Module 7 Soil Nutrition and Fertility Management

Lesson 2

Essential Elements in Focus and its

Management
………………………………………………………….
Objectives Introduction
……………………………………………………………………………
At the end of this lesson, you
are expected to: Knowing the sources and understanding the importance
and functions of essential elements would help to deeply
Know the sources, importance,
understand how to efficiently supply the elements to the
functions of essential elements
growing plant. Moreover, to address soil fertility issues in
Evaluate the fertility status of the field, there are various methods of soil fertility
a certain soil condition evaluation so that strategies for the improvement of soil
according to crop stand and fertility will be employed. You will also appreciate the
give recommendations for its function of some essential elements and will give an idea
improvement to crop on the deficiency symptoms, a diagnostic approach for
productivity. appropriate management
Key Concepts At the end of this lesson, you will learn how to evaluate
the fertility status of a certain soil condition according to
a. Nitrogen dynamics
crop stand and will learn the basic of fertilizer calculation.
b. Phosphorus dynamics
c. Potassium dynamics
d. Soil Fertility Evaluation
e. Fertilizer Calculation

Section 7.3

Look me in the Eye Discover Deficiency Symptoms

In this activity, you will select crops of your preference on your locality and evaluate whether it
shows deficiency symptoms.

Procedure

1. In your locality, observe the color and status of the leaves of the crops.
2. Record your observation by taking photos.
3. Visit [Link] and search the link [Link]
v=9SotrCwqfHo entitled “A beginners guide: Nutrient Deficiency”, and watch it.
4. Upon finishing watching the video and observing the crops in your locality,
evaluate what deficiency did you observed and put it in a leaflet formatted
output.
Analysis
1. Explain why the plants shows deficiency symptoms?
2. Discuss what will happen to the plants if the deficiency of its nutrients will not be
corrected?
3. Explain Is deficiency symptoms helpful in crop production?

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Nutrient in Focus: Nitrogen ……………………………………………………………………………………

 Nitrogen is usually the element that limits plant

growth and used by plants in largest quantities. Soil Horizon
 Nitrogen is not found in large amounts in the
soil except in the organic form; there is
essentially none in soil minerals.
70% of the air we breathe
 The source for all nitrogen is the air.
is N2.

Importance of N
 component of all proteins, enzymes, and
chlorophyll.
 required in largest amount by most plants.
 regulates the use of K, P etc.
 has quickest and most pronounced effect on
plants.
 very mobile (anion).
o But remember plants can only use N in the form
of NO3 - or NH4+.
o Organic nitrogen becomes available as the
Sources of N organic matter decays.
1. Legumes: forms symbiotic relationship with
Rhizobia sp. that fixes atmospheric N
2. Legume- Rhizobia Symbiosis - fix between 40 -
300 lbs N/hectare
3. Nonsymbiotic organisms: fix 10-20 lbs
N/hectare.
4. Plant residue: C/N ratio effects release of N.
Residues with narrow C/N ratio release more
plant-available N to the soil.
5. Animal residue (wastes): type of wastes
controls N amount.
6. Rain and Snow: electrical discharges from
lighting generate heat that cause atmospheric
O2 to react with N to form several different N
oxides. These are brought to the soil by snow
and rain at a rate of at least 5 lb/Acre/year.
7. Industrial Wastes: Should be used with caution
as the waste may contain other harmful
substances such as heavy metals. Nodulation in legumes
8. Fertilizers Excerpt from: [Link]
news-events/news/nodulation-legumes

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Plant N
Decomposition Symbiotic N-
N Uptake Fixation

Ammonification Nitrification Denitrification

Soil NH4+ NO3- N2
organic N
Immobilization
Non- Symbiotic
Decomposition N-Fixation

Microbial
N

Nitrogen Cycle

Soil Horizon
1. Plant Uptake
2. Immobilization
Factors affecting  conversion of mineral N (nitrate and
nitrification ammonium) to the organic form
 N is not available to plants in the organic
a. NH4+ must be
present form
b. Aeration: nitrification 3. Exchangeable NH4+
requires O2  Soil organic matter, manure, etc. is broken
Temperature: down into proteins, amino acids, and
nitrification occurs amines. This material is converted, by
only above freezing specific bacteria, to NH4+. This is
and the rate increases ammonification.
up to about 85oF. 4. Nitrification
c. Moisture: nitrifying
 microbial oxidation of ammonium to NO3-
bacteria are active in
occurs under aerobic conditions. This
moist soils but
inactive in produces hydrogen ions and the anion form
waterlogged soils of N which is more subject to leaching
d. Neutral pH: 5. Denitrification
nitrification rates are  reduction of NO3 to N2, NO, and N2O
low in acid soils. This  gaseous loss of N from soils occurs under
is due to bacteria reducing conditions
preferring more  facultative anaerobic
neutral pH.  wet anaerobic reducing condition; like to
e. C:N ratio
have a large amount of plant residue
available.

