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Elements of fertiliser

Plants require many different minerals to grow well and these are referred to as Nutrients. Plant nutrients are generally separated into three categories. They are the Macro Elements, the secondary Macro Elements and the micro elements. They are displayed below:

Macro Elements:

Macro elements refer to the main elements that are required by the plant for its basic functioning. These main elements are:

• Oxygen and Hydrogen which can be found readily available in water as well as the air.
• Nitrogen and Carbon which can be found in the air and in organic soil. (Especially the carbon dioxide present in the air.)
• Potassium and Phosphorous which can also be found in organic soil.

Of these macro elements Carbon, which is obtained from carbon dioxide of the air; Oxygen, which is obtained from air and water; and Hydrogen, which is obtained from water, are required by plants to build its basic cell structure. Thus it is most fortunate that these elements are the most commonly found elements and are required by all living creatures, therefore it is seldom that you need to provide additional carbon, oxygen or hydrogen. Potassium, Phosphorous and Nitrogen, on the other hand, are usually lacking and supplements of these need to be provided for the plants. These are thus the main ingredients in the most basic chemical and organic fertilizer.

N- Nitrogen

The role of Nitrogen in plants cannot be emphasized enough; Nitrogen encourages development of plants, it is responsible for healthy green leaf growth which is the result of the formation of chlorophyll, which is the main unit for the production of carbohydrates, proteins and oxygen. Therefore, plants that exhibit a Nitrogen deficiency will show symptoms like stunted growth and pale green and yellow leaves. There are also claims that Nitrogen controls, the efficient utilization of phosphorous and Potassium. The plant's dependency on Nitrogen can also lead to retarded root growth and resulting in the foliage turning yellow and pale green and increasing the plant’s susceptibility to disease.

P – Phosphorus

Phosphorous is responsible for cell development and the promotion of good root growth, particularly in fibrous roots, the vigor of the plant. Plants that suffer from a phosphorous deficiency will have poor root development and show symptoms like stunted growth, though it is not as easily recognizable at those symptoms of Nitrogen deficiency. Phosphorous deficiency is also manifested in the leaves that turn purplish in colour when it is not the natural foliage or leaf colour of that plant, mainly due to the abnormal increase in the sugar content and the formation of anthocyanin.

K – Potassium

Potassium is responsible for chlorophyll formation which plays an important part in the strength of cells and encourages flower and fruit formation. Thus Potassium can enhance the ability of the plant to resist plant diseases, insect attacks and cold conditions as Potassium performs a vital role in the formation of starch as well the production and translocation of sugars in the plant. Plants that exhibit symptoms of Potassium deficiency will have like weak stems. Other symptoms of Potassium deficiency include older leaves that are floppy with yellow tips and brown margins.

A note of caution though; an excess of Potassium may tend to delay maturity, though, not to be the same extent as nitrogen.

Secondary Macro Elements:

Ca – Calcium

Calcium is responsible for the construction of cell walls and promoting proper functioning of growing tissue. Fortunately Calcium occurs naturally in organic soil and there is usually no need for any calcium supplements to be added to organic garden soil. A Calcium deficiency in soil only occurs in extremely acid soil. This is why most plants struggle to grow in acid soil. Usually, treating and amending the soil pH level will alleviate the Calcium deficiency.

Mg – Magnesium

Magnesium (Mg) also occurs naturally in organic soil which usually makes adding any magnesium supplements to garden soil rather superfluous. Magnesium deficiency symptoms are manifested as the yellowing of older leaves. Magnesium is part of chlorophyll and thus plays a role in photosynthesis.

S - Sulphur

Sulphur (S) or Flowers of Sulphur as it is known also occurs naturally in organic soil. Most chemical and organic fertilizer also contains Sulphur which makes Sulphur deficiency very rare. If Sulphur deficiency does occur, it shows up in the form of stunted growth and yellow foliage, much the same as nitrogen deficiency as Sulphur forms part of plant protein and plays a role in the formation of chlorophyll.

Micro Elements:

`Micro elements are also known as trace elements and sometimes people even call them the "multi vitamins" for plants. The micro elements of plants are made up of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (MN), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo) and Copper (Cu). A Molybdenum deficiency produces whip-tail in some vegetable crops such as cauliflower, broccoli and other Brassica species. The Molybdenum deficiency will reduce the activity of the symbiotic and non-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing micro-organisms.

A Boron deficiency can manifest itself in varying forms that are dependent on the type of plants and the age of the particular plants afflicted with the deficiency, the particular type of conditions in which the plants is cultivated, etc. Each type of crop produces its characteristic growth abnormalities associated with boron deficiency: a few examples can be seen as the die-back and corking of apples, the yellowing and resetting of Lucerne crops and related grass type crops, the corking and pitting of tomatoes, even the hollow stem and bronzing etc.

