scobbie
01-27-2006, 02:00 AM
NPKNITROGEN
It gives the plant a healthy deep green colour. It promotes stem and leaf growth and increases the protein content of edible plants. It is essential therefore for plants which need their leaf development encouraged. Such plants would include Cabbage, lettuce. lawns and so on, but all growing plants need some nitrogen
Nitrogen Deficiency
If you have nitrogen deficiency, the plants become stunted and yellow looking. Eventually the leaves at the bottom of the plant begin to dry up and wither. This process continues up the plant until (in extreme cases) the whole plant dies.
Excess of Nitrogen (N)
An excess of nitrogen is also undesirable because stem and leaf growth will be produced at the expense of fruit and flowers. The growth will become far too luxuriant and sappy, which means that it is weaker, more susceptible to damage by frost, and disease resistance is lowered.
Essential for the development of a strong healthy root system.
PHOSPHOROUS(P)
Young plants have a rapid intake of phosphorous, so it is important that seed beds and seed composts have a plentiful supply. Root crops such as Carrot, Potato and Parsnip will all decrease in yield if there is insufficient Phosphate available. It is also vital for the movement and storage of food reserves within the plant, and the main nutrient concerned with the proper development of seed production.
Phosphate Deficiency
A deficiency of Phosphate may be indicated in plants when the foliage becomes a blue/grey shade of green. This gradually turns to a bronzy shade of green as the deficiency worsens. Growth slows down and the plant gives a poor yield of fruit and seeds.
POTASH (K)
This develops fruit and flowers.
Brighter colours and improved keeping qualities are the result of sufficient supplies of potash.
It also toughens up plants making them more resistant to disease, and can help to counterbalance any excess of Nitrogen. Potash plays an important part in the formation of sugars and starches which can be stored by the plant in swollen roots e.g. Dahlia, Turnip.
Potash Deficiency
A deficiency of Potash shows first as yellowing of the leaf margins, these may later go brown and scorched looking. Sometimes scorch shows up as leaf spotting and often starts at the base of the plant. In severe cases the whole plant can collapse and dieExcess of Potash
An excess of Potash is also bad for plants since this can cause too much water to be absorbed by the plant, giving reduced frost resistance.
It gives the plant a healthy deep green colour. It promotes stem and leaf growth and increases the protein content of edible plants. It is essential therefore for plants which need their leaf development encouraged. Such plants would include Cabbage, lettuce. lawns and so on, but all growing plants need some nitrogen
Nitrogen Deficiency
If you have nitrogen deficiency, the plants become stunted and yellow looking. Eventually the leaves at the bottom of the plant begin to dry up and wither. This process continues up the plant until (in extreme cases) the whole plant dies.
Excess of Nitrogen (N)
An excess of nitrogen is also undesirable because stem and leaf growth will be produced at the expense of fruit and flowers. The growth will become far too luxuriant and sappy, which means that it is weaker, more susceptible to damage by frost, and disease resistance is lowered.
Essential for the development of a strong healthy root system.
PHOSPHOROUS(P)
Young plants have a rapid intake of phosphorous, so it is important that seed beds and seed composts have a plentiful supply. Root crops such as Carrot, Potato and Parsnip will all decrease in yield if there is insufficient Phosphate available. It is also vital for the movement and storage of food reserves within the plant, and the main nutrient concerned with the proper development of seed production.
Phosphate Deficiency
A deficiency of Phosphate may be indicated in plants when the foliage becomes a blue/grey shade of green. This gradually turns to a bronzy shade of green as the deficiency worsens. Growth slows down and the plant gives a poor yield of fruit and seeds.
POTASH (K)
This develops fruit and flowers.
Brighter colours and improved keeping qualities are the result of sufficient supplies of potash.
It also toughens up plants making them more resistant to disease, and can help to counterbalance any excess of Nitrogen. Potash plays an important part in the formation of sugars and starches which can be stored by the plant in swollen roots e.g. Dahlia, Turnip.
Potash Deficiency
A deficiency of Potash shows first as yellowing of the leaf margins, these may later go brown and scorched looking. Sometimes scorch shows up as leaf spotting and often starts at the base of the plant. In severe cases the whole plant can collapse and dieExcess of Potash
An excess of Potash is also bad for plants since this can cause too much water to be absorbed by the plant, giving reduced frost resistance.