Across
- 3. composts and similar materials created from once living organisms that are rich in organic matter and only contain small amounts of nutrients
- 5. mined or man-made materials that act only as wedges in the soil to separate soil particles, increase soil porosity, and improve aeration
- 6. some organic amendments, like compost, can harbor seeds from undesirable plants that will germinate in planting beds
- 7. any material that supplies one or more of the chemical elements required for the plant growth and increase soil fertility
- 10. physical size of the fertilizer component applied to soil
- 14. chemical properties of each form of fertilizer determine how long it takes that type to be ready for use by the plants
- 15. nutrients that plants require in the highest concentration and that most frequently need to be supplemented to sustain growth and for overall plant health
- 16. nutrients plants require for growth that are needed in small quantities
Down
- 1. application of fertilizer in excess of the capacity of the target plants for optimum productivity.
- 2. cellulose contained in woody mulches, sawdust, and wood chips need nutrients to decompose
- 4. material added to soil to improve its physical properties like water retention, permeability, aeration, and structure
- 8. refers to how acid or alkaline the soil is
- 9. magnesium, and sulfur
- 11. how readily nutrients dissolve in the soil water and taken up by plants.
- 12. nutrients needed in high concentrations but less than primary macronutrients and most soils are not as frequently deficient in these macronutrients
- 13. minerals (fertilizers) that dissolve in water, but stay behind and become concentrated in the soil when water evaporates from the mix; and can inhibit the uptake of water by the plant
