Horticulture Lecture 5: Post-Planting Practices

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the benefits of organic fertilization?

Increase the soil's compactness

Reduce the plant's nutritional needs

Provide the plant with its nutritional needs (correct)

Decrease the soil's water holding capacity

What happens to sandy soil when organic fertilization is used?

It becomes less fertile

It becomes more compact

It increases its water holding capacity (correct)

It decreases its aeration

What is a result of using organic fertilization on clay soils?

Segregations of clay particles, increasing aeration (correct)

Reduced water holding capacity

Decreased aeration

Increased compactness

What is humus a result of?

The breakdown of organic fertilizers Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of humus in soil?

It increases the soil's water holding capacity Signup and view all the answers

What is green manure an example of?

Organic matter used as fertilizer Signup and view all the answers

What determines the components of animal manure?

The type of animal and its feeding Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of humus in soil?

It makes the soil darker and increases its absorbance of sunlight Signup and view all the answers

What is the preferred size of the feedstock to be grinded?

Particles dimensions do not exceed 5 cm length and 1 cm diameter Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of aeration in composting?

To supply oxygen to microbes Signup and view all the answers

What happens to microbial diversity when temperatures exceed 71°C?

Microbial diversity decreases Signup and view all the answers

What is the optimum moisture percentage for composting?

45-60% Signup and view all the answers

Why are smaller piles preferred in composting?

They allow for greater air flow Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum oxygen percentage required for microbial growth?

5% Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the curing and maturation stage in composting?

To eliminate inhibitors to seed germination Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for compost to be ready to use in a well-managed pile?

3-5 months Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of fertilization in horticulture?

To enhance plant growth and productivity Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum number of elements required for plant life?

16 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a micronutrient?

Iron Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the element that plants require in large quantities?

Macronutrient Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fertilizer is industrially produced?

Chemical fertilizer Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of carbon for plants?

Atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

Fertilization primarily aims to:

Adjust the growing plant's nutritional status Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a macronutrient?

Iron Signup and view all the answers

What is the main source of energy for decomposers in the composting process?

Carbon Signup and view all the answers

What is the ideal Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio (C:N) for composting?

25:1 - 35:1 Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a high Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio (C:N) in composting?

Slower composting process Signup and view all the answers

Where does the decomposition of organic materials occur in composting?

On the surface of the feedstock Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of microorganisms in composting?

To consume feedstocks and produce heat, accelerating the composting process Signup and view all the answers

What is composting?

The process of biological decomposition of organic materials Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of organic matter used in composting?

It is derived from living organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of controlling the composting process?

To optimize the decomposition of organic materials Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of growing green manure crops?

To enhance soil fertility by fixing nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using green manure crops?

To increase soil compactness Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of Alfalfa meal?

It is a leguminous plant Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary nutrient that fish bone meal is rich in?

Phosphorus Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of planting clover into an established farm?

To provide mulch, fertilizer, and beneficial insect habitat Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe specific plant or crop varieties that are grown and turned into the soil?

Green manure Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of using Soybean Meal as an organic fertilizer?

It is a leguminous plant, fixing nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of using green manure crops in farming?

To improve soil fertility and overall quality Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fertilization

Fertilization is an essential agricultural practice to supply growing plants with nutrients, enhancing growth and productivity.
Fertilizers are natural or synthetic substances containing one or more recognized plant nutrients, applied to the soil or plant to adjust the growing plant's nutritional status.

Types of Fertilizers

Organic fertilizers
Chemical (synthetic) fertilizers
Bio-fertilizers

Elements Needed for Plant Life

Plants need at least 16 elements, including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere and hydrogen and oxygen from water, while other nutrients are taken up from the soil.

Macronutrients and Micronutrients

Macronutrients: elements needed in large quantities, including carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Micronutrients: elements needed in small quantities, including iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, and molybdenum.

Organic Fertilization

Benefits of organic fertilization:
- Provides plants with nutritional needs
- Enhances soil properties, such as increasing water holding capacity in sandy soils and improving aeration in clay soils
- Forms humus, which increases water holding capacity, provides slow-releasing nutrients, and enhances soil aeration and drainage

Types of Organic Fertilization

Manure: organic matter, mostly derived from animal feces, except in the case of green manure, which can be used as organic fertilizer in agriculture.
Compost: the product of controlled biological decomposition of organic materials, usually of plant origin.

Composting Process

Microorganisms are used to decompose organic materials, consuming feedstocks to obtain energy and nutrients, and producing heat that accelerates the composting process.
Key variables for controlling the composting process:
- Type of organic matter (feedstock) used
- Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N)
- Pile moisture
- Pile aeration
- Pile size
- Temperature
- Time

Green Manure

A term used to describe specific plant or crop varieties that are grown and turned into the soil to improve its overall quality.
Mainly belongs to Fabaceae family (legumes), such as clover.
Nitrogen fixed by these cover crops (legumes) helps increase soil fertility.

Other Common Organic Fertilizers

Alfalfa meal (a fertilizer of plant origin, leguminous plant)
Soybean meal (a fertilizer of plant origin, leguminous plant)
Fish meal and fish bone meal (natural by-product of the fish industry, rich in phosphorus, especially the fish bone meal)

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Description

This lecture covers post-planting horticultural practices, focusing on fertilization as an essential agricultural practice to enhance plant growth and productivity.