Plant Nutrition and Fertility Management

Offering No.
: Assessment No.
Name: Date of submission:
Course and Year: Rating:
SS 22 – Principles of Soil Science

Module No. 7
Plant Nutrition and Fertility Management
Instruction:
1. In Activity 1, you are required to submit at least three (3) pictures that are possibly associat
ed with nutrient deficiency. Please describe the captured images with the following informati
on: (a) place where it is being grown (i.e., pots or polybags, home garden, field-grown, etc.);
(b) type of plants with the scientific name if possible (e.g., rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea maiz
e), coconut (Cocos nucifera), etc.; (c) location of the symptom in the plant (e.g., older, middle
or younger leaves); and (d) what specific part of the leaf that shows some abnormalities are lo
cated (e.g., lamina, margin, etc.).
2. For Activity 2, the learners are required to submit a narrative report (at least 500 words) on
the most common nutrient management strategies done by farmers in your locality (Please se
e instructions below on how to submit reports).
Activity 1
1. San Francisco (Nitrogen)

a. (Backyard)
- Field grown
b. San Francisco Plant (Ornamental)
- Scientific Name: Codiaeum variegatum
c. Younger leaf
d. Leaf lamina
2. Lemon Tree (Magnesium)

e. (Backyard)
- Field grown
f. Lemon tree (Horticultural)
- Scientific Name: Citrus limon
g. Older leaf
h. Leaf lamina
3. Lemon Grass (Potassium)
i. (Backyard)
- Field grown
j. Lemon Grass (Horticultural)
- Scientific Name: Cymbopogon
k. Younger leaf
l. Leaf margin
Activity 2
As a partial requirement for this course, I have interviewed three (3) nearby local farmers
regarding their most common nutrient management strategy for their crops, which is rice (Oryza sativ
a). Upon interviewing, of course, the interviewer and interviewee followed the minimum health safety
protocols by wearing face masks and keeping a distance from one another. I used the notes application
on my phone to jot down their answers to my questions. Surprisingly, despite having to take care of a
rice field in a different municipality, Mr. Catarig (Hilongos, Leyte) and Mr. Alredo and Servano (Hin
dang, Leyte), still have similar methods to maintain the nutrients needed for their crops. These method
s include the application of fertilizer (mixed organic and inorganic). For organic they have livestock
manure. For inorganic fertilizer, they mostly utilize urea, complete fertilizer, and liquid foliar phospho
rus fertilizer. According to them, over their experience, they can swear with the methods they have me
ntioned.
According to Mr. Catarig and Mr. Corcilles the application of the organic fertilizer is usu
ally indirect. It would be incorporated sometimes during the tillage practices since they still use water
buffalo to plow the field during second tillage. Mr. Alfredo Corcilles, usually does not apply organic b
ut he admits that there are certainly instances where the waste of the water buffalo will be mixed since
it is inevitable. As for the application of the inorganic fertilizers, they incorporate urea and complete f
ertilizer by distributing and/or throwing them onto the field. On average, they incorporate them 3 wee
ks after transplanting and repeated after 8 weeks of transplanting the rice. The same goes for the liqui
d folio phosphorus fertilizer, it is implemented by spraying the liquid fertilizer on the ricefield (rice cr
ops is 4 weeks old).
Upon asking the reason behind the choice of fertilizer, Mr. Alfredo gave me an answer.
He said and I quote , “Kabantay ko sukad pa pagkagamay nga moyellow man jud ang dahon sa huma
y. Mangutana ko sa imong lolo kay ingnaan rako nga butngi nag urea. Dili rapd dugay ko nakahibaw
nga tungod diay na sa kanang N sa sako sa fertilizer bitaw” [Translation: I noticed since I was young
that rice leaves tend to yellow. Asking your grandfather, he always tells to just apply urea, never knew
why. Only just recently did I know it’s because of that N in the fertilizer sack.] Mr. Alfredo was indic
ating the chlorosis on the rice leaves. So, analyzing his response, the crops he had observed as a child
were having Nitrogen deficiency, which means that the soil has an insufficient amount of nitrogen in t
he soil for the plants. According to Dr. Layne (2006), plants like rice require an adequate annual suppl
y of nitrogen for healthy growth and productivity, since nitrogen produces amino acids, proteins, nucl
eic acids, and other vital nutrients. Hence, nitrogen deficiency may cause stunted growth for the crops
if not treated immediately which will obviously reduce production. Thus, farmers compensate by appl
ying urea and/or complete fertilizer to satisfy the crops’ needed nutrients for optimum growth.
According to Pittenger (2022), nutrient management is essential for increasing or maintai

ning crop yields on a particular piece of farmland. Soil fertility must be maintained throughout the gro
wing season to suit crop needs. Crops are provided with currently sixteen nutrients through soil and fe
rtilizer sources. Six of them are considered macronutrients, while the rest are considered micronutrient
s. Plants utilize macronutrients in greater quantities, but micronutrient shortages can be just as harmfu
l to output and profitability. Especially, to our own farmers.
References:
Layne, D. (2006). The importance of nitrogen. Retrieved from. https://www.clemson.edu/extension/pe

ach/commercial/fertilization/importance-of-nitrogen.html
Pittenger, D.A. (2022). Crop nutrient requirement. Retrieved from. https://ucanr.edu/sites/Nutrient_M
anagement_Solutions/stateofscience/Meet_Crop_Nutrient_Requirements/

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Offering No.

SS 22 – Principles of Soil Science

1. San Francisco (Nitrogen)

2. Lemon Tree (Magnesium)

According to Pittenger (2022), nutrient management is essential for increasing or maintai

Layne, D. (2006). The importance of nitrogen. Retrieved from. https://www.clemson.edu/extension/pe

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