Chemical Properties of Container Media

Question 1

Primary Macronutrients

Answer 1

NPK

Question 2

Secondary Macronutrients

Answer 2

Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulpher (S)

Question 3

Micronutrients

Answer 3

Al, B, Cl, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Zn

Question 4

synthetic fertilizer

Answer 4

manufacturing produces pollution
can easily kill/damage crop
offer reliable/accurate formulations and control
concentrated (less product-costs less)

Question 5

natural fertilizer

Answer 5

inherently slow release
not formulated consistently or accurately (less control
belky to handle and store

Question 6

bone meal

Answer 6

2-13-0
high in phosphorus and calcium
mycorrhizal fungi beneficial for P intake

Question 7

blood meal

Answer 7

12-0-0
natural source of nitrogen and iron

Question 8

guano

Answer 8

10-3-1
bat/seabird manure
high in nitrogen/phosphorus/micronutrients

Question 9

compost tea

Answer 9

5:1 water to compost
water soluble nutrients

Question 10

fossilized carbon complex

Answer 10

byproduct of coal mining
leonardite
created humic acids

Question 11

rock phosphate

Answer 11

phosphorus
insoluble form
very slow release

Question 12

feather meal

Answer 12

13-0-0
granular

Question 13

fish meal

Answer 13

10-6-2

Question 14

greensand

Answer 14

0-0-3
marine deposits
source of K
very slow release

Question 15

kelp meal

Answer 15

1.2-0.2-2.5
environmentally detrimental

Question 16

soy meal

Answer 16

6.5-1.5-2.4
inhibit seedling germination after top dressing

Question 17

lime

Answer 17

calcium carbonate
CaCO3
raises pH and supplies Ca

Question 18

dolomite lime

Answer 18

50% calcium carbonate and 40% magnesium carbonate
slow release
raise pH

Question 19

gypsum

Answer 19

source of Ca and S w/o affecting pH

Question 20

glacial rock dust

Answer 20

mined glacial moraine
micronutrients

Question 21

mined potassium sulphate

Answer 21

source of K and S

Question 22

fertibor

Answer 22

mined boron
toxic in certain quantities

Question 23

azomite rock dust

Answer 23

aluminum silicate clay
source of K

Question 24

black rock phosphate

Answer 24

30% rock phosphate
very slow release

Question 25

superphosphate 0-20-0 or triple superphosphate 0-45-0

Answer 25

P is more soluble/available processed phosphate rock

Question 26

stages of plant production

Answer 26

seedling vegetative early flowering flushing hardening

Question 27

typical analysis ratios of fertilizers

Answer 27

seedling: 1-2-1 vegetative: 3-1-2 early flowering: 1-3-2 hardening: 1-2-3

Question 28

sources of soluble salts

Answer 28

fertilizers manures organic matter composts

Question 29

effects of high soluble salt levels

Answer 29

root injury unconverted salts accumulating in leaf tissue salts in media make absorb water through osmosis, making it harder for roots to draw up water

Question 30

reason for salt buildup in media

Answer 30

poor irrigation poor nutrition management

Question 31

remediating high salt levels

Answer 31

flushing

Question 32

electrical conductivity use

Answer 32

to measure fertilizer levels and measure salt accumulation in media

Question 33

typical readings of nutrient solutions

Answer 33

ppm N: 50-200ppm TDS: 200-1000ppm mS: 0.75-2.5