It is seldom that a micro element deficiency occurs. Many plant food formulations contain these trace elements. However, if there is a deficiency it is normally manifested as discoloured foliage, poor leaf maturation and poor fruiting.

To prevent all these deficiencies from ruining your garden experience and to ensure healthy growth and abundant flowering and fruiting you should make sure that your garden has all twelve of these elements available to them.

Types of fertiliser application

Despite all the different types of fertilizers that are available from local nurseries and garden centres it is easy to work out which fertilizer is best for which types of plants by simply reading the container. If you are in doubt regarding the suitability of the fertilizer for your garden then make use of the NPK ratio rhyme.

Leaves and Shoots

Stems and Roots

Flowers and Fruits

The NPK ratio is then read as follows: – leaves and shoots: stems and roots: flowers and fruits. Make use of this ratio rhyme and make your own assessment.

Fertilizers bags and containers also provide ample instructions on the best ways in which to apply the particular fertilizer. Nonetheless, the following is a general guide on the application of different types of chemical or inorganic fertilizer.

There are several different methods of applying nutrient to a plant and two of the most common methods are listed below.

• Foliar – The application of fertiliser through a method of dissolving nutrient in water and applying over the leaf of the plant/turf. This method is especially good if a plant requires a more rapid uptake of the nutrient and more especially if the soil leaches nutrient. This method is generally used on young plants and soft leafed plants as it reduces the risk of leaf burn

• Granular – This method reflects the application of a fertiliser through granular application of either turning it into the soil at time of planting or casting/spreading over the plant or turf then watering in once completed. It is of most importance that when using this method you water the plant immediately after application to reduce the risk of burn

Strength of the plant and Turf

Nitrogen is an important part of the plants growth. It is a major component of chlorophyll and is partly responsible for the process of which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide (i.e. photosynthesis) It is also a major component of amino acids the building blocks of proteins.  Finally nitrogen is a significant component of nucleic acids such as DNA, the genetic material that allows cells( and eventually whole plants) to grow and reproduce. One of the down falls of Nitrogen is that is elongates the cell wall and makes the plant much more susceptible to disease. It is important to apply nitrogen as part of a balanced diet to the plant to compensate this.

Phosphorus plays an important role in the development of Stem & Root growth. It is most known for its role in capturing and converting the suns energy into useful plant compounds. Phosphorus is essential in the plants structure and also in the ability to act as catalysis in the conversion of many key biochemical reactions. It is very difficult to detect deficiency in Phosphorus as it tends to translocate through the plant from old to new growth as required. It also tends to lock up in the soil thus hindering the release of important elements such as nitrogen.

Potassium is not a constituent of any plant structures or compounds like nitrogen it plays an important part in many regulatory roles within the plant. It is essential in nearly all processed required to sustain plant growth and production. Potassium plays a vital role in the following:

• Photosynthesis
• Translocation of photosynthates
• Protein Synthesis
• Control of ionic balance
• Regulation of plant stomata and water use
• Activation of plant enzymes

It is known to activate at least six enzymes important in the development of growth in plants. Plants that are deficient in potassium are more likely to be susceptible to drought, excess water and low & high temperatures. Potassium also plays a key role in the development of the cell wall thus making the plant more resistant to disease.

Nutrient availability

Fertiliser is not plant food! Plants create there own food from water, carbon dioxide and solar energy through the process of photosynthesis. Most of the nutrition a plant requires is dissolved in water and then absorbed by its roots.  In fact 98 percent of nutrient is absorbed from the soil water solution and only about 2 percent is extracted from soil particles. Fertilisers are plant materials containing plant nutrient that added to the environment around the plant. Generally they are added to the water or soil however when applied as a foliar fertiliser the plant absorbs the nutrient through the thin layer of wax called the cutin on the leaf surface.

Anything that reduces or stops sugar production in leaves can lower nutrient absorption. Thus, if a plant is under stress because of low light or extreme temperatures, nutrient deficiency may develop.

A plant's developmental stage or rate of growth also may affect the amount of nutrients absorbed. Many plants have a rest (dormant) period during part of the year. During this time, few nutrients are absorbed. Plants also may absorb different nutrients as flower buds begin to develop than they do during periods of rapid vegetative growth.

Stages of fertiliser application

There are many different fertilisers out there on the market. Depending on what time of the year and what particular species of Plants & Turfs that you are fertilising varies in what fertiliser to apply. To see what kinds of different fertilisers there are available please refer to other fact sheets within the www.kglandscaping.com.au web site for recommendations.

Turf Fertiliser Fact Sheets

Native Fertiliser Fact Sheets

Sub Tropical Fertiliser Fact Sheets

Ornamental Fertiliser Fact Sheet

NOTE:

Please always read the labels and any MSDS sheets associated with fertilisers carefully prior to  applying any fertilisers to your plants. Too much fertiliser can impair the growth and can in fact kill the plant in kindness…….

Jason Kay – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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