Types of fertilizers and their use

In the modern world, agricultural technologies have reached such a level that they are able to provide a high yield in almost any conditions. Fertilization is a mandatory procedure for any modern gardener, but the variety of types of fertilizing and manufacturing companies is such that choosing the right fertilizer can be very difficult.

Fertilizers are substances that contain chemical compounds that can increase soil fertility.

There is a huge variety of types of fertilizers. There are universal products that are suitable for the garden and vegetable garden, and highly specialized, the composition of which is matched to the needs of certain crops (for fruit trees and for Christmas trees, garlic, cereals). Some fertilizers are designed for a specific type of gardening (for example, liquid or water-soluble products for hydroponic systems or for use in a drip system).

By origin, organic and inorganic fertilizers are distinguished. Organic fertilizers are created on the basis of natural organic components: from manure, compost, peat, bird droppings, seaweed and other products of animal or plant origin. They are a rich source of nutrients, although it is not possible to determine the exact content of individual micronutrients.

It is believed that it is impossible to harm plants by using organic products. To some extent, this opinion is true, but some dangers still exist. For example, humus can contain harmful bacteria and fungi that can infect a plant. Therefore, for prophylaxis, it is recommended to add fungicides to the soil along with top dressing. There are the most common organic fertilizers.

• Mineral resources (peat). Peat is extremely rich in nutrients, but experienced gardeners say that a noticeable effect is visible only after 2-3 years of regular use.
• Sapropel is a lake silt. Contains all the substances necessary for a plant, and is several times more effective than compost. Contains nitrogen, humic acids and mineral compounds. Restores soil quickly. River and swamp silt are less useful in their composition, but are also used in horticulture.
• Humus and pigeon droppings are rich in nitrogen, so they are used when it is necessary to accelerate the growth of stems and foliage.
• Humus has a high costb, is necessary in large quantities, however, despite these disadvantages, it is one of the best dressings. It not only enriches the soil, but also improves its structure, making it looser.

Inorganic fertilizers are made up of chemical components that contain essential nutrients. They are highly effective, require precise dosage when applied to the soil, and can be used to influence a specific phase of plant development. The main trace elements needed by plants are calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen.

• Nitrogen (N) is the most important element for the plant. Participates in the synthesis of chlorophyll and in the processes of photosynthesis. If the plant has enough nitrogen, the leaves will be bright green. Nitrogen deficiency is easy to detect as the leaves turn yellow, wilt and begin to fall off prematurely. This element is most needed during the active growth of the stem and foliage. However, it is important to strictly observe the dosage, since oversaturation with nitrogen will lead to excessive landscaping to the detriment of fruiting, to a decrease in the quality and quantity of the crop. Nitrogen is contained in urea (47% of nitrogen in the composition), in UAN (carbide-ammonia mixture), ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate.
• Phosphorus (P) - nutrientwhich plants need throughout their entire life cycle. Fertilizers based on phosphorus promote root germination, improve flowering and fruiting. With a lack of this element, the ripening of fruits is delayed, their quality suffers, and grain crops are characterized by low productivity. Found in phosphates, superphosphate, ammophos and sulfoammophos. Among organic phosphate supplements, bone meal stands out.
• Potassium (K) helps plants absorb water from the soil and convert nutrients into essential sugars, and increases their immunity against fungal diseases. In the soil and in organic compounds, it is contained in a form that is difficult for plants to access. Contained in potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate and wood ash.

If the top dressing contains several basic elements (2 or 3) at once, it is called complex. For example, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium. Its main advantage is economy. For one application to the soil, you can feed the plants with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus at the same time. Conventional one-component products are not always compatible, they must be applied one at a time.

In complex fertilizers, the NPK label is sometimes found. It denotes the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the preparation and is marked on the bag as a series of three numbers, for example, 10-5-5. This means that the product contains 10% nitrogen, 5% phosphorus and 5% potassium.

In addition to the main elements, micronutrients can also be included in the composition of fertilizers. These include boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. With high yielding crops, these nutrients can be quickly depleted in the soil and must be replenished for proper plant health.

Mineral-organic preparations are a type of feeding based on organic substances, which are enriched with chemical compounds. As a basis, manufacturers use peat, compost and food industry waste, which are subjected to chemical treatment (ammonization, nitration). The effectiveness of feeding depends largely on the type of chemical treatment.

There are bacterial fertilizers. This variety cannot rightfully be called fertilizers or top dressing, since these preparations do not contain any nutrients. They are used to create a plant-friendly microflora in the soil, which will help to assimilate nutrients easier and faster.

There are liquid, suspended and solid forms of fertilizers. In structure, they are granular, crystalline and powder.

By the nature of the impact on the soil, there are 2 types: direct and indirect.

• Direct-acting fertilizers contain the nutrients that plants need. This is a large group that includes most organic and mineral supplements.
• Indirect fertilization is necessary to improve soil properties. These include bacterial preparations, as well as substances used for chemical reclamation (gypsum, lime). For indoor plants, hydrogen peroxide is often used in this capacity, which is capable of changing the structure of the soil and disinfecting it.

