SOIL

SOIL

1. SOIL FERTILITY

   • MAJOR NUTRIENTS
     • CALCIUM (Ca)
     • POTASH (K)
     • NITROGEN (N)
     • MAGNESIUM (Mg)
     • PHOSPHATE (P)
     • SULPHUR (S)
     • SODIUM (Na)
   • MINOR NUTRIENTS
     • IRON (Fe)
     • MANGANESE (Mn)
     • BORON (B)
     • ZINC (Zn)
     • COLBALT (Co)
     • COPPER (Cu)
   • FERTILIZERS
     • INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
       • N:P:K
         • Written and a percentage
         • Always written in this order
     • STRAIGHT FERTILIZERS
       • Supply only one major nutrient
         • Eg. Extran ammonium nitrate - 34.5% N
         • Eg. Triple Superphosphate 47% P2O2
     • COMPOUND FERTILIZERS
       • Supplies two major nutrients
         • Maincrop: 14:14:21
         • Extra Grass: 27:5:5
     • FARMYARD MANURE AND SLURRY
       • Valuable Resource
       • Must be applied carefully
       • Release of nutrients is slower and less predictable than inorganic fertilizer
       • Must quantify amounts of nutrients

2. SOIL TEXTURE

   • SAND
     • Free Draining
     • Particle Size: 0.06 - 2.0
     • Light Soil
     • Poor Retention of Nutrients
   • SILT
     • Particle Size 0.002 - 0.06
     • Limited Nutrients
     • Holds Water
   • CLAY
     • Particle Size: <0.002
     • Retains Nutrients Well
     • Heavy Soil
     • Holds Water Well