Fungicide Copper sulfate: instructions for use of the drug, treatment and spraying

One of the important tasks of a summer resident in caring for plants is timely prevention of fungal diseases. Copper sulfate helps in this matter. Find out how and what else you can use this drug for.

Despite the emergence of new drugs, copper sulfate continues to be used due to its relative cheapness and high environmental friendliness. In terms of its chemical composition, this substance is crystalline copper sulfate (CuSO₄∙5H₂O), that is, an inorganic compound, which makes it less harmful to the environment in comparison with the latest pesticides based on highly organic components.

Instructions for using copper sulfate in gardening

This article describes in detail the use of copper sulfate for spraying trees and provides instructions for treatment against various diseases.
How did this article come about?

More than a year ago, an article appeared on Usadba about the use of iron sulfate. Its author was extremely dissatisfied with the quality of materials on other sites that recommended the use of ferrous sulfate to control insects, rejuvenate trees and solve other problems that he could not solve. The article became popular: it was linked from social networks, it was commented on (sometimes in a rather funny way), and people thanked for it. Therefore, we decided to continue publishing materials on plant protection products. This article is about copper sulfate (copper sulfate 2).

And again nonsense

As in the case of iron sulfate, many different fables are written about copper sulfate. However, many authors simply confuse them, and also do not see the difference between the use of copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture and copper oxychloride. Meanwhile, these are different (albeit similar in composition and mechanism of action) drugs.

How is it different from iron sulfate?

First of all, these types of vitriol differ in their main component. In iron it is iron, in copper it is copper. These elements have different effects on plants and are used in different situations.

For example, iron sulfate is used when plants are deficient in iron, causing chlorosis. To prevent such a disease, leaves and stems of crops are sprayed with a solution of iron sulfate. It contains approximately 50% iron. In addition, cattle stalls are treated with a similar product and cesspools are disinfected. The color of the crystals is green-blue.

Copper sulfate contains 24% copper, is represented by blue crystals and is used to treat soils deficient in this element. Most often these are peat and sandy soils. As for the cultivated crops, they are mainly fruit trees, shrubs, berries, and ornamental plants. Copper sulfate helps fight fungus and its pathogens.

In addition, it counteracts cancer and bacterial diseases, and destroys moss on tree trunks.

Copper sulfate (copper sulfate 2) – formula, properties

Copper sulfate or copper sulfate II is a salt that is formed by the reaction of copper or copper oxide with sulfuric acid. The formula of copper sulfate is CuSO4.

In anhydrous form, copper II sulfate has the appearance of small, colorless crystals without taste or odor. True, it is rarely anhydrous and only at low air humidity. This is a very hygroscopic substance: it easily absorbs moisture with the formation of crystalline hydrates. The most common is copper sulfate pentahydrate, in which one molecule of salt is bonded to five molecules of water. Moreover, the bond between water and the copper ion is even slightly stronger than between the copper ion and the sulfuric acid residue.

Pentahydrate has a characteristic bright blue color. This is what is usually called copper sulfate. He's in the photo.

Description

Copper sulfate is aqueous copper sulfate (CuSO4x5H2O), it is a hygroscopic blue or blue powder, possibly crystals. You can purchase it in agricultural stores in packaged form, 50-100 grams or in a bottle.

Copper sulfate crystals

Copper sulfate is a toxic substance, which is classified as a third hazard class; it has a toxic effect on the body if it gets on the mucous membrane or is taken orally. A dosage of a five percent solution of 30 - 50 milliliters will be lethal, but in the form of a solution or in powder form it penetrates the body through the skin with reabsorption by the pores of sweat. That is why any work with this substance should be carried out taking precautions. For example, when heated, Cuprum sulfuricum is toxic, so you need to use a respirator and handle plants while wearing rubber gloves.

Is copper sulfate harmful to humans?

