Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

Fertilizer: Any natural or manufactured material, dry or liquid, added to the soil in order
to supply one or more plant nutrients is called a fertilizer. The term generally used
for commercially manufactured materials.
Foliar Fertilization: Fertilization of plants or feeding nutrients to plants by applying
chemical fertilizers to the foliage. This is also known as foliar feeding or spray
fertilization.
Manures: The excreta of animals including dung and urine, with straw and other
materials. The decomposed manure is called farm yard manure.
Nursery: A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to usable size.
Oil cakes: When oil is extracted from oil seeds the remaining solid portion is called oil
cakes.
Sludge: The solid portion of sewage.
Soil Fertility: Soil fertility refers to the inherent capacity of a soil to supply nutrients to
plants.
Trace elements: Micronutrients / minor elements.
3.4 Points to Remember
1. The deficiency of nutrients is specific to the element and it can be corrected only by
supplying that particular element.
2. NPK are called as the Major Primary Nutrients and Ca, Mg and S are called as
secondary nutrients.
3. Plant Nutrient showing deficiency on older or lower leaves are Nitrogen,
Phosphorous, Magnesium, Potassium, and Zinc.
4. Plant Nutrient showing deficiencies on younger leaves are Calcium, Boron, Copper,
Manganese, Sulphur, and Iron.
5. Sand consists of small rock grains (0.05-2.0 mm in diameter) formed as result of the
weathering of various rocks.
6. Peat consists of the remains of aquatic, marsh, bog or swamp vegetation, which has
been preserved under water in a partially decomposed state.
7. Vermiculite is micaceous mineral, which expands markedly when heated. It
chemically a hydrated magnesium- aluminium-iron silicate.
8. Perlite is gray material of volcanic origin mined from flows and has natural reaction
with no buffering and no cation exchange capacity and no mineral content.
9. Coco peat is also called as coco dust. It is most popular growing media available
these days.
10. Chemical properties tested while assessing the quality of water for irrigation are Total
Soluble Salt Concentration, Sodium Absorption Ratio, Residual Absorption
Carbonate and Boron Content.
11. Major components of integrated nutrient management in plant s are Organic Manure,
Inorganic Fertilizers and Biofertilizers.
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