Nitrogen
The most basic thing Nitrogen is used for in a plant
What is Vegetative Growth (or shoots! - only valid if you do the fancy hands at the same time).
Most basic thing that Phosphorus is used for in a plant
What is Root Development
Regulates stomatal opening
What is luxury consumption of nutrients
When a plant takes up more than it needs of a given nutrient
Why do we care if a plant has root hairs? (and what growing conditions favour them?)
Root hairs increase surface area for water uptake and nutrient transfer. (which creates more demand for phosphorus in the plant).
soils need to be well aerated for there to be lots of root hairs
Why is Nitrogen primarily associated with vegetative growth? (how does it contribute).
It is part of Chlorophyll (and for the bonus, it is also a primary building block of amino acids)
What is the more specific thing that Phosphorus does in a plant (ATP)
Helps in energy transfer
Secondary function of Potassium in the plant?
Thickens cell walls
Where do we find the largest concentration of mobile nutrients in a plant?
The New Growth (Canopy)
What conditions promote Ammonium toxicity?
Cool conditions - especially if there's too much moisture and a lack of oxygenation. (Microbial life is slowed or dead and Ammonium builds up in the plant instead of being changed to Nitrates)
Where do you tend to see Nitrogen deficiency symptoms first in a plant? (what does it look like)
Chlorosis of the basal (oldest) leaves
Why does phosphorus help in cell differentiation and maturation?
It is part of the backbone of DNA
Marginal chlorosis turning into necrosis - First in the older leaves.
Which nutrients learned are highly mobile?
Nitrogen and Potassium
If you get a flat of plants from a greenhouse and notice that the plants on the edges of the flat all have purple leaves, what should you do?
MINUS points if you said "add phosphorus"!!!!
All you need to do is let them warm up/acclimate to the temperatures.
What is the succulent tissue that comes from luxury consumption of Nitrogen called?
Rank Growth
What does the deficiency symptom for Phosphorus look like?
Purple leaves
In what form is Potassium usually found within the plant?
As a salt
What does Volatilization mean? (and which nutrient type is most susceptible to it?)
It is when nutrients (in this case) escape as a gas. It happens with Nitrogen - the Hydrogen or Oxygen gets used up and the Nitrogen gas disappears through the soil profile.
Why are plants that have luxuriously consumed Nitrogen more susceptible to pathogens and predators?
The cell walls are thin and easy to penetrate (like a juicy steak)
Which forms of Nitrogen leach readily out of the soil?
Any negatively charged form such as Nitrates or Nitrites.
For the bonus: Ammonium and ammonia are positively charged.
What is a problem with phosphorus availability usually related to?
pH (too high or too low - Iron is the other indicator)
When/How can luxury consumption of Potassium be a real problem in the landscape?
When people remove the clippings
How do you know that a plant needs to be fertilized?
Plants that are suffering need first to be checked - do they have enough water, light, and air exchange?
Do they have healthy roots and good soil?
Are there pests on them? Is the soil pH correct? If so... THEN we might fertilize to correct plant health problems.
How do the stomata open?
guard cells photosynthesize.
photosynthates attract potassium
potassium attracts water.