LD50 (dose at which 50% of animals die) for rats is 30 mg/kg body weight when ingested. The minimum known lethal dose for humans is 11 mg per kg of body weight when inhaled, but this is an exceptional case. In general, taking from 1 to 12 grams of copper sulfate leads to acute poisoning and manifests itself in the form of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, metallic taste in the mouth, etc. I repeat: to get such symptoms you need to eat or inhale at least 1 gram of salt, which is absolutely impossible to do by accident. The amount you can inhale when carefully spraying trees with a sulfate solution will not harm a person in any way. Thus, we can consider that copper sulfate is harmful to humans, but very moderately. But it is toxic to fish: this should be taken into account when using it near bodies of water.

Effective preparations for treatment

The procedure for treating trees in Russian gardens, in more frequent cases, is carried out using accessible and fairly cheap means, for example, urea, iron and copper sulfate, lime, and Bordeaux mixture.

Such products are minimally toxic, which means they are not so dangerous to human well-being. Their particles do not remain in the fruit while the effect is long lasting.

Each of the products presented is capable of actively resisting infections and harmful insects, however, it is a natural mineral and an excellent fertilizer.

The use of copper sulfate in gardening and vegetable growing

Remember, copper sulfate is used in gardening:

• NOT for insect control;
• NOT for tick control;
• NOT for rodent control;
• NOT for plant rejuvenation;
• NOT for increasing yield - it is NOT a growth stimulant.

Copper sulfate is a contact copper-containing fungicide. Fungicide – therefore, to combat fungi. Contact - therefore, it does not penetrate into the plant, acts only in the spot of contact with the plant and, after being washed off with water, ceases to act completely. Copper-containing - therefore, the active ingredient in it is copper.

In addition, vitriol can be used for feeding if there is a copper deficiency. You can read about this at the end of the article.

How does copper sulfate act on mushrooms?

Many proteins have so-called sulfhydryl groups - in them, sulfur is bonded to hydrogen on one side and to a hydrocarbon chain on the other. Among these proteins there are also enzymes - proteins, thanks to which certain metabolic reactions take place in the body. Mushrooms also have such enzymes.

Proteins also have amino groups - approximately the same thing, but instead of a sulfur atom there is a nitrogen atom.

The copper ion from vitriol binds to such sulfhydryl and amine groups, which leads to malfunction and destruction of the protein. If this is an enzyme, then it stops working, and the metabolism in the mushroom hole is disrupted. In addition, copper sulfate is able to accelerate oxidative reactions in the cell, disrupting the overall balanced metabolism.

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At a higher level, this means that the spores and conidia of fungi do not have enough strength to germinate and they die. The growth of already formed mycelium also slows down, although this mechanism does not play a significant role. In addition, copper cannot penetrate deep into plant tissues: therefore, the mycelium inside the plant is well protected from copper sulfate.

Diseases

In gardening, copper sulfate is used to protect trees from:

• coccomycosis of cherries, plums and other stone fruits;
• peach leaf curl (caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans). By the way, it’s not just the peach that amazes;
• clusterosporiasis;
• moniliosis;
• anthracnose on gooseberries and currants;
• septoria on them;
• apple scab;
• some pome spots;
• some downy mildews.

Copper sulfate has a weak effect against true powdery mildew, but still slightly slows down the growth of mycelium.

Instructions for using copper sulfate in gardening to protect trees

Copper sulfate is used both independently and for preparing Bordeaux mixture, which we will discuss in a separate article.

Tree treatment in spring

The first spraying with copper sulfate is carried out in the spring, before the buds open. To prepare the working solution, you need to dissolve 100 grams of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water. The working solution should be prepared in glass, plastic or enamel containers. You cannot cook in iron cookware, because more active iron will displace copper from the salt. Not only the tree itself is sprayed, but also the soil around it. Working fluid consumption is 10 liters per 100 m2.

Some authors recommend using a 2.5...3% solution of copper sulfate for spraying, but this is a debatable issue and requires additional study. If we come across convincing data on effectiveness, they will definitely be published in this material.

Tree treatment in autumn

Everything is exactly the same as in spring, but after the leaves fall.