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6. Denitrification
 reduction of NO3 to N2, NO, and N2O
 gaseous loss of N from soils occurs under
reducing conditions
 facultative anaerobic
 wet anaerobic reducing condition; like to have Soil Horizon
a large amount of plant residue available.
7. Nitrogen Fixation Nitrogen fixation is
 conversion of atmospheric N2 in cells mediated by the bacteria
living symbiotically in the
 occurs under aerobic conditions
nodules of legumes
 represents only major input of N to many soils (Rhizobium sp.).
 Symbiotic fixation by Rhizobium
Nitrification is a two-
 Non-symbiotic by free living organisms’
process mediated by the
bacteria, blue green algae two (2) bacteria:
8. Volatilization
1. Nitrosomonas sp.
 Loss of nitrogen as gaseous ammonia (NH3)
2. Nitrobacter sp.
 Ammonium applied to soils above ph 7. Loss of
N as a gas can occur because of surface
application of ammonium.
9. Mineralization/Ammonification
 conversion of organic N to mineral form NH4+
 heterogeneous organisms release NH4+
 Brief review of the C:N ratio idea
o At any given time no more than 1-2% of
the total amount of N in the residue is
available to the plant.
o Only about 2-3% of the immobilized N is
mineralized each year

Nutrient in Focus: Phosphorus

Importance of P
 component of:
o DNA and RNA
o ADP and ATP
o role in plant maturation - flowering, fruiting, Phosphorus is
root development, straw strength important in "energy
o The element P is in every living cell, both storage and transfer"
plant and animal. The light energy captured at the cellular level.
by photosynthesis would not support any of
the necessary plant functions if compounds
containing P were not present.

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Crop Demands
 Only N and K (and sometimes Ca) are taken up in larger amounts by the plants.
 P is required for N fixation to take place. The microbes in the system require
that some P be present.

Forms of P in soil
 Mineral P (mainly apatite mineral) – form of P-containing mineral that is being
mined
 Organic P – about 30-50% of total P in soils. It may occur as phytate, nucleic
acids and phospholipids
 Solution P – inorganic forms of P such as PO43-, HPO42- and H2PO4- and
soluble organic forms of P.

Plant Uptake
 plants take up P from soil water. Because only small amounts of P are found in
the soil water at any one time, the P must be constantly replenished.
 soil organic matter contains P. As with other nutrients, the organic matter must
first be broken down before the plant can use the P.
P Fixation
 formation of "fixed" or unavailable P compounds
o By Fe, Al, (acid conditions): FePO4, Al (PO4), MnPO4
o By clays: Fe and Al associated with clay
 Enough P must be added to overcome the fixation capacity and the plant needs.

Plants

P in P-containing Uptake
Weathering
Minerals
Mineralization Decomposition
P in Plant and
Solution P Organic P animal
Residues
Immobilization
P fixed to Soil
Sorption/ Immobilization
Minerals desorption
Microbial
Biomass

The Phosphorus Cycle

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Nutrient in Focus: Potassium ………………………………………………………………………………

 Among cations, K+ is absorbed by plants in the

largest amount.
 The four important forms of K in soil are:
o mineral K
o non-exchangeable K, or K fixed in
between clay plates
o exchangeable K
o K present in the soil solution.
 The abundance of different K fractions is usually
as follows: 90–98 percent of total K is in mineral
form, which is relatively (but not ultimately)
inaccessible to a growing crop; 1–10 percent of
total K is in the non-exchangeable (fixed) form,
which is slowly available; and 1–2 percent of
total K is in the exchangeable and water-soluble
forms.
 K dynamics are determined by the rate of K
exchange from the clay and organic matter
surfaces and the rate of release from soil
minerals.
 The cation K+ is largely held on to the exchange
complex as an exchangeable cation and a small
amount is present in a freely mobile form in the

The potassium cycle in the soil-plant animal system

Excerpt from: Syers, 1998. Soil and plant potassium in agriculture

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Evaluation of Soil Fertility Status

Methods of Assessing Soil Fertility Status:

Soil Horizon
1. Biological Test
Definition: 2. Evaluation of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
3. Plant Tissue Analysis
Soil Fertility: The status 4. Soil Analysis
of the soil with respect to
the amount and
availability to plants the Biological Test
elements necessary for  this involves the planting of the crop in the
growth. soil being evaluated
Soil Productivity:  this could either be:
capability of a soil for o pot experiment
producing plants under a o field fertilizer experiment
specified system of  growth and yield performance of the crop has
management
to be monitored and compared with the
expected growth and yield of the variety
being used.
 The soil would be considered fertile if the
performance of the test plants is comparable
or better than the optimum growth and yield
expected of the particular variety
used/planted.
 The plants may also be applied with various
rates of fertilizer – providing some
information on what and how much
nutrients have to be applied plant for
optimum plant growth
Pot experiment sample
Excerpt from: [Link] Advantage:
research-damien-lenglet/
1. The performance on the crop/plant
grown on the soil being evaluated is a
definitive indication of whether the
soil can support the growth of the
crop/plant or not.

