Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Plant and Soil (2025)

Other Idaho CTE sets

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERSHIP 1.0

  • 1

    Student Leadership in Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) and Professional Associations 1.1

    1. 1

      Explore the role of professional organizations and/or associations in the Plant and Soil Science industry.1.1.1

    2. 2

      Define the value, role, and opportunities provided through career technical student organizations.1.1.2

    3. 3

      Engage in career exploration and leadership development.1.1.3

  • 2

    Supervised Agricultural Experience1.2

    1. 1

      Maintain Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) record books.1.2.1

    2. 2

      Describe the proficiency award areas related to the SAE program area.1.2.2

    3. 3

      Describe necessary steps to receive higher degrees in FFA.1.2.3

PLANT ANATOMY AND IDENTIFICATION 2.0

  • 1

    Plant Anatomy2.1

    1. 1

      Describe the primary parts of a plant and their functions.2.1.1

    2. 2

      Describe the parts of plant cells and their functions.2.1.2

    3. 3

      Identify the three basic types of tissues found in a plant (i.e., dermal, vascular, ground) and their functions.2.1.3

  • 2

    Plant Identification2.2

    1. 1

      Describe the systems of plant classification.2.2.1

    2. 2

      Differentiate between plant parts and modifications (e.g., roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds).2.2.2

    3. 3

      Determine plant identification by using a dichotomous key.2.2.3

    4. 4

      Identify common Idaho crops.2.2.4

PLANT PROCESSES AND GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 3.0

  • 1

    Plant Processes3.1

    1. 1

      Differentiate among photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and water/nutrient uptake.3.1.1

    2. 2

      Describe the process and purpose of photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and water/nutrient uptake.3.1.2

    3. 3

      List factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and water/nutrient uptake.3.1.3

  • 2

    Plant Growth and Development3.2

    1. 1

      List the stages of plant growth and development (e.g., germination, vegetative growth, reproductive growth).3.2.1

    2. 2

      Describe environmental conditions affecting the vegetative growth of plants.3.2.2

    3. 3

      Describe asexual and sexual reproduction in plants.3.2.3

    4. 4

      Cultivate asexual and sexual reproduction in plants (e.g., grafting, tubers, cuttings, divisions, seeding, hand pollination).3.2.4

  • 3

    Classical Plant Breeding3.3

    1. 1

      Describe methods and strategies of pollination.3.3.1

    2. 2

      Describe the selective plant breeding process.3.3.2

    3. 3

      Calculate heritability.3.3.3

    4. 4

      Interpret plant breeding data.3.3.4

SOIL AND WATER 4.0

  • 1

    Introduction to Soils4.1

    1. 1

      Describe the function of soil as it relates to plant growth, development, and maintenance.4.1.1

    2. 2

      Describe the factors that affect soil formation (e.g., climate, parent material, organisms, topography, time).4.1.2

    3. 3

      Classify physical properties of soil (e.g., texture, structure, color, profile).4.1.3

    4. 4

      Describe characteristics of the six types of soil structure (i.e., granular, blocky, platy, prismatic, columnar, massive).4.1.4

    5. 5

      Determine soil texture from a sample.4.1.5

    6. 6

      Determine how pH affects the soil.4.1.6

    7. 7

      Identify methods of amending soil pH.4.1.7

    8. 8

      Compare biotic and abiotic components of soil (e.g., organic matter, mineral matter, air space, water space).4.1.8

  • 2

    Soil Moisture Management4.2

    1. 1

      Describe water movement through different soil textures.4.2.1

    2. 2

      Define key soil moisture terms (e.g., volumetric water content, water potential, water holding capacity, field capacity).4.2.2

    3. 3

      Identify methods of measuring soil moisture.4.2.3

  • 3

    Irrigation Management4.3

    1. 1

      Identify the need for irrigation, including water holding capacity and soil moisture.4.3.1

    2. 2

      Describe methods of irrigation (e.g., sources, delivery, equipment).4.3.2

    3. 3

      Select irrigation methods for optimum production goals (e.g., equipment, crops, resource availability, economics).4.3.3

