Mineral Fertilizers
Mineral fertilizers are produced by the chemical industry and have an artificial origin, so they are sometimes called artificial or chemical fertilizers. From organic fertilizers, they are characterized by a high concentration of nutrients, and although there have been increasing trends in the use of natural fertilizers lately, mineral fertilizers are in some cases indispensable. If you use them purposefully in small quantities and monitor the level of nutrients in the soil, they can not significantly harm the ecology of your garden. Depending on the composition, mineral fertilizers are divided into simple or single-sided, complex or complex and microfertilizers, containing microelements used by plants in limited quantities, but nevertheless necessary for their development.
Simple mineral fertilizers differ in terms of active substances. The active ingredient is the amount of the main nutrient in the fertilizer. Thus, simple mineral fertilizers can be divided into nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Nitrogen mineral fertilizers accelerate the growth of leaves and other vegetative parts of plants, contribute to the growth of green foliage.
Urea ( urea) is one of the most fertilizer used by gardeners, contains up to 46 % nitrogen, is very hygroscopic, readily soluble in water and soil, quickly absorbed by plants, it is preferable to purchase a granular form of fertilizer, since it does not cake. They are introduced as the main fertilizer for the spring digging of the soil and as a foliar top dressing: in autumn a solution is prepared with a concentration of 4-5 %, in the spring - 1 %. Urea tends to soil acidification, so it is necessary to neutralize the fertilizer with lime at the rate of 800 grams of lime per 1 kg of fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate ( ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate) is the main nitrogen fertilizer, contains up to 35% nitrogen, is very hygroscopic, readily soluble in water and soil and quickly absorbed by plants, is produced most often in granular form. Ammonium nitrate is introduced into the soil as the main fertilizer and is used as a fertilizer, it is better to bring in soil in the spring for digging the soil and to seal it with rakes. When ammonium nitrate is applied to acid soils, it is necessary to neutralize the fertilizer with hydrated lime at the rate of 700 grams of lime per 1 kg of fertilizer.
Plants in a fundamentally different manner assimilate organic and mineral fertilizers: the organic go through the stages of decomposition and complex metabolism before they take the mineral form available to plants, while the mineral forms, dissolving in water, directly fall into the hands of plants. Organic fertilizers are valued for long-term complex action improving the quality of the soil, mineral - for the performance of
Sodium nitrate ( sodium nitrate, sodium nitrate) contains up to 16.5 % nitrogen and up to 26 % sodium, hygroscopic, readily soluble in waterand in the soil at a sufficient level of moisture, when stored, it cakes. Sodium nitrate is an alkaline fertilizer, so it is recommended for use on acidic soils. It is applied as a basic fertilizer for spring processing of soil at the rate of 50 g / m2, it is used as a dry fertilizer at the rate of 20 g / m2 or as a liquid top dressing, while the solution is prepared in the proportion of 20 g / l and calculated for application on an area of 1 m. It is recommended to use sodium nitrate in a mixture with superphosphate, it is possible to apply for all vegetables.
Calcium nitrate ( nitric acid calcium) contains up to 17% nitrogen, is an alkaline fertilizer, therefore it is most effective on acidic soils, very hygroscopic, readily soluble in water and soil, quickly absorbed by plants. Calcium nitrate is produced in granular form and has the property of caking, so it should be stored in a sealed package. Good results are given by the use of calcium nitrate as liquid top dressing, the solution is prepared in the proportion of 100 g of saltpeter per bucket of water, this amount is sufficient for feeding 1 m of planting.
Ammonium sulphate ( ammonium sulphate) is a valuable nitrogen fertilizer, contains up to 21% nitrogen, its use preferably on soils with a neutral or alkaline reaction, less efficiently - on acidic soils. It dissolves well and binds in the soil at a normal level of humidity, it is slightly washed out with water from the soil composition, therefore it is recommended to apply it even on lands with a certain degree of excessive moisture. When stored, ammonium sulfate is caked. When using ammonium sulphate on acidic soils, they should not be allowed to be further acidified, so the acid soils must be preliminarily lime or neutralize the action of the fertilizer with hydrated lime at the rate of 1 kg of lime per 1 kg of ammonium sulphate before applying the fertilizer.
Phosphoric mineral fertilizers accelerate the ripening of the crop due to the phosphorus property to shorten the vegetative period, necessary for the plants to normal development of the root system.
Superphosphate contains up to 21% phosphorus, dissolves well in water and soil, suitable for all types of soil as the main fertilizer and as a fertilizer at the rate of 20 g / m2.Can be used to fertilize all types of vegetable crops, contains in its composition gypsum, which is a source of sulfur for the crops that need it. Well-established application of superphosphate in the grooves when sowing seeds. Double superphosphate contains up to 50% phosphoric acid( P2O5) in a form that is available for assimilation by plants. It does not have gypsum in its composition and is used similarly to superphosphate.
precipitate contains up to 40 % phosphoric acid( P2O5) in a form that is available for plant assimilation. Precipitates have the ability to alkalize soil, reducing its acidity, and can be applied to all types of crops. Phosphorite flour ( ground phosphoryte) is a sparingly soluble form of phosphate fertilizer, contains up to 20 % phosphoric acid( P2O5) in a form available to plants. It works well on acid soils, the effect of phosphorite flour can be strengthened by mixing with acidic nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, it is not recommended to mix with alkaline fertilizers. Effectively add phosphorite flour to compost, increasing their value. Has a long lasting effect.
Potash fertilizers increase the resistance of plants to unfavorable weather factors, make them more cold-resistant, resistant to extreme moisture deficiency and activate the resistance of plants to diseases.
Potassium sulphate ( potassium sulphate) is considered the best potassium fertilizer, contains up to 45% potassium and has no chlorine in its composition, it dissolves well in water. Potassium sulphate is used as the main fertilizer and is applied for spring processing of the soil, it can be used as a top dressing. Potassium chloride is the main potassium fertilizer, contains up to 63 % potassium. Chlorine is readily soluble in water and enters the soil in an exchangeable form accessible to plants and is successfully absorbed by soil and plants. Potassium chloride tends to over-acidize the soil, so it is recommended that liming be carried out on acidic soils before applying this fertilizer. Suitable for all types of soil. Potassium chloride during long-term storage strongly cracks. Calimagnesium ( potassium-magnesium sulfate) contains up to 30 % potassium, a small amount of chlorine, magnesium and sulfur. It dissolves well in water and is absorbed by soil and plants, it is used as a basic fertilizer and as a top dressing. The best results are obtained using calimagnesia on light soils that are deficient in magnesium. Potassium salts of contain up to 40 % potassium and significantly more chlorine than the listed chlorine-containing potassium fertilizers - potassium chloride and calimagnesium. Potassium salts are potent potassium fertilizers and are suitable for all vegetable crops. However, we must carefully apply them for such sensitive to chlorine crops as tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, it is recommended to make potassium salts for autumn tillage, and at other times to apply extremely limited.
Potassium fertilizers such as ground sulphonite ( 22% K), kainite ( 11% K), carnallite ( 13 % K), potash ( 55 % K) are also used.