The Queensland Gardening Pages

The following are for general information. Commercial products, regulations, plants and soil types, etc. vary from place to place (see notes above).

Fertilizer Industry Federation of Australia includes information sheets and conference papers

Draft Code of Practice for Fertilizer Description & Labelling (2008) Fertilizer Industry Federation of Australia (PDF)

Soil Fertility and Fertilizers Missouri Botanical Garden

Plant nutrients in the soil New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Soil nutrient testing: how to get meaningful results Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Queensland

Nutrient deficiency symptoms of plants Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Citrus nutrition (descriptions of fertilisers) State of New South Wales, Department of Primary Industries

Identifying nutritional deficiencies in the home garden Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Recognizing Plant Nutrient Deficiencies University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (PDF)

Identifying Nutrient Deficiencies in Ornamental Plants University of Florida

Nutrient News Good overview of the important plant nutrients. University of Missouri

Nutrients California Polytechnic State University

Improving Garden Soil Fertility Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University (PDF)

Organic vs. Commercial Fertilizers Colorado State University

Chemical versus organic fertilizers? Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Nutrient Content of Fertilizer and Organic Materials N.C. State University, North Carolina

Organic Soil Amendments for Sustainable Agriculture University of Hawaii

How to Stimulate Root Growth of Garden & Landscape Plants Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

Organic Fertilizers Work Well in Warm Weather Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

When and How to Use Foliar Fertilizers Yard and Garden News, University of Minnesota

The Myth of Foliar Feeding Washington State University (PDF)

Foliar Fertilization Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USA

Fertilizers for Trees and Shrubs University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA

Fertilizing Woody Ornamentals Extension Horticulture Information Resource Texas A&M University

Fertilizing Landscape Plants Ohio State University

Mycorrhizas Australian National Botanic Gardens

Wood ash can be useful in yard if used with caution Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

See also:

Nitrogen Form Affects Foliage Plant Growth University of Florida, USA

Nitrogen in the Home Landscape University of Florida

Nitrogen Cycling Concise introductory article Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Don't let nitrogen acidify your soil New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Soil-nitrate after drought New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Growing Legumes to Increase Soil Nitrogen A good introductory artcle

Biological Nitrogen Fixation University of Florida

Rhizobia of native Fabaceae Australian Flora Foundation

Inoculants for legumes Qld Dept of Primary Industries

Why phosphorus is important New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Soil-phosphorus after drought New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Cycling of phosphorus in grazing systems New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

Phosphorus in the Soil (Introductory article) Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Fertilising native plants Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland (PDF)

Phosphorus and Iron Nutrition in Australian Native Plants Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Phosphorus Needs of Some Australian Plants Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Phosphorus toxicity in native and proteaceous plants Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Using Fertilisers in the Native Garden Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Native Plants and Phosphate Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Soils and Fertilizers for Master Gardeners: Phosphorus in the Home Landscape University of Florida

Impact of Phosphorus on Water Quality University of Florida

See also Mycorrhizas in the general section above

Potash & Phosphate Institute / Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada North Anmerica

The Myth of Phosphate Fertilizer Washington State University (PDF)

The Myth of Phosphate, Part II Washington State University (PDF)

Potassium in Agriculture Canpotex Potassium Development program in Australia & New Zealand

Potash & Phosphate Institute / Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada North Anmerica

Removing Potassium-deficient Leaves Accelerates Rate of Decline in Pygmy Date Palms (Phoenix roebelenii) TropicLine, University of Florida, USA

The Myth of Mineral Magic Washington State University (PDF)

Phosphorus and Iron Nutrition in Australian Native Plants Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Iron Chlorosis of Trees and Shrubs NebGuide from University of Nebraska, USA

Iron Chlorosis Symptoms and Solutions University of Illinois

Keep Your Plants Pumping Iron Yard and Garden News, University of Minnesota

Control of iron chlorosis in ornamental and crop plants Utah State University Extension (PDF)

Iron Chlorosis Colorado State University Extension

Iron Chlorosis Ohio State University

Straight Talk About Iron Deficiency and Plants Texas

Links to come

See also section on pH on the Soils page for information on using lime for control of acidity.

Magnesium Deficiency Becoming More Common This article is about grapevines in California, but has some interesting information about magnesium deficiencies, causes and remedies

Magnesium deficiency Royal Horticultural Society, UK

Epsom Salts Washington State University (PDF)

Epsom salts - miracle, myth...or marketing Washington State University (PDF)

Epsom Salt Council This website includes tips on using Epsom salts in the garden

The Myth of Mineral Magic Washington State University (PDF)

Effect of Manganese Source on Manganese Uptake by Pygmy Date Palms (Phoenix roebelenii) TropicLine, University of Florida, USA

Molybdenum deficiency in plants New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (PDF)

Nutrition - Other nutrients (PKZnSCuFe) Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, Queensland

More links to come. Meanwhile, check the general section above

Tip for Greenhouse Growers: Add Silicon Silicon may be be important to the health of some plants, but is low in soil-less growing media. USDA Agricultural Research service

Differential Responses of Container-grown Ornamental Foliage Plants to Silicon Application Scroll further down the page to view the abstracts "Beneficial Effects of Silicon on Container-Grown Ornamental Plants" and "Silicon as a Beneficial Element for Tropical Foliage Plant Growth" University of Florida

These may have little or no nutrient content but, like fertilisers, are usually used with the hope of boosting plant performance in some way. As to their efficacy, some links will be provided below for further reading. See also Pests and Diseases regarding effects on plant health.

The Myth of Curative Kelp Washington State University (PDF)

Vitamin B-1 and Root Stimulators Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Growth of Four Citrus Rootstocks Treated with a Natural Biostimulant Subtropical Plant Science (Journal of the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society) Volume 44, 1991

Alternative Soil Amendments Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas

Notes on Compost Teas National Center for Appropriate Technology (USA)