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Plants require nutrients that they obtain from the atmosphere and from the soil. About 19/20 of a plant consists of water and carbon. Water comes from rain and from underground springs. Carbon comes from carbon dioxide in the air and is absorbed through the leaves. The other nutrients come from the soil. Most of them can be found in sufficient quantities in almost all soils. However, there are essential nutrients that, in nature, cannot usually be found in sufficient quantities to allow profitable crops to grow. These essential nutrients are nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Some soils also lack enough lime or magnesium for adequate crop growth. The science of fertilizing/manuring teaches us how to place enough of these materials in the soil while ensuring that the soil continues to remain productive. |
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