Plant Nutrient Deficiencies

Students discuss the definition of “fertilizer” and relate it to plant nutrition and the need to restore nutrient balance in agricultural soils. They discuss how people and crops can suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Students assume the roles of plant doctors and diagnose nutrient deficiencies in corn plants. After completing this lesson, students will be able to recognize that plants, like people, require essential nutrients to be present in the right amounts in order to be healthy; use reference materials to diagnose plant nutrient deficiencies; define fertilizer as a type of “food” for plants; and appreciate that fertilizers are used to replenish nutrients in agricultural soils.

The Growers’ Academy is a sixteen-week course which includes classes on topics such as soil preparation, nutrition, and community responsibility. Each class includes a 45-minute classroom lesson and 45 minutes working in the Center’s new Community Garden. The Growers’ Academy and Community Garden are sponsored and fully funded by our partners, CF Industries.