    4. 4

      Describe Idaho’s water law based on the appropriation doctrine and its significance in current state agriculture.4.3.4

  • 4

    Soil Health4.4

    1. 1

      Identify characteristics of soil health (e.g., high organic matter, good soil structure, balanced pH, high biological activity, adequate nutrition).4.4.1

    2. 2

      Describe methods for improving soil health (e.g., cover crops, reduced tillage, multiple species, strip till, compost).4.4.2

    3. 3

      Describe the limitations associated with soil health practices (e.g., economics, manpower, sustainability, time, environment).4.4.3

PLANT NUTRITION 5.0

  • 1

    Sources and Roles of Plant Nutrients5.1

    1. 1

      Identify primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients.5.1.1

    2. 2

      Differentiate the roles and functions of primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients in the plant.5.1.2

    3. 3

      Identify the primary sources (i.e., plant available, nutrient form) of N-P-K-S.5.1.3

    4. 4

      Describe nutrient uptake patterns (e.g. diffusion, interception, mass flow).5.1.4

    5. 5

      Identify movement and losses of nutrients from agroecosystems.5.1.5

  • 2

    Plant Nutrient Deficiencies5.2

    1. 1

      Identify common nutrient deficiencies in crops.5.2.1

    2. 2

      Describe the common causes of nutrient deficiencies in crops.5.2.2

    3. 3

      Diagnose nutrient deficiencies and common problems caused by biological pests.5.2.3

  • 3

    Soil and Plant Nutrients5.3

    1. 1

      Demonstrate soil sampling techniques.5.3.1

    2. 2

      Interpret Soil Analysis.5.3.2

    3. 3

      Calculate nutrient removal rate by crop.5.3.3

    4. 4

      Calculate fertilizer application and cost, based on soil analysis.5.3.4

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 6.0

  • 1

    Concepts and Principles of Integrated Pest Management 6.1

    1. 1

      Describe methods of integrated pest management (e.g., cultural, biological, mechanical, chemical). 6.1.1

    2. 2

      Identify elements of the disease triangle.6.1.2

    3. 3

      Analyze economic thresholds of crop damage caused by disease, insects, and weeds.6.1.3

    4. 4

      Describe the limitations associated with integrated pest management methods (e.g. resistance management, beneficial insects, eradication vs. control).6.1.4

  • 2

    Pest Identification6.2

    1. 1

      Identify common Idaho weeds, insects, and diseases.6.2.1

    2. 2

      Describe competition and economic losses caused by pests.6.2.2

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 7.0

  • 1

    Advancements in Plant and Soil Technology 7.1

    1. 1

      Describe the improvements and limitations of genetic engineering.7.1.1

    2. 2

      Describe the tools and techniques used for genetic modification (e.g., CRISPR, GMO, Roundup Ready, Liberty Link, Dicamba).7.1.2

    3. 3

      Describe current industry automation and precision agriculture technologies.7.1.3

    4. 4

      Describe advancements in fertilizers, chemical, and biologicals and their impacts on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and sustainability.7.1.4

CROP PRODUCTION OPERATIONS 8.0

  • 1

    Crop Production8.1

    1. 1

      Describe procedures in the production, harvesting, handling, processing, and storing of Idaho crops and crop products.8.1.1

    2. 2

      Interpret general maturity and harvest-time guidelines for specific local plant products.8.1.2

    3. 3

      Describe common marketing methods and shipping characteristics for Idaho crops.8.1.3

  • 2

    Operational Safety8.2

    1. 1

      Describe personal protection equipment requirements.8.2.1

    2. 2

      Differentiate between safe and unsafe work practices.8.2.2

    3. 3

      Interpret chemical label directions and information on Safety Data Sheets (SDS).8.2.3

    4. 4

      Describe safety hazards associated with crop production equipment and related safety practices (e.g., lockout/tagout, emergency response, safety plan).8.2.4

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12
Where can I read the official document?
2025 Plant and Soil

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