Skills and competencies A set of observable performance dimensions, including individual knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as collective team, process, and organizational capabilities, that are linked to high performance, and provide the organization with sustainable competitive advantage.
Basic Research Competencies 1. Critical thinking and the scientific method 2. Subject matter knowledge 3. Technical skills in the lab (many, many) and in the field (experimental design, sampling) 4. Oral, written and listening communication skills
Basic Teaching Competencies 1. Subject matter knowledge 2. Instructional practice: The teacher appropriately utilizes a variety of teaching methods and resources for each area taught. 3. Communication skills 4. The teacher comprehends the principles of student growth, development and learning, and applies them appropriately 5. Teaching evaluation 6. Problem solving 7. Classroom equity
Basic Extension Competencies 1. Identifying relevant and timely programmatic needs 2. Developing and sustaining collaborative partnerships to enhance learning outcomes 3. Using technology or other innovative tools to enhance learning 4. Defining learning objectives that address the needs of learners 5. Matching teaching strategies to educational material and the audience s learning style 6. Evaluating programs; documenting return on investment for the program
Advanced Scientific Competencies Scientific knowledge Ability to learn and adapt Ability to formulate a research issue Capacity for analysis and grasp of sophisticated IT tools Ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment Ability to incorporate existing knowledge
Soft individual skills 1. Strong work ethic 2. Positive attitude; self-confidence 3. Time management 4. Problem solving skills 5. Acceptance of criticism and ability to learn from it 6. Flexibility and adaptability 7. Working well under pressure
Project and Team Management Skills Ability to work in a team and to develop a network Communication skills Ability to assess Language skills Business culture and management skills Project management skills Ability to manage and steer teams Awareness of the pertinence of the research and its impact on the environment
Soft People Skills Creativity Open-minded approach Motivation, involvement Adaptability Ability to self-assess Conflict resolution Consensus building Recruiting, interviewing Collaboration/teamwork Communication Leadership ability Coaching, mentoring Planning, organizing Presentation
Bloom s Taxonomy of Knowledge Bloom s taxonomy of knowledge August 2, 2006 Kasetsart University, Thailand
Revised Bloom s taxonomy of knowledge No. Level of Learning Kind of Learning Assessment Verbs 1 Remembering Memorization Recall relevant information or facts 2 Understanding Use knowledge to produce a result or solve problem Apply knowledge to a new situation 3 Analyzing See patterns Identify element of systems and see how they are related Define, describe, list, label, identify, review Summarize, explain, discuss, restate, compare, classify, interpret, paraphrase, give examples Contrast, organize, arrange, integrate, explain how, predict, derive, model, formulate, criticize
Revised Bloom s taxonomy of knowledge No. Level of Learning Kind of Learning Assessment Verbs 4 Evaluating Assess the value of theories, facts, or data Discriminate among alternatives Develop and use standards and criteria to make decisions 5 Creating Reorganizing elements or components to create new knowledge or information Assess, rank, select, recommend, judge, convince, conclude, test, critique, rate, score, prioritize, defend, argue, justify, conclude Design, construct, devise, make, propose, generate, set up, organize, plan, prepare, develop
Nutrition of Horticultural Crops Eric H. Simonne Horticultural Sciences Department University of Florida Spring 2015
Course main sections: 1. Fundamentals of plant nutrition 2. Essential elements 3. Irrigation and plant nutrition 4. Soil testing and plant analysis 5. Practices of plant nutrition
Section 1. Fundamentals of plant nutrition Chemistry background: Acidity Oxido-reduction (Redox) Solubility Philosophy of fertilization Principles of plant nutrition
Acidity and ph Brönstead-Lawry theory: an acid is a compound that can give away a proton (H + ) or hydronium ion (H 3 O + ): AH <=> A - + H + ph = -log [H + ] = log {1/[H + ]} A base is a compound that can give away an hydronium ion (OH - ): BOH <=> B + + OH -