Restrictions

There is an opinion that frequent treatments can lead to the accumulation of copper in the soil, which is harmful, including for plants. Let's try to figure out how fair this is.

The maximum permissible concentration of copper in soil is 3 mg per kg of weight. The density of arable land is about 1.3 g/cm3 = that is, the mass of one cubic meter of soil is about 1300 kg.

The mass fraction of copper in copper sulfate (that is, copper sulfate pentahydrate) is about 25%. Thus, with one treatment, about 25 grams of copper fall into an area of ​​100 m2.

Let us assume (although this is not true) that all this copper completely enters the soil and settles forever in the upper layer 2 meters thick, where the bulk of plant roots are located. Thus, 25 grams of copper will be distributed over 200 cubic meters of soil. Therefore, for 1 kg of soil you will have:

25 / (200x1300) = 0.000096 grams or 0.096 milligrams. That is, the MPC can be accumulated by the soil after 30 such treatments, if copper does not migrate at all in the soil and is carried out with the green mass of plants, which is impossible.

Processing during the growing season

Spraying with copper sulfate during the growing season is carried out as part of Bordeaux mixture or other fungicides. We plan to publish instructions for using Bordeaux mixture in a separate material. You should not spray vegetating trees with a pure solution of copper sulfate, since it is acidic and can burn the green parts of the plants. Therefore, acidity is neutralized by adding lime.

Using copper sulfate for foliar feeding

Foliar fertilizing is used if it is known for sure that there is an insufficient concentration of copper in the soil (as a rule, these are peat-bog soils and some sandy soils - for example, in the Rostov region), or if there is a pronounced copper deficiency in plants.

Copper deficiency in plants manifests itself primarily on young shoots and leaves in the form of chlorosis, leaf shrinkage and the appearance of necrotic spots. As you can see, the symptoms are quite nonspecific - so it is better to do a soil analysis.

Foliar feeding is carried out at 0.01%. 0.02% solution of copper sulfate - that is, dissolving 1..2 grams of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water. It is better to prepare such a solution in two stages - first dissolve the vitriol in 200..500 ml of warm water, and then stir it with the rest. Plants should be sprayed in calm, warm, preferably cloudy weather.

Safety

Without this, our instructions for using copper sulfate in gardening would be incomplete.

If a solution of copper sulfate gets on your skin, you can simply ignore it, but it is better to protect your eyes and mucous membranes. Spray with copper sulfate wearing a bandage or respirator. If the solution gets into your eyes, rinse them with clean water.

Bordeaux liquid

If copper sulfate is dissolved in water with lime, you get Bordeaux mixture. They sell a 3% mixture of chemicals in ready-made bags, where copper sulfate is 300 g and lime is 400 g. To dilute a 1% concentration, you will need 100 g of each component. Copper in the mixture plays the role of poison, and lime acts as a neutralizer. The solution is used immediately after dilution; if it is stored for a day, then add it to a 10-liter bucket with a mixture of sugar - 5 g.

Treat with Bordeaux mixture (3%) once before buds appear, 3-4 times during the growing season (1%). The validity period of the liquid is 10-14 days, after which subsequent treatment begins.

The mixture is applied to plants in the following quantities:

• for fruit and berry trees, deciduous and coniferous, large shrubs - 15-20 l/100 m²;
• for medium shrubs and grapes - 10-15 l/100 m²;
• for small bushes: potatoes, strawberries – 5-10 l/100 m²;
• for large trees with external signs of fungi - 10-15 liters of mixture (1%) per tree.

Using Bordeaux mixture, you can treat and prevent diseases of various plants and improve the health of your garden plot and vegetable beds.

Use of copper sulfate

This fungicide is used in the garden, as well as at home, to protect plants from a number of diseases:

• Alternaria
• ascochyta blight
• moniliosis
• scab
• grape mildew
• spotting
• white spot (septoria)
• downy mildew
• rust
• late blight, etc.

