Soil Composition
What is the ideal soil composition?
50% solids and 50% pore space
What is one thing you can do to improve the drainage of soil?
Add organic matter
What are the three major nutrients in soil?
Which pest is small, soft-bodied and causes piercing/sucking damage?
aphids
What are sticky cards used for?
to monitor for pests
What two things make up pore space?
air and water
What is one thing you can do to improve the moisture retention of soil?
Use mulch
What is the function of nitrogen?
encourages above ground vegetation, green coloring, and regulates the use of other nutrients
Which greenhouse pest is too small to see with just your eyes?
mites
What is one way to prevent pests?
inspect plants before bringing them into the greenhouse
What two things make up the solid particles of soil?
mineral particles and organic matter
What is one thing you can do to help with disease control?
Use resistant varieties of crops
What are some signs of a phosphorus deficiency?
purple coloring and diseased plants
Which pest has white-coloring, but appears orange on sticky cards?
whiteflies
What does IPM stand for?
Integrated Pest Management
What are the three mineral particles that make up soil?
sand, silt, and clay
What is one way to increase the humus content?
Use compost
What does soil pH measure?
soil acidity
What type of damage do cutworms cause?
root damage
What are chemical controls in IPM?
the use of pesticides as needed
Which mineral particle is the largest and which is the smallest?
largest is sand, smallest is clay
What is one thing humus does?
increases the water-holding capacity and good bacteria
What is the ideal pH of soil?
5.6-7
What do mealybugs leave behind on plants?
a thick layer of honeydew like secretions that eventually turns into mold
What are biological controls? Give an example.
The use of living organisms in IPM; parasitic insects, predatory mites, or nematodes