Disadvantage:
1. Time-consuming
2. Expensive
3. By the time you do the actual wide
Field fertilizer trial
Excerpt from: [Link]
scale growing of the crop, the fertility
publications /eifc-240 status may already have changed.

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Evaluation of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
 Plants deficient in one or more essential
nutrients become “sick” and exhibit leaf colors
and growth disorders that are indicative of the Soil Horizon
deficiency.
 Five general types of nutrient deficiency
symptoms Symptom –
1. Chlorosis - yellowing due to reduction observable physical
in chlorophyll traits manifested by
2. Uniform or interveinal the crop due to a
3. Necrosis- death of plant tissue deficiency of an
4. Stunting with either normal or dark essential nutrient.
green color or yellowing
5. Abnormal coloration- Anthocyanin
accumulation resulting in reddish color
6. Lack of new growth or terminal growth
resulting in rosetting

Advantages
1. rapid
2. does not require expensive or elaborate
equipment
3. can be used as a supplement to other
diagnostic techniques

Disadvantages/Problems:
1. Visual symptom may be caused by
deficiency of several nutrients.
2. Deficiency of one nutrient may be related
to an excessive quantity of another.
3. Other plant stresses (diseases, insects,
herbicide damage, etc.) can be difficult to
distinguish from nutrient deficiencies.
4. Visual symptoms may be caused by more
than one factor.
5. Nutrient deficiency symptoms appear too Sample Deficiency Chart of
late to correct the deficiency without yield Essential Nutrients
loss. Excerpt from: [Link]
com/ nutrient -deficiencies/
6. Nutrient toxicities (even some non-
nutrients like Al) can produce visual
symptoms similar to nutrient deficiencies.
For example, Mn toxicity symptoms are
similar to Fe deficiency. Al toxicity looks
like Ca deficiency

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Plant Tissue Analysis
 Sampling and analysis of plant parts for
certain essential elements
 This assumes that the nutrient concentration
in the tissue samples of plants are indicative
the nutritional status of the soil.
 The sap from the fresh plant samples could be
analyzed for some nutrients (colorimetric
methods).
 Shoots/ leaves/roots may also be collected,
Corn before tasseling. Collect dried and ground. The ground samples are
the first fully developed leaves then analyzed for the essential elements of
from the top of 15-20 plants. If interest.
the plant is less than 12 inches  Key features involve:
tall, collect all of the above- o Sampling
ground portion. o Sample Preparation
o Analysis
o Interpretation

Advantages
1. Standardized equipment or methods of
analysis are used
2. Serves as an option to monitor the fertility of
the soil while the plant is already growing

Disadvantages/Problems
1. Plants are already growing, and the detection
of some deficiency may already be too late.
2. May be difficult to distinguish whether the
lack of nutrient in tissue is due a true nutrient
deficiency or due to some soil physical
stresses (e.g. roots can’t penetrate through a
hard pan).
Corn from tasseling to silking. 3. Cannot distinguish whether the soil may
Collect the leaves below and actually have some nutrients and may just
opposite from the ear of 15-20 need some amendments for the said nutrients
plants. can be made available.
4. May be expensive (depending on the extent
and number of analysis that needs to be run).
Sample Plant Analysis 5. Nutrient content in the tissue may vary
Pictorial Sampling Guide for depending on which plant part is sampled.
Corn
Excerpt from:
[Link]

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Soil Analysis
 Soil testing is the most widely used research
tool for making balanced and profit
maximizing fertilizer recommendations,
particularly for field crops.
 Soil testing can be defined as an acceptably
accurate and rapid soil chemical analysis for
assessing available nutrient status for
making fertilizer recommendations.
 Soil testing as a diagnostic tool is useful only
when the interpretation of test results is
based on correlation with crop response and
economic considerations to arrive at
practically usable fertilizer
recommendations for a given soil–crop
situation.
 It may be repeated every 3–4 years, BUT for
banana plantations, it is done yearly.
 Soil samples are collected from an area, air-
dried, pulverized, and sieved, and submitted
to an accredited laboratory for soil analysis.
 Extra care has to be exercised when soil
samples are being sampled.

