207-112 Plant Growth, Nutrition and Chemistry

202-103 Biology for Land and Food

207-110 The Horticultural Environment

This subject is designed to familiarise students with modern concepts of plant growth, plant/soil interactions and plant nutrition, in the context of horticultural practice. Students will, as part of this study, develop their chemistry skills and knowledge.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• identify the fundamentals of chemistry essential to the science of horticulture;

• recognise that biophysical processes depend upon chemical processes;

• discuss the elementary structure and function of the 'building blocks' of biophysical systems; and

• acknowledge the relationship between chemical processes in the soil and environment and plant growth.

Topics will include:

• introduction to chemistry: elements, atoms, ions and molecules; the periodic table, valency and bond formation; the mole concept, concentrations and stoichiometry; solubility, the solution state ions and hydration; acids, bases, neutralisation and salt formation; and

• chemical interactions between plants, soil and the environment: measurement and nature of plant growth; plant nutrients and pH, adaptations of native and exotic plants to drought and depauperate soils; redox reactions and redox potentials of plants in waterlogged soils; impact of pollutants on plant structure and physiology; chemical structure and effect of herbicides and pesticides on plants.

End-of-semester examination (two hours, 35%), one mid-semester examination (two hours, 25%), one 2000 word assignment (20%), laboratory reports equivalent to 2000 words (20%).