Question 1

For most plants the relationship between plant tissue concentration of a nutrient and the dry matter production of the plant is linear until toxicity begins to have an effect.

Accepted Answer

The relationship between plant tissue concentration of a nutrient and the dry matter production of the plant typically follows a curve, not a linear pattern. Initially, as nutrient concentration increases, dry matter production increases up to an optimum level. Beyond this optimum, further increases in nutrient concentration can lead to toxicity, reducing dry matter production. This relationship is often depicted as a sigmoid curve, illustrating initial deficiency, optimal range, and toxicity.

Question 2

The primary means to avoid non-point source nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in agricultural watersheds is to avoid applications that bring the available supply of these nutrients in soils to amounts higher that can be used by crop plants.

Accepted Answer

This is true because excess nitrogen and phosphorus in soils can lead to runoff and leaching into nearby water bodies, causing harmful algal blooms and other negative impacts on water quality. By carefully managing fertilizer and manure applications, farmers can reduce the risk of non-point source pollution from these nutrients.

Question 3

Integrated nutrient management seeks to apply, as fertilizer, enough of each nutrient to replace that removed from the soil by plant uptake.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Integrated nutrient management seeks to apply, as...

Question 4

Buffer strips are usually a last-resort mechanism of pollution control because of their expense and unfavorable side-effects.

Accepted Answer

Buffer strips are actually a well-established and effective mechanism for reducing pollution and improving water quality. While they may have upfront costs, their long-term benefits often outweigh these costs. Additionally, they can also provide benefits such as wildlife habitat and erosion control.

Question 5

Many years of research have confirmed that the quadratic (parabolic curve) model is the best method of making fertilizer recommendations based on response curves, especially if environmental quality is a high priority.

Accepted Answer

The best method for making fertilizer recommendations based on response curves can vary depending on the specific crop, soil conditions, and environmental considerations. While the quadratic (parabolic curve) model is commonly used, other models like linear, exponential, and others may better fit certain situations. The choice of model depends on the response of the crop to fertilizer in specific conditions, and no single model is universally the best across all scenarios.

Question 6

Most research has shown that at both high and low fertilization levels, about 15 to 20% of the nitrogen applied as fertilizer will be lost by leaching from medium textured soils growing corn.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most research has shown that at both...

Question 7

Routine soil testing on a regular basis allows landowners to monitor most changes in soil quality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Routine soil testing on a regular basis...

Question 8

Soil test interpretations have been developed so that for most fields testing "high" in a nutrient, addition of that nutrient will not increase yield enough to more than pay for the cost of applying the nutrient.

Accepted Answer

Soil test interpretations are based on the principle that there is a diminishing marginal response to nutrient additions. This means that once a nutrient is present in sufficient quantities, adding more of it will not lead to a significant increase in yield. Therefore, for fields testing "high" in a nutrient, adding more of that nutrient will not result in a significant increase in yield and may not be cost-effective.

Question 9

When banding fertilizer, the material should be placed about 1 or 2 cm below the seed being planted.

Accepted Answer

Banding fertilizer typically involves placing the fertilizer 2 to 5 cm to the side and 2 to 5 cm below the seed to avoid seed damage from high concentrations of fertilizer salts.

Question 10

Soil test interpretations have been developed so that for most fields testing "low" in a nutrient, addition of that nutrient will increase yield enough to more than pay for the cost of applying the fertilizer.

Accepted Answer

Soil test interpretations are based on research and data that suggest adding a particular nutrient to a field will result in a significant increase in yield that more than pays for the cost of the fertilizer application. This is why soil testing is an important tool for farmers to ensure optimal crop growth and yield.

Question 11

As runoff water flows across a grassed buffer strip, the concentrations of N and P in the water decrease slowly at first, but if the buffer strip is sufficiently wide, major reductions in these concentrations will occur just before the water leaves the buffer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As runoff water flows across a grassed...

Question 12

For most soils, even if they test "high" in a nutrient such as potassium or nitrogen, it is necessary to apply at least as much of each nutrient as is removed in the harvest, if the soil is not to eventually become infertile and unproductive.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For most soils, even if they test...

Question 13

Land application of treated sewage sludge is an effective means of recycling nutrients back to the soil from which they were originally taken.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Land application of treated sewage sludge is...

Question 14

Based on the data given in the Table, if the revegetation site were limed and fertilized with nitrogen, would you also recommend the addition of P fertilizer to improve tree growth?
A)no
B)yes
C)no basis to judge

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the data given in the...

Question 15

Broadcast application usually requires less fertilizer to achieve a given level of plant response than does banding.

Accepted Answer

Banding often requires less fertilizer to achieve a given level of plant response because it places nutrients closer to the plant roots, making them more readily available and reducing losses to the environment.

Question 16

The forestry industry uses fertilizers most often to treat old growth stands that will produce valuable lumber

Accepted Answer

The forestry industry does not typically fertilize old growth stands, as they prefer to maintain those stands in their natural state. Fertilizers are more commonly used in younger, plantation stands where growth needs to be accelerated in order to produce viable product in a shorter amount of time.

Question 17

To enable the most consistent and appropriate interpretations, all soil samples submitted to a particular soil test lab should be taken from the same soil depth, regardless of differences in the type of tillage used or plants grown.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To enable the most consistent and appropriate...

Question 18

Consider the data in the accompanying Table giving the average height of 10 trees planted in order to revegetate a disturbed soil.What was the first limiting factor for tree growth on this soil?
A)water
B)soil pH
C)nitrogen
D)phosphorus

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider the data in the accompanying Table...

Question 19

The cost of fertilizer is the main consideration of nutrient management for most ornamental landscaping applications.

Accepted Answer

The main consideration for nutrient management in ornamental landscaping is often the health and appearance of the plants, rather than just the cost of fertilizer.

Question 20

Most chemical fertilizers are inorganic salts.

Accepted Answer

Most chemical fertilizers are made from inorganic salts such as ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride, and superphosphate.

Quiz 16: Practical Nutrient Management