Study Questions – Soil Fertility

1. List the 18 elements required by plants for proper growth and function/.

2. What is meant by a macronutrient vs. a micronutrient?

3. What is meant by the term bioavailable?

4. What are the 3 mechanisms by which nutrients are supplied to plant root surfaces?

5. How do riparian wetlands help alleviate potential NO3^- contamination of water supplies?.

6. Describe the various N transformations that occur in soils and their significance to plant growth and environmental quality. You should be familiar with the terms N fixation, volatilization, nitrification, denitrification, mineralization, and immobilization.

7. What are the major problems associated with maintaining adequate amounts of plant-available P in soils?

8. What is the difference between N fixation and P fixation?

9. What are the sources of K in soils?

10. What general soil conditions are most likely to result in a micronutrient deficiency?

11. What is a fertilizer grade?

12. Besides commercially available fertilizers, what other nutrient sources are available to meet fertility needs?

13. What is meant by the Law of the Minimum?

14. Why is fertilization typically designed to achieve only ~90% of maximum yield?