Soil Management

Question 1

What are macronutrients and micronutrients used for?

Answer 1

Macronutrients are used in large quantities by plants and micronutrients are used in small quantities.

Question 2

What elements form the macronutrients?

Answer 2

Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (Ka)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)

No Parking Kant Cause Mugs Spilling
No Puedo Kambiar Cada Miga Sola

Question 3

What elements form the micronutrients?

Answer 3

Iron (Fe)
Zinc (Zn)
Manganese (Mn)
Copper (Cu)
Boron (B)
Molydbdenum (Mo)
Chlorine (Cl)
Nickel (Ni)

Question 4

What is nitrogen needed for?

Answer 4

• Photosynthesis
• Protein production
• Growth
• Reproduction in plants

Plants deficient in nitrogen show slow growth, appear pale green from a lack of chlorophyll and are necrotic.

Question 5

What is phosphorus needed for?

Answer 5

• Growth and reproduction
• Production of new cells
• Seed formation

Plants deficient in phosphorus have stunted growth, do not produce fruit and show signs of wilting and leaf discolouration.

Question 6

Why is Potassium needed for?

Answer 6

• Protein synthesis
• Translocation of carbohydrates

A lack of potassium leads to scorching of leaves, reduced crop growth, poor root development and slow growth.

Question 7

Where are soil nutrients available?

Answer 7

Most nutrients are available between pH 6 and 7. As soils become increasingly acidic or alkaline the availability of particular nutrients is reduced. In some instances these nutrients are unavailable.

Question 8

What does soil testing do?

Answer 8

Soil testing allows a farmer to determine the nutrients available in their land and to determine how suitable an area is for crop growth.

Question 9

What fertilisers are there?

Answer 9

• Farmyard Manure (organic matter) The best
• Slurry, 2nd best
• Fertilisers (10:10:20 N:P:K) [expensive, environmental consequences when over-used]
• Grow clover (increases nitrogen in the soil)

Question 10

How do you apply the fertiliser?

Answer 10

Placing it in the soil –> Broadcasting it –> Top dressing

Question 11

What soes FARMYARD MANURE consist of?

Answer 11

Farmyard manure (FYM) consists of animal dung, animal urine and straw from winter bedding.

Question 12

What is slurry?

Answer 12

Slurry is liquid manure that contains animal dung and urine.

Question 13

Guidelines for taking a soil sample

Answer 13

When sampling a soil, a soil auger should be used to take at least 20 samples from a variety of areas in a field.
Teagasc categorises soils in a soil index system. This ranks a soil by its fertility level and its likely response to fertiliser application

Question 14

Bad things of slurry:

Answer 14

Slurry releases toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane when agitated. Proper ventilation is necessary when agitating slurry. Slurry tanks should have barriers or fencing to prevent humans or livestock falling in and drowning.

Question 15

Soil drainage, what is it?

Answer 15

Animals have a range of influences on the soil, including:

• Damage by poaching
• Contribution of organic matter and nutrients from dung
• Improvement of soil structure by earthworms.

Question 16

Eutrophication

Answer 16

Eutrophication is the artificial enrichment of a habitat with nutrients.

Question 17

How can be the water quality mantained?

Answer 17

Water quality on farms can be maintained by ensuring fertilisers, effluents and washings are collected and prevented from entering watercourses.

Question 18

NOTES ON SOIL MANAGEMENT

Answer 18

Essential macronutrients include: N,P,K,Ca, Mg, S
Essential micronutrients include: Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni
Lack of Nitrogen causes slow growth and a pale green colour.
Farmyard manure is best, as this adds organic matter to the soil that attracts decomposers, which aerate the soil.
Slurry is liquid manure that contains urine and animal dung.
Slurry releases toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane when agitated. Proper ventilation is necessary when agitating slurry. Slurry tanks should have barriers or fencing to prevent humans or livestock falling in and drowning.
Soil should be regularly tested. Nutrients are available in pH 6-7. As soils become increasingly acidic or alkaline the availability of particular nutrients is reduced.
Eutrophication is the artificial enrichment of a habitat with nutrients.
Water quality on farms can be maintained by ensuring fertilisers, effluents and washings are collected and prevented from entering watercourses.