Plant Nutrition and Growing Media

Description

Overview of the principles of plant nutrition including: N-P-K, macro/micro-elements and salinity issues. Selection and preparation of growing media, hydroponic solution and fertiliser. Identification methods for nutrient deficiency or toxicity, and their corrective measures.

Objectives

• Understand plant nutritional requirements
  • Describe the role and importance of NPK elements in plant nutrition
  • Describe the role and importance of macro/micro elements in plant nutrition
  • Describe the role and importance of salinity issues in plant nutrition
  • Describe identification methods for nutrient deficiency and toxicity
  • Describe corrective measures for nutrient deficiency or toxicity
  • Identify nutrient deficiency and toxicity in plants
  • Establish correctives measures for plant typical nutrition deficiency and toxicity
• Prepare media and nutrient solutions
  • Select proper plant growing media
  • Prepare the growing media according to plant needs
  • Determine proper amounts of solute and solvent for desired feeding solution
  • Correctly adjust feeding solution in accordance with plant needs using dilution principles
  • Prepare nutrient and feeding solutions according to plant needs

Content Overview

• Plant nutrition terminology: nutrients, solutes, solvents, concentrates, fertilizers, etc.
• N-P-K or NPK: fertilisation and labels
• Macro and micro-elements
• Nutrients deficiency and toxicity
• Symptoms and correctives methods for nutrients deficiency and toxicity
• Preparation of nutrient solution and fertiliser
• Selection and preparation of growing media
• Calculations for preparation of feeding solutions
• Dilution calculations
• Concentrate preparations