Department of Soil Science University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001. — 56 pp. — (Soil Science / Agronomy / Horticulture 326).During the semester, you will complete 11 of the 12 greenhouse and laboratory exercises contained in this manual. The final exercise will be conducted as a demonstration in the greenhouse.
The 11 exercises are organized into four units with the following objectives:
Unit I: To demonstrate plant responses to soil applications of essential nutrients under greenhouse conditions. You will study the response of various crops to applications of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and compare crop responses to different sources and methods of application of these nutrients. Exercises 1, 2 and 3 make up this unit.
Unit II: To become familiar with analytical methods for determining some of the soil properties and processes that affect plant growth. Exercises 4, 5 and 6 make up this unit.
Unit III: To examine plant analysis as a means of identifying nutrient disorders, verifying the adequacy of soil fertilization, and gaining a more detailed understanding of how plants respond to soil treatments. Exercises 7, 8 and 9 make up this unit .
Unit IV: To introduce soil analysis as a tool for assessing the fertility status of soils and for serving as a basis for fertilizer and lime recommendation. Exercises 10 and 11 make up this unit.Contents.
Introduction.
Exercise.
Plant Response to N, P, and K.
Nitrogen Requirement of Different Plant Species.
Plant Response to Nutrient Sources and Soil Placement.
Soil pH, pH Buffering Capacity, and Organic Matter Content.
Soil Potassium Buffer Power.
Mineralization of Organic Nitrogen.
Tissue Testing.
Total P and K concentrations in Plant Tissue.
Total N in Plant Tissue.
Determination of Available P and K in Soil.
Determination of Soil pH, Lime Requirement and Soluble Salts.
Development of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms in Plants Growing in Solution Culture.
