Soil Mineral ParticlesOrganic ParticlesWaterAirOrganisms 1 acre-foot of soil may contain 3 tons of organisms! Mineral Particles - We will ignore boulders, rocks, stones and pebbles sand silt clay sizedrainage air capacity water capacity nutrient capacity mm < None of these single particles is ideal for growing plants Loam: a mixture suitable for growing plants Components:

How Do We Know If We Have Loam? Calgon Water Surface Active Agent Surfactant mix, let settle sand silt clay 40% 20% Perfect Loam Not all loams are perfect

Lets Try Another Example sand silt clay 50% 20% 30% Sandy Clay Loam Supports Plant Growth ( NOT ON VIP! )

Lets Try A More-Challenging Example sand silt clay 33% 35% 32% Clay Loam Supports Plant Growth You cannot draw ON the lines, but you MUST stay parallel to them! ( NOT ON VIP )

Do You Really Understand This? sand silt clay 24% 63% 13% You cannot draw ON the lines, but you MUST stay parallel to them! If so, then you should be able to work this process backwards just as easily as forwards! 100% Try to determine the percentages of sand, silt, and clay for the dot of the i in silt loam. How do you check your work? ( NOT ON VIP )

Macronutrients C HOPKNSCaFeMg C. Hopkins Café: Mighty Good CO 2 H2OH2Olimited in most soils the three parts of normal fertilizer limited in CT soils due to acid rain… dolomitic limestone Fertilizer Guaranteed Analysis: N-P-K Example Analysis: Balanced Fertilizer: Good for flower garden %phosphorus =%potassium =%nitrogen = 10%15%5% Another Example: Single Fertilizer: Nitrogen good for lawn %phosphorus =%potassium =%nitrogen = 0% 25%

Micronutrients Co MnCuZnSiMoBAlCl Come on cousin, see Mo by Al and Cleo Micronutrients are just as important but are needed in smaller amount These metal ions serve as cofactors for many enzymes Leached out of soils by acid rain Added to some blended fertilizers Recommended for Connecticut Nutrients Available to Plants Via Soil Water H 2 O H + + OH - Water dissociates:[H + ] = M pH 7 [H + ]: pH Scale: acid neutral alkaline sour sweet bitter vinegar dH 2 O soap cranberry bean grass Pioneer farmers tasted the soil to decide where to homestead

Cation Exchange - how plants mine soils clay particle Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + H+H+ Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Root root hair H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ Ca 2+ opposite charges attract hydrogen cation replaces metal cation released metal cation available for root uptake metal cations move up xylem hydrogen cation secreted

Root root hair Cation Exchange - how acid rain depletes soil H+H+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ hydrogen cations replace the metal cations released metal cations wash into streams, rivers, and Long Island Sound H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ NY: SO 2 + H 2 O -> H 2 SO 3 -> 2H + + SO 3 2- Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Zn + Cu 2+ Fe 3+ Ca 2+ Mg 2+ Mo 2+ CT soil is left without metal cations! Fertilizers with micronutrients are needed. roots have nothing left to mine! NY: NO 2 + H 2 O -> H 2 NO 3 -> 2H + + NO > CT acid rain!

Soil Horizons A blackLeaching zone: roots here (topsoil) B redAccumulating zone: nutrients (subsoil) C rockyWeathered bedrock D solid Bedrock Horizons subject to erosion Black color is caused by organic particles Prevented by: Mulching Proper cultivation Perennial planting Rotting material makes humus particles Improve drainage (air capacity) Increase water holding capacity Increase nutrient holding capacity leaves, grass clippings, compost, green manure, horse manure