If the soil used for growing vegetation is deficient in minerals it can lead to deficiency disease in
population consuming that vegetation? Justify your answer.
Answers
Answer:
1. Soils and Plant Nutrients
Outline
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Objectives
Introduction: What is Soil?
The Soil Profile
Physical Properties of Soil
Color
Texture
Structure
Water-Holding Capacity
How to Remediate Compaction
Organic Matter
Chemical Properties of Soil
Cation Exchange Capacity
Soil Testing
How to Use a Soil Test Report
Soil pH
Nutrient Availability and pH
Adjusting pH
Plant Nutrition and Fertilization
Soil Nutrients
Fertilizers
When to Apply Fertilizer
The Biology of Soil
Frequently Asked Questions
Further Reading
Chapter Text Hyperlinks
For More Information
NC State and NC State Extension publications
Internet Resources
Contributors
I. Objectives
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This chapter teaches people to:
Identify the physical properties of soil and describe how they impact the suitability of soil for growing plants.
Describe organic matter and how it can used to improve the soil.
Explain how to collect a soil sample and how to use a soil test report.
For each of the six macronutrients, describe symptoms of deficiency and of excess.
Identify strategies to reduce the impact of fertilizer on water quality.
Identify the variety of soil-dwellers, their benefits, and strategies for promoting their health.
II. Introduction: What Is Soil?
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Soil is a living, breathing, natural entity composed of solids, liquids, and gases. Soil has five major functions:
Provides a habitat for organisms
Recycles waste products
Filters water
Serves as an engineering material
Provides a medium for plant growth1
Our focus will be on the fifth function. In this role, soil provides structural stability for plants and retains and relinquishes water and the nutrients necessary for plant