- -  AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - -

(CLF6000) Advanced Core Cluster: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE

   (CLF6350) Unit Title: ELEMENTS NECESSARY FOR PLANT GROWTH

                              UNIT DIRECTORY:

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       Code        Topic Title                         Hours    Year(s)
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      (CLF6351)    Primary, Secondary, & Micronutrients  1       3 / 4
                    Necessary for Plant Growth 
                                                                           
      (CLF6352)    Sources of N, P, and K                1       3 / 4 
                                                                           
      (CLF6353)    Function of Nutrients                 1       3 / 4 
                    in Plant Growth  
                                                                           
      (CLF6354)    Reading the Fertilizer Label          1       3 / 4 
                                                                           
      (CLF6355)    Soil Amendments                       1       3 / 4 
                                                                           
      (CLF6356)    Uses of Fertilizers                   1       3 / 4 
                                                                           
      (CLF6357)    Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies     1       3 / 4 
                    (N,P,K,FE,S,MG,B, and ZN)                              
                                                                           
      (CLF6358)    Determining Nutrient Deficiencies     2       3 / 4 
                                                                           
      (CLF6359)    Methods of Application                1       3 / 4 
                                                                           
                                   TOTAL TIME FOR UNIT = 10

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UNIT GOAL: Students will identify the elements and nutrients necessary for 
           plant growth and production, the techniques for amending soils, 
           and the principles necessary for calculating application rates 
           and applying fertilizers for specific needs.

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NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR: THIS UNIT ESSENTIALLY DUPLICATES PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE 
                    CLF7450.
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UNIT OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able 
                 to:

 1. List the primary, secondary, and micronutrient elements necessary for
    plant growth.

 2. List a source of each of the primary elements: N, P, and K.

 3. Discuss the function of nutrients in plant growth.

 4. Read the directions on a fertilizer label and demonstrate proper 
    dilution and application techniques.

 5. Calculate the content of N-P-K in a fertilizer container from 
    information on the package.

 6. Calculate the amount of fertilizer needed for an acre of crop using a 
    selected nitrogen source.

 7. Calculate the cost per pound of plant nutrient in one ton of 
    fertilizer.

 8. Define "soil amendment" and list three inorganic and three in organic 
    soil amendments.

 9. Identify three ways soil amendments can improve soil.

10. List three advantages of organic and three advantages of inorganic 
    fertilizer.

11. Discuss the process of nitrogen fixation and identify plants with this 
    ability.

12. List symptoms of plant nutrient deficiencies when the following 
    minerals are inadequate: N,P,K,Fe,S,Mg,B, and Zn.

13. Identify three general methods for testing soil deficiency.

14. Perform a soil test and complete a report on the test.

15. Interpret a commercial soil test report.

16. Demonstrate at least three common methods of fertilizer application.

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REFERENCES:

Agrios, George N. (1978). PLANT PATHOLOGY (2nd ed.). NY: Academic Press.

Donahue, Roy L., & Miller, Raymond W. (1990). SOILS: AN INTRODUCTION TO
 SOILS AND PLANT GROWTH (6th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Hartmann, H., Kofranek, Anton M., Rubatzky, Vincent E., & Flocker, William
 J. (1988). PLANT SCIENCE: GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND UTILIZATION OF 
 CULTIVATED PLANTS (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

WESTERN FERTILIZER HANDBOOK (7th ed.). (1985). Danville, IL: 
 Interstate Printers and Publishers.

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RESOURCES:

Ag Access (agricultural book source). PO Box 2008, Davis, CA 95616
 (916) 756-7177. (Contact for catalog.)

Vocational Education Productions (VEP) (slides, videos, etc., California
 Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. In California:
 (805) 756-2295; outside California: 1-800-235-4146. (contact for catalog.)




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