In addition, when spraying against diseases, copper sulfate is a simultaneous foliar feeding. Copper deficiency usually occurs in plants growing on acidic sandy and peaty soils.

Other uses of copper sulfate:

• as an antiseptic against mold and rot on wooden structures
• for soil disinfection

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If this fungicide was actively used in the spring-summer period, then it is better not to use it before winter so as not to oversaturate the soil with copper ions.

General information and what it is intended for

Copper sulfate, as this compound is called (CuSO4), is a substance in the form of crystals, a beautiful intense blue-blue color, odorless, with a bitter metallic taste, with good solubility in heated water. It has excellent antiseptic and disinfectant properties, therefore, in gardening, copper sulfate is known as an effective fungicide, antiseptic, and also as an inexpensive copper-sulfur fertilizer.

Its main use is spraying berry bushes and trees in early spring against the most well-known diseases, disinfecting cracks, wounds on the bark and roots of planted seedlings. Other substances with fungicidal properties have long appeared, but copper sulfate is still actively used in gardening, especially in home gardening.

Consumption rates

As a rule, a 1% solution is used with a consumption rate of about 10 liters per 100 m2. To prepare the working fluid, dissolve 100 g of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water or 10 g per 1 liter of water.

General rules for diluting copper sulfate:

• Apple, pear, quince: for scab, phyllosticosis and other spots, moniliosis, drying out 100 g of the drug per 10 liters of water, first spraying in early spring before buds open, at a consumption of 2-5 liters per tree. Can be repeated 2 weeks before harvesting apples and pears.
• Apricot, peach, plum, sweet cherry, sour cherry: against clasterosporosis, coccomycosis and other spots, moniliosis, leaf curl, dilute 50-75 g per 10 liters of water, first spraying in early spring before buds open, at a consumption of 2-3 liters per tree .
• Gooseberries, currants: for anthracnose, septoria and other spots, dilute 50-75 g per 10 liters of water, first spraying in early spring before buds open, with a consumption of 1.5 liters for an average-sized bush.
• Spraying potato tubers against late blight before planting: 2 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. It is more convenient to put the planting material in a vegetable net and dip it in the prepared solution.
• Indoor flowers - watering against a complex of diseases - dilute a teaspoon (without a slide) in 2 liters of water to get a sky-blue solution, water at the root or spray on the leaves.

For spots on vegetables, for example with ascochyta blight on cucumbers, plants can be sprayed with a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate and urea: 5 g of vitriol and 10 g of urea per 10 liters of water, repeat twice at weekly intervals.

To disinfect open ground soil and greenhouses from diseases a week before planting seedlings or sowing seeds, water the soil with a 3% solution of copper sulfate (30 grams per liter of water). Such treatment will also protect potatoes from late blight.

To treat the root system before planting, dilute 100 g of the drug in 10 liters of water, soak the root system (bulbs or tubers) for 3 minutes. Then remove from the solution and rinse thoroughly in running water. Bulbs or fleshy tuberous roots, then air dry before planting.

How to dilute copper sulfate

Dilute the required volume of powder, for example, 100 g of copper sulfate, in a small amount of water (500-700 ml), poured into a plastic bucket and heated to a temperature of 40-50 degrees (dissolution is better), add water while stirring to increase the volume of the working solution up to 10 l. Do not use metal utensils! Before pouring the prepared solution into the sprayer, strain through a filter, for example, through nylon tights.

Treatment of tomatoes with copper sulfate against late blight

Tomatoes are plants sensitive to errors in treatment with copper-containing preparations. In order not to burn the leaves, but to defeat late blight, a very weak concentration is enough, only 0.2% solution. Prepare a copper-soap emulsion: grate 200 g of laundry soap and dilute it in a small amount of hot water; separately in a glass jar, dilute 20 g of copper sulfate, use a wooden stick to stir, pour the fungicide into the soap solution in a thin stream, stirring constantly and bring the solution to 10 liters of water.