Acidity and ph Strong acid: totally dissociated: Nitric acid: HNO 3 H + + NO 3 - Hydrochloric acid: HCl H + + Cl - Sulfuric acid: H 2 SO 4 2 H + + SO 4 -- Application: drip tape maintenance, changing irrigation water ph Week acid: partially dissociated: Ka = [H + ] x [A - ] / [AH] or ph = pka + log{ [A - ] / [AH] }
Weak acid and buffer effect: Near the pka, ph does not respond to added OH-
Application 1: Phosphoric acid Phosphoric acid:h 3 PO 4 H + + H 2 PO 4-2H + + HPO 4 -- 3H + + PO 4 --- P-acid: pka1 = 2.12; pka2 = 7.21; pka3 = 12.67 Soil ph: - Green: target - Blue: sandy soils FL - Red: calcareous soils
Application 2: Boric acid Boric acid: H 3 BO 3 H + + H 2 BO - 3 2H + + HBO -- 3 3H + + BO --- 3 B-acid: pka1 = 9.14; pka2 = 12.74; pka3 = 13.80
Oxido-reduction An oxidant can give away an electron (e - ); a reducer can accept and e- Oxidation = loss of electron: Ox + e - Red Reduction = gain of electron: Red Ox + e - Redox reactions: Ox + e - Red "LEO the lion says GER:" Lose Electrons Oxidation, Gain Electrons Reduction Fe ++ Fe +++ + e - Cu ++ Cu + + e Zn ++ Zn + + e Application to plant nutrition: flood = anaerobic condition = reducing environment (limited O 2 )
Solubility There is a physical limit as to how much particles can remain in true solution AC A - + C + Solubility product constant: K S = [A - ] x [C + ] Application: dissolving fertilizers for liquid injections
Section 1. Fundamentals of plant nutrition Chemistry background Philosophy of fertilization Principles of plant nutrition
Plants need to grow: Water (H 2 O) Minerals (macronutrients, micronutrients) Oxygen (O 2 ) Carbon (CO 2 ) Light (Time for growth to occur) Note: soil is not in this list!
Goal of plant nutrition The goal of every fertilizer program is to ensure that the supply of essential nutrients does not limit crop growth. Yet, the philosophy and means used in conventional and organic production systems are different.
Philosophy of fertilization in conventional production systems Fertilization is based on soil testing and the crop s nutritional requirement (CNR). The CNR represents the total amount of nutrients needed to produce a crop. Soil testing is used to determine the amount of cropavailable nutrients available in the soil. The difference between plant needs and soil supply is provided though the application of organic or inorganic fertilizers. CNR = Soil supply + fertilization Because inorganic fertilizers are blends of soluble salts, it is possible to tailor the relative amount of the nutrients needed for each crop under different soil fertility levels. Hence, in conventional production, fertilization is flexible and can be adapted to every crop type.
CNR Soil Fertilization Other CNR: Source of nutrients needed to grow a crop other = irrigation water, rainfall,
Soluble Nutrient source Soluble nutrients Approach to fertilization in conventional production Soil nutrient pool: -organic form -mineral form Microbial release Plant uptake
Philosophy of fertilization in organic production systems Fertilization in organic systems focuses on soil health and soil nutrient reserve. Fertilization feeds the soil microorganisms first, which in turn feed the crop (USDA Organics rule: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexie.htm). Sources of nutrients that can be used in organic production have to comply with the requirements of the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances approved by the Organic Material Review Institute s (OMRI) which tests the legality of components, not their nutritional value or efficiency.
OMRI-approved Nutrient source Soluble nutrients Approach to fertilization in organic production Soil nutrient pool: -organic form -mineral form Microbial release Plant uptake
Section 1. Principles of plant nutrition Chemistry background Philosophy of fertilization Principles of plant nutrition
Principle 1. Plants take up 13 essential elements from the soil in the form of charged particles and not in the form of fertilizer.
Essential Nutrients - Definition (Arnold and Stout, 1939) Essentiality = element that fulfills 3 points: The plant cannot complete its life cycle without it. Lack of the element (deficiency) creates symptoms, which disappear upon addition of that element. The element has at least one SPECIFIC biochemical role in the plant.
