
CH
C
2
-

CH
C
O
2
O

O
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The Relation of Fertility Level to Plant
Performance
Optimum fertilitylevel
Growth stable or reduction
Growth increase
x
Low
High
Nutrient level
Luxuryconsumption
Hiddenhunger
Deficiencysymptoms
Toxic reaction (possible failure to complete
life cycle)
Inability to complete life cycle
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Nutrient Toxicities - A Case Of Excess Salts
Acids and bases react to form compounds termed
saltsNaOH HCl NaCl H2O
Where Do Soluble Salts Come From?
Fertilizers, water, growing medium.Fertilizers
provide plants with salts of essential elements.
How Are Salts Detected?
Electroconductivity of soil extractVisible salt
deposits.
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Fertilizer and Soluble Salts Problems

• High and low fertilizer, and excess soluble
  salts all
• cause weak or slow plant growth, stunting,
  burned
• leaf tips and margins, and leaf drop.
• In addition, low fertilizer and excess
  soluble salts
• cause development of small new leaves, leaf
• yellowing.

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Fertilizer and Soluble Salts Problems

• High fertilizer and excess soluble salts cause
• wilting and root death.
• High fertilizer alone causes large dark green
• leaves, and appearance of algae on the
  growing
• medium.

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Effect of Excess Fertilizer on Roots
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Fluoride Toxicity on Dracaena and Cordyline
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Fluoride Toxicity and Calcium Interaction
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To Control Salinity Problems

• Avoid excess fertilizers and
  
• poor quality water.
• Flush excess salts with water.
• Consider use of deionized water.
• Do not allow soil to become too dry.
• Flush or leach excess salts
• - apply the normal amt of water 5X allow to
  drain - wait 15 - 20 min repeat above.

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Codiaeum variegatum 'Banana'Plant root quality
vs. soluble salts
(after 2 months in interiors)
plants grown for 6 months
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Maximum Plant Quality Grade
Aglaonema
Spathiphyllum
5.04.54.0
Dracaena fragrans
Chamaedorea
Philodendron
Nephrolepis
Dieffenbachia
Quality Grade
Aphelandra
Codiaeum
4.8 7.2 9.6
FERTILIZER RATE (g 19-6-12/6" pot/3 mos)
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Minimum Root Quality Grade
Dracaena fragrans
Aphelandra
Nephrolepis
Philodendron
Dieffenbachia
Spathiphyllum
Aglaonema
4.02.51.6
Chamaedorea
Codiaeum
Quality Grade
24.0
FERTILIZER RATE (g 19-6-12/6" pot/3 mos)
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Forms of Fertilizers Used Indoors
LIQUIDS POWDERS TABLETS SPIKES GRANULES
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Fertilizer Programs for Interior Landscapes
Application Method Element
Objective
POSTPLANTLiquid or Constant
Supply essential nutrients as needed by
plants. Quick response or when soil conditions
unfavorable for absorption.
All
N, Fe, Mn, Mg, Cu, Zn,Mo
Foliar
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Fertilizer Programs for Interior Landscapes
Application Element Objective Method
N, P, K Mg, Ca
Provide starter amounts and reserve use
controlled -release nitrogen source.
PREPLANTIncorporation
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Fertilizer Programs for Interior Landscapes
Application Element Objective Method
PREPLANTIncorporation
Correct low pH use both hydrated lime and CaCO3
or dolomite. Provide reserve use chelated
products.
Ca
Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B
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Fertilizer Programs for Interior Landscapes
Application Method Element
Objective
Apply essential elements without water. Speed
application of insoluble materials as organic
fertilizers or dolomitic limestone.
All
Dry
Slurry
All
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Types of Controlled-Release Fertilizers for
Interior Landscapes
CATEGORY SPECIFIC
TYPES COMMENTS
Contains ammonium form of N and high amts of P
Hydrolysis - 1st step in release.
Slowly solubleBacterial decomposition
MagAmp IBDU
Release rate depends on particle size,
temperature(approx. 3 months).
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Types of Controlled-release Fertilizers for
Interior Landscapes
CATEGORY SPECIFIC
TYPES COMMENTS
Nutrients adhere to resin and are removed by the
plant.
Exchange resinCoated
Urea- formaldehyde
Coat thickness and temperature release.
Bacterial decomposition of coating also regulates
release.
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Fertilizing An Indoor Plant
CONSIDERATIONS
Type of plant. Volume of soil (pot size).
Light intensity.
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Scale A Dry fertilizer, liquid fertilizer
periodic application
Scale B ppm N in fertigation schedule
1.00.80.60.40.20.0
40322416 8 0
High Fertilizer Plants
g N per 6-in. Container per Year
Which has the steeper gradient?
Low Fertilizer Plants
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Low
High
Very High
Medium
Light Intensity ( ft-c )