2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

Plant and Soil

by

Prof. Gernot K. Brueck, Ph.D.

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

Plants consists of:

• carbohydrats– sugars and/or– starch

• proteins– aminoacids as basic element – peptides to polypeptides = proteins

• water

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

The only responsible miracle for all organic matter and any life in the world is:

• Photosynthesis

6H2O (water) +

6CO2 (carbondioxid+

energie (light) =

C6H12O6 (glycose) +

6 O2 (oxygen) beside it:bacteria, yeasts, molds as aminoacid producers

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

The carbon cycle

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

Which further elements are necessary ? • Nitrogen (N)

– essential part of all aminoacids = proteins

• Potassium (K)– responsible for protein synthesis, control of ionic balance,

regulation of plant stomata and water use, activation of plant enzymes and many other processes

• Phosphorus (P)– essential part of the photosythesis

and smaller amounts of Sulfur, Magnesium and Calcium which are left out in the further consideration, because their cycles are near to potassium

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

The phosphorus cycle

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

The potassium cycle

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

The nitrogen cycle

Aerobic processes (= high oxygen content) are converting any nitrogen compound into plant available nutrient and anaerobic processes are leading to nitrogen losses

2nd of May, 2007 G4 General Trading LLC

Summary

• plant growth relevanta. sufficient basic nutrients N-P-K in the soil

b. high oxygen content in the soil for just aerobic processes

c. avoiding anaerobic situations with N and root losses

d. sufficient water

• if the organic matter remains at the place = in the cycle, no further fertilizers are necessary !