Plant Nutrition, Crop Sciences, University of Illinois

HORT 442: Plant Nutrition
Off-Campus Graduate Studies Program

Course Description
Instructor

Course Meetings
Course Outline
CCA Credit

Course Description

This course is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students interested in the principles of mineral nutrition in plants. The focus of the course will be on the factors and processes influencing the supply, absorption, transport, and utilization of the essential elements required by higher plants. Various aspects of plant physiology and metabolism will be covered, mainly from the standpoint of how and to what extent they are affected or regulated by plant nutrition. Emphasis will be placed on horticultural and crop plants, although consideration of non-cultivated species will be made when appropriate.

Specific topics include essential plant nutrients and their general functions, ion uptake and membrane transport, plant water and nutrition relationships, interactions between nutrients in higher plants, diagnosis of deficiency and toxicity of mineral nutrients, pH and acidity associations in plant nutrition, nitrogen transformations and metabolism, and plant nutrition in hydroponic and soilless systems.

Crop Sciences Degree-Seeking Students: Enroll in HORT 442 CS, CRN 34327
Non-Degree Students: Enroll in HORT 442 XM, CRN 34305

Instructor

Margaret Norton , Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Email: mnorton@uiuc.edu Phone: 217-244-5415

Course Meetings

Summer 2008:

Dates and Times: May 13 to June 26, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-9:45 p.m.
Location: Online using Elluminate software. High speed Internet access and a working microphone are required.
Course Credit: 4 hours ....... Tuition: $1288

Fall 2004: Course was offered at Lincoln Land Community Colllege, Springfield, IL
Fall 1999: Course was offered at Kishwaukee College, Malta

Course Outline

Plant Nutrition Basics: Essential Plant Nutrients and Their General Functions	Definitions and Terminology Classification of Plant Nutrients General Functions Physical and Chemical Properties of Plant Nutrients
Root Structure and Plant Nutrient	Types of root systems Root anatomy Transport of nutrients across roots
Nutrient Content and Composition of Plants	Terminology in Plant Tissue Nutrient Content-Units of Measurement Determining Plant Nutrient Content Factors and Considerations Influencing Plant Nutrient Content Typical Ranges of Nutrients in Plants
Carbohydrates: a review	Classification Review of carbohydrate structure
Soil-Plant Relationships in Plant Nutrition	Soil Solution and the Root/Soil Interface Movement of Nutrients to Plant Roots-Nutrient Acquisition by Plants Functions of Plant Roots Root Structure and Anatomy in Relation to Nutrient Uptake and Absorption
Plant Water Relationships	Physical Properties of Water-a Review Functions of Water in Plant Physiology Water Potential and Osmosis Water Movement in Plants
pH, Acidity, and Alkalinity Relationships in Plant Nutrition	pH Terminology and Calculations Sources of Acidity What's Wrong with Low pH? Liming Reactions to Raise pH Alkalinity and Associated Problems Optimum pH Ranges and Nutrient Availability
Nitrogen Nutrition	Plant N Fractions N Transformations in Plant Nutrition-the N Cycle N Utilization and Assimilation Ammonium vs. Nitrate vs. Mixed-N Nutrition
Membrane Transport	Membrane structure and composition Dynamics of nutrient uptake and membrane transport The Nernst Equation Mechanisms of ion transport
Ion Uptake	Kinetics of ion uptake Competitive and non-competitive nutrient interactions
Water Quality and Plant Nutrition	Evaluating Water Quality-Critical Parameters Interpreting Results Water Purification Systems and Methodology Crop Tolerances to Toxic Constituents in Irrigation Waters
Phosphorus Nutrition
Macronutrient Cation Nutrition (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+)
Micronutrient Nutrition (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Mo)
Diagnosis of Deficiency and Toxicity of Mineral Nutrients	Nutrient Supply and Growth Response Visual and Analytical Diagnosis of Nutrient Deficiency Toxicity of Mineral Elements
Plant Nutrition in Solution Culture	Hoagland's Solution Cultural Practices and Management Options

CCA Credit

All courses offered through the Off-Campus Graduate Studies Program provide
Continuing Education Credits for Certified Crop Advisers. This course provides the following credits:

Nutrient Management	24 hrs	Integrated Pest Management	0 hrs
Soil and Water Management	6 hrs	Crop Management	0 hrs

Revised 4/9/08

Crop Sciences

HORT 442: Plant Nutrition Off-Campus Graduate Studies Program

HORT 442: Plant Nutrition
Off-Campus Graduate Studies Program