media, nutrients, & fertilizers chapter 6 - textbook pages …
Post on 12-Jan-2016
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Essential Questions:
• What are the different types of growing media?
• What are the components of soil?• What are the components of a soilless
mix?• What effect does growing media have
on plant growth? • How do plants use soil?
What are the different types of growing media?
• There are a number of substances that allow plants to grow:– Soil - the outer portion
of the Earth’s crust that supports plant growth
– Soilless medium - one that contains no topsoil
– Hydroponic solution - a nutrient solution for plants to grow in (plants can be supported in gravel or sand or the roots can be left bare)
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What are the components of soil?
• Soils - characterized by the amount of mineral matter found in them– Mineral matter (45%) is inorganic or non-living
substances that form soil.– Organic matter (5%) partially decomposed animal
and plant matter– Air (25%) part of the pore space in the soil– Water (25%) also part of the pore space
What are the components of soil?
• Soils - characterized by the amount of mineral matter found in them– Mineral matter (45%)
• Sand - the largest soil particle• Silt - smaller than sand, found near rivers• Clay - smallest particle, holds moisture well but cracks
and forms hard clumps when dry
Loam - equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay
What are the components of a soilless mix?
Soil is not used very often for floriculture - it can be heavy and full of undesirable weed seeds and insects.
A soilless mix is a combination or organic and inorganic substances; it does not contain topsoil
What are the components of a soilless mix?
Common components in a soilless mix:– Peat moss - plant material that has great moisture and nutrient
holding capacity– Perlite - white in color and comes from heat-treated lava rock
(used to aerate the soil)– Vermiculite - comes from the mineral mica and is shiny brown
in color (used in media for seed germination)
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What effect does growing media have on plant growth?
• Choosing the right growing media is very important. The media can affect the amount of nutrients available for the plant.
• Compare & contrast the use of soil versus a soilless mix:
What effect does growing media have on plant growth?
• Advantages of a soilless mix:– The mix is uniform; it does not vary in components,
texture, or nutrients– The mix is sterile; it does not have disease organisms,
insects, or weed seeds– Can be manipulated to improve drainage and moisture
holding capacity– A grower can personally mix the components for a
particular crop– Easier to ship and move because they are lightweight
Advantages: sterile, uniform mix; easier to move and manipulate; can be personalized
What effect does growing media have on plant growth?
• Disadvantages of a soilless mix:– Fertilizers often need to be added more frequently– The wind can blow dry pots over because the mix is very
light– Sometimes difficult to transplant a plant from a soil mix to
a soilless one (roots will often not grow in the new media and the plant will die)
Disadvantages: need more fertilizers; does not secure pots; difficult to transplant
How do plants use soil?
• Plants depend on soil to provide four basic needs:– 1. Anchorage - soil acts to provide a firm support as roots grow
throughout the soil– 2. Water - soil provides nearly all of the water used by plants
(water is absorbed through the plants’ roots)– 3. Oxygen - plants release oxygen through photosynthesis but
consume oxygen during respiration; good soil aeration allows for oxygen transfer
– 4. Nutrients - of the 16 nutrients considered to be essential for plant growth, 13 are obtained from the soil
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