About the Course

The course covers the basic principles of plant nutrition, fertilizer use, and environmental management of nutrients. Essential plant nutrients are examined in relation to their function and deficiency symptoms in plants and their chemistry in the soil. The course covers the properties and use of fertilizers for supplying plant nutrients, chemical reaction of fertilizers in soils and agronomic and economic criteria for determining fertilization. The class covers environmental issues with the overuse of fertilizers, best management practices to reduce the impact of conventional agriculture on the environment, soil and plant tissue testing, sustainable agriculture, and organic farming.