There are 2 main methods of application to the soil: the continuous method (top dressing is spread evenly over the entire area of ​​the beds) and local application, in which the drug is mixed with the soil and applied to individual holes or rows, thus creating foci that are maximally saturated with fertilizers.

Distinguish between root and leaf feeding. The root method is the main one. Fertilizers are applied directly to the soil or on its surface as close to the root part as possible. Many gardeners mistakenly believe this method is the only correct one. However, foliar feeding has several advantages:

• does not depend on the unfavorable properties of the soil, for example, high acidity or low temperature, which often prevents the roots from obtaining the necessary element, even if it is present in the soil in large quantities;
• completely absorbed by the plant;
• it is convenient when the plants have reached a considerable height, and the cultivation of the beds with subsequent feeding is difficult.

There is a large selection of fertilizer producers in Russia. We have compiled a selection of the best quality products on the market today.

• Among the preparations intended for fruit and berry and vegetable crops, top dressing is the most popular "Gumi-Omi" - a product of the Belarusian manufacturer OMA, which specializes in the production of gardening tools and organic fertilizers.
• EcoPlant - high-quality organic dressing for autumn from the Ukrainian producer of environmentally friendly fertilizers Oriy. Contains the entire set of elements necessary for a plant, it contains potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, zinc, molybdenum, sulfur. Suitable for all types of crops.
• Complex remedy "Giant universal" - a product of the Fart company. It is produced in the form of granules based on natural ingredients (a mixture of humus and peat), as well as trace elements. It is widely used in agriculture, as it is suitable for feeding plants at any stage of the life cycle and improves the quality of the soil in the long term.
• Among liquid universal preparations, stands out "White pearls" - a mineral-organic product with high bioavailability. Improves the vegetation of plants, protects them from stress and various diseases.
• Highly specialized mineral products for different types of horticultural and horticultural crops are produced by Polish Florovit company. High-quality highly specialized preparations can be found in the line of organic liquid fertilizers "Bona Forte": you can choose a product designed for different types of indoor plants, for seedlings and crops. The preparations are characterized by environmental friendliness and safety.
• To help plants in difficult conditions - under adverse weather conditions and the threat of fungal diseases - anti-stress plant nutrition has shown itself to be good. "Megafol" produced by the Italian company "Valagro"... The drug contains amino acids and trace elements and belongs to the group of growth stimulants. Versatile, suitable for different cultures.
• The best manufacturer of fertilizers and equipment for hydroponic gardening (growing plants on water) in the world is considered French company GHE.

Even when using high-quality preparations, it is very easy to lose the crop, if you do not know the intricacies of use and apply top dressing on a whim. When choosing the type and dose of the drug, it is important to take into account the nature of the soil, the characteristics of the plant and the compatibility of different types of dressings.

• The first time to fertilize the soil is necessary before sowing, in autumn or spring. At this time, most of the fertilizing necessary for the plant is introduced, while the earth should be rather well loosened and dug up.
• Pre-sowing fertilization is carried out simultaneously with the planting of seedlings, while it is necessary to observe the minimum dosage. When planting, preference should be given to preparations with a high phosphorus content.
• Top dressing is also necessary during the growing season. They are root (the drug is introduced into the soil or on its surface) and foliar (water solutions of low concentration).

At different times, the plant needs different elements. For example, during the period of germination and vegetation, there is an increased need for nitrogen; for the normal formation of flowers and fruits, a lot of phosphorus is needed. To survive frost, potassium is needed, and nitrogen, on the contrary, reduces frost resistance.

Some gardeners prefer to use exclusively natural organic products, others use only minerals, neglecting organic matter because of its less pronounced effect. In fact, a plant needs a varied diet: both organic matter and various chemical elements. It is also not recommended to use only one type of feeding throughout the season - they must be alternated.

The fertilizer dose depends both on the plant and on the properties of the soil. For example, in dense, heavy soil, trace elements will linger for a long time, while they are quickly washed out from light sandy soil. Therefore, heavy soils are fertilized less often, but in large doses, and the lungs are enriched regularly in small portions.

Early ripening crops absorb substances from the soil much more actively than late ripening ones, therefore they need more frequent feeding. Dense plantings require larger volumes of the preparation than plants planted at a considerable distance from each other.

An overdose of fertilizer is no less harmful than its deficiency, therefore, before feeding, it is necessary to carefully calculate the dose. If the gardener has already managed to overdo it with the amount of the drug, you can try to fix the situation with abundant watering. Mineral fertilizers are washed out quite quickly, but in order to finally remove the excess, you will need to repeat abundant watering several times.

Fertilizer storage plays an important role. For solid and powdery varieties, a dry room is necessary, any moisture is unacceptable. Several different types cannot be mixed. Most liquid products are not intended for long-term storage.