Essential Nutrients - List MACRONUTRIENTS: MICRONUTRIENTS: Nitrogen (NO 3, NH 4 ) Boron (B) Phosphorus (P) Chlorine (Cl) Potassium (K) Copper (Cu) Calcium (Ca) Iron (Fe) Magnesium (Mg) Manganese (Mn) Sulfur (S) Molybdenum (Mo) Zinc (Zn) Free elements : C, H, O
Non-Essential Elements Sodium (Na)* Silicon (Si)* Aluminum (Al) Titanium (Ti)
Essential Nutrients - Definition (Arnold and Stout, 1939) Essentiality = element that fulfills 3 points: The plant cannot complete its life cycle without it. Lack of the element (deficiency) creates symptoms, which disappear upon addition of that element. The element has at least one SPECIFIC biochemical role in the plant.
Essential Nutrients - Definition (Epstein, 2005) Essentiality = element that fulfills 1or 2 of: The element is part of a molecule that is an intrinsic component of the structure or metabolism of the plant. The plant can be so severely deprived of the element that it exhibits abnormality in its growth, development, or reproduction ( performance ) in comparison with plants not so deprived.
Elements and forms taken up Nitrate NO 3 - Phosphate H 2 PO 4 - Sulfate SO 4 - - Ammonium NH 4 + Potassium K + Calcium Ca ++ Magnesium Mg ++ Borate H 2 BO 3 - Chloride Cl - Molybdate MoO 4 - Copper Cu ++ Iron Fe ++ Manganese Mn ++ Zinc Zn ++
Elements and forms not (or poorly) physiologically active: Nitrite NO 2 - Nitrogen gas N 2 Phosphite H 2 PO 3 - Phosphorus P 2 O 5 Sulfur dioxide SO 2 Ammonia NH 3 Potassium oxide K 2 O Calcium oxide CaO Magnesium oxide MgO Forms poorly taken up: Copper Cu + Iron Fe +++ Manganese Mn + Zinc Zn +
Dry matter partitioning: 100g Minerals Dry organic matter 0 10g 100g 1000 g fresh weight = 900 g water + 100g dry matter Mineral: 10% of dry weight 1% of fresh weight
Dry matter partitioning Minerals Dry organic matter 0 10% 100% All micros Nitrogen Potassium Ca P S Mg 0 4% 8% 9% 9.9910% Mineral weight partitioning
Principle 2. The most important element in plant nutrition is
Liebeg s law of the minimum This principle compares the yield of a crop with a barrel, where the boards form the essential nutrients. The barrel can filled up only to the shortest board. Maximum yield potential "A crop s yield is restricted by the lack of a single element, even though there may be sufficient quantities of all other essential nutrients."
Principle 3. No correlation exists between PRESENCE in the soil and AVAILABILITY for uptake Chemical activity is the key
Why? Because of the chemical form (ion vs cristal) Because of ph effect (changes in charge) Because of competitive effects for uptake (mass action) Because of cross-precipitation: Ca + SO 4 CaSO 4 Ca + H 2 PO 4 Ca-P
Principle 4. Relative amounts of nutrients are as important as absolute quantities
Essential Nutrients - Characteristics MACRONUTRIENTS: Present in the plant in the range of grams/100grams of dry weight (%) 3%<N<6% 1% = 10,000 ppm MICRONUTRIENTS: Present in the plant in the range of milligrams/kg of dry weight (ppm) 6 ppm<cu<100 ppm Smaller quantities does not imply less essential!!
Some generic ratios in plant tissue N:K 1:1 P:Mg 1:1 P:S 1:1 Ca+Mg:K 1:2 to 1:3
Applications Iron-induced manganese deficiency Potassium-induced blossom-end rot Sodium-induced potassium deficiency P immobilization by Ca Effects of sodium alleviated with KNO 3 application
Principle 5. Water plays a central role in fertilizer issues, as a solvent and as a nutrient carrier within and below the root zone
Karst Features
Principle 6. Plant nutrient content and relative yield are linked Sufficiency allows for diagnosis
Summary of fertility principles 1. Plants take up 13 essential elements from the soil in the form of charged particles 2. The most important element in plant nutrition is the limiting one 3. No correlation exists between PRESENCE in the soil and AVAILABILITY for uptake
Summary of fertility principles 4. Relative amounts of nutrients are as important as quantities 5. Water plays a central role in fertilizer issues, as a solvent and as a carrier within and below the root zone 6. Plant nutrient content and relative yield are linked
Thank you Comments? Any questions?