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751-3401-00L 2 Credits BSC , MSC D-USYS

Plant Nutrition I

Pflanzenernährung I

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Astrid Oberson Dräyer
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:19

Abstract

This course examines how plants acquire, transport, and assimilate nutrients, and how these processes influence crop yield and quality. Students understand the roles of soil, mineral, and organic fertilizers as nutrient sources. Building on this knowledge, the course concludes with the core principles of crops and grasslands fertilization.

Objective

By the end of the lecture, students will be able to: 1. explain how nutrients are taken up by the plant, transported within the plant, and assimilated. 2. describe the function and importance of individual nutrients for plant physiological processes. 3. analyze how nutrient availability influences the yield and quality of plant products. 4. understand a site-specific fertilization plan for arable crops and grasslands under Swiss conditions.

Content

This course introduces key principles of nutrient management in crop and grassland production, with a focus on the relationship between plant nutrition, yield, and quality. Students examine how plants absorb and transport nutrients, and the physiological roles of essential elements. Building on this, the course explores how nutrient availability affects productivity and crop characteristics. It concludes with an overview of fertilization strategies adapted to Swiss agroecosystems, including soil nutrient dynamics and the use of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) mineral and organic fertilizers.

Resources

Lecture Notes

The slides will be distributed

Literature

Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Plants Fourth Edition 2023, edited by Zed Rengel, Ismail Cakmak and Philip J. White; (available online on the ETH library). Schubert S 2011 Pflanzenernährung Grundwissen Bachelor Ulmer UTB Richner W. & Sinaj S., 2017. Grundlagen für die Düngung landwirtschaftlicher Kulturen in der Schweiz (GRUD 2017). Agrarforschung Schweiz 8 (6), Spezialpublikation,

General Information

Language
German
Levels
BSC , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
3 written exams will be conducted during the semester. Each of these exams will count for a third of the final grade.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Pflanzenernährung I No time listed 2 h weekly

Offered In