Advantages
1. The soil itself is being analyzed
2. Standardized methods/equipment are being
used.
3. Provides some idea on the fertility of the soil
before the crop is planted. This aids in
deciding what plants to grow, how to manage
it and whether there is a need to make
amendments such as lime prior to planting.

Disadvantages/Problems:
1. Time-consuming
2. Expensive and requires specialized
equipment.
3. Accuracy of results depends largely on the
accuracy in sampling.

Proper way of sampling

Excerpt from: PCAARRD, 2006. The Philippine
recommends for soil fertility management

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Improvement/Management of Soil Fertility
Soil Horizon

 Soil fertility may be improved/maintained by:

Fertilizer Computation: Practice 1. Fertilizer Application
2. Lime Application
Soil analytical laboratories often
provide a recommended fertilizer
3. Good soil and crop management practices
application amount based on soil test
results. However, producers may alter 1. Fertilizer Application
this amount depending on fertilizer  Fertilizers: Any organic or inorganic
costs, changes in yield potential, material of natural or synthetic origin
management intensity, or due to added to the soil to supply certain
different philosophies (sufficiency or nutrients essential to the growth of plants
maintenance/build).  Amount of fertilizer that needs to be
Example: applied depends on:
o Crop need
How many kg of urea, solophos and o Inherent fertility of the soil
muriate of potash needed to satisfy o Soil properties: soil texture, CEC,
the RR of 100-20-50 per hectare?
nutrient sorption capacity
The three numbers mentioned
represents the N-P-K needed to 2. Lime application
satisfy the required amount.
 Liming material is applied to raise the pH
 Urea: 46-0-0 of an acidic soil to a pH level that:
 Solophos: 0-20-0 o favors the availability of most essential
 Muriate of Potash: 0-0-60 nutrients and prevents the
development of some nutrient
FR-Fertilizer Required toxicities.
FG-Fertilizer Grade o favors the activity of microorganism
RR-Recommended Rate
o favors the healthy growth of plant
roots
For Urea
FR = RR X 100
FG 3. Good Soil and Crop Management Practices
= 100 X 100  crop rotation = growing different plants in
46 succession (include a legume crop)
= 217.39 kg of Urea
 cover cropping = grown to cover soil
 contour farming = tillage practice applied
For Solophos
across the slope/contour
FR = RR X 100
 strip cropping = growing alternate
FG
crops/strips of clean cultivates
= 20 X 100
 organic matter amendment = addition of
20
supplemental organic residues
= 100 kg of Solophos
 green manuring = incorporation of plant
For MOP materials while still green
FR = RR X 100
FG
= 50 X 100
60
= 83.33 kg of MOP

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Section 7.4 Application

Think like an Agriculturist!

Understand Soil Horizons
Soil Horizon
6. Explain in your own perspective What 1. Discuss Why is
is the ideal method of soil fertility nitrogen, phosphorus, and
evaluation? potassium an important element?
2. Explain Why N, P, and K are
considered primary
7. Math in Soil Science macronutrients?
3. Differentiate soil fertility from soil
You learned in this module the techniques
productivity?
in diagnosing the fertility status of a certain
4. Discuss What are the methods of
area. Mr. Sue Wel has 10-hectare banana
assessing soil fertility? Under what
farm. He approached you as a soil fertility
condition/s would a particular
expert to survey the soil status of his farm.
method be appropriate?
Upon walking around the farm, you
5. Explain What are the different
observed the older leaves have purple
methods of improving soil fertility?
coloration on most of the plants,
particularly on the undersides. In this
situation, you already have an idea that
there is something lacking with the
nutrition. To make conclusive with your References
initial findings, you suggested to Mr. Sue
Wel that it is much better to have a soil
Brady, N.C. and Weil, R. R. 2017. The
analysis to have a more accurate
quantitative recommendation. After
Nature and Properties of Soils, 15th
analyzing the soil, you recommended a 180- edition. Pearson Education Limited,
70-300 N-P-K that should be applied in his Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20
area per hectare for the whole year. It is 2JE, England, 1105 pp.
understood that this rate was the deficit
amount of N-P-K for the requirement of Jones, B.J. Plant Nutrition and Soil
banana. Fertility Manual, 2nd Edition. CRC
Press Taylor and Francis Group. 6000
Available fertilizer:
Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300.
Diammonium phosphate (18-46-0)
Urea (46-0-0)
Muriate of Potash (0-0-60)
Recommended Website to Explore
With these available fertilizers, how many
kg in each of them should Mr. Sue Wel [Link]; [Link];
prepared to satisfy the Recommended rate? [Link]
Show your step-by-step solution.

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