Syllabus -- Soil/Hort/Agron 326

Spring 2006

I. Introduction to plant nutrition

  1. History of plant nutrition
  2. Purpose of plant nutrition management

II. Total Nutrient Management with Soilless Culture

  1. Essential elements
  2. Chemical forms of bioavailable nutrients
  3. Nutrient response curve
  4. Growth curve and seasonal nutrient uptake

III. Mechanisms of nutrient transport and uptake

  1. Diffusion, mass flow, and the rhizosphere (soil)
  2. Uptake mechanisms and kinetics (roots)
  3. Long distance transport and circulation-xylem and phloem (organism)
  4. Biological nitrogen fixation (symbiosis)

IV. Strategies for Managing Soil Fertility

  1. Foliar absorption
  2. Trunk injection
  3. Soil application--strategy, timing and placement

V. Function, flux, cycles, and fertilizer sources of:

  1. Nitrogen
  2. Phosphorus
  3. Potassium
  4. Secondary nutrients-Ca, Mg, S
  5. Micronutrients-Fe, Mn, Zn, B, etc.

VI. Soil pH, acidity, and liming

VII. Soil testing and plant analysis

VIII. Environmental protection aspects of fertilizer and manure management

This page was last modified by Phillip Barak, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, on 16 Dec 2005. All rights reserved.
tel: (608) 263-5450, e-mail: pwbarak@wisc.edu