You need to spray the tomatoes with this solution over the leaves, the scheme is as follows:

• spray the seedlings for the first time, a week after planting in a greenhouse or open ground
• further, depending on the weather, if the summer is dry and there is little rain, then do not spray until the August cold snap, make do with preventive treatments with phytosporin, if the summer is damp and cool, treat every 10-12 days.

Spray in calm weather, trying to wet the back of the leaves.

When can you eat fruits and vegetables after spraying with copper sulfate?

Most vegetables can be eaten 14-15 days after spraying, with the exception of:

• melons (cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons, melons) - they can be sprayed 5 days before harvesting
• tomatoes can be sprayed against late blight and other diseases 7-8 days before harvesting tomatoes

Important: rinse all fruits thoroughly with running water several times - copper is not absorbed by the plant and does not penetrate into the fruit, it remains on top of the fruit shell and is dangerous only if the fruits have a soft skin, such as peaches, or the fruits are cracked.

Fruits and berries that cannot be washed well before eating - raspberries, strawberries, apricots, peaches, grapes, some varieties of currants (with soft berries) - can be sprayed with copper preparations at least 1.5 months before the harvest ripens: one treatment before flowering, and the second by ovary.

Copper sulfate for root rot, blackleg, fusarium

To save cucumbers, zucchini or pumpkins from root rot (symptoms: wilting of bushes in hot weather, yellowing of leaves, dying off of ovaries, stopping the growth of greens), you can prepare the following solution: 1 teaspoon of copper sulfate, 1 teaspoon of zinc sulfate, 1 tbsp. . a spoonful of simple superphosphate per 10 liters of water. Water the cucumber bushes with a freshly prepared solution at the rate of 5 liters of liquid per 1 square meter. m of land.

Watering against blackleg and fusarium of vegetables and flowers: dilute 5 g of the drug per 10 liters of water.

How to treat wooden structures with copper sulfate

Copper sulfate is an excellent antiseptic; it can be used to treat any wooden structures in a summer cottage - the walls of greenhouses and hotbeds, walls and structures of cellars, sheds, gazebos, wooden flooring, fences. It is better to apply the solution by spraying, on small surfaces with a brush or sponge (work with gloves). Let dry and repeat the treatment two more times. The coating must be renewed after 3-4 months.

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In some cases, for longer protection time, you can add clay to the solution to create a creamy mass; use it to coat the supporting posts of a fence, the porch of a country house, or support beams in greenhouses.

You need to know that deeply ingrained mold cannot be removed or destroyed with copper sulfate; it is better not to use such material, since the boards lose their strength, and mold from them can spread to neighboring ones; in such cases, it is worth using preservative, non-washable antiseptics.

Copper sulfate as fertilizer

Copper sulfate is applied only on soils poor in this element, for example, chernozems contain copper in sufficient quantities, a little less, but not fundamentally, in sod-podzolic and gray forest soils, but peat-bog and in some places sandy and sandy loam soils contain little copper, therefore Once every 5-6 years, in early spring or autumn, you can add copper sulfate: consumption 1 g per 1 sq.m.

For foliar feeding of vegetative plants with signs of copper deficiency (manifested primarily on young leaves), the dosage is 1-2 g of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water.

Processing rules by season

Vitriol is used mainly in spring, summer and autumn. Plants are treated no more than once every three weeks and finish using it three weeks before harvest.

in spring

The start of work with the solution occurs at a time when the average temperature outside begins to be more than + 5 degrees. Insects are not yet active and have not recovered from hibernation, and microorganisms have not reached a favorable temperature environment. How to treat plants:

• 
  For safety reasons, shrubs are sprayed with a solution containing 10 liters of vitriol. — 100 g (0.1%);

• the roots of bush plants and tree seedlings are dipped for several minutes (no more than 5) in a 0.1% solution;
• Before planting, potatoes are sprayed with a solution of 0.2%;
• in a similar solution as for potatoes, it is permissible to disinfect seeds before planting for 20 hours;
• keep cucumber seeds in a 0.2% solution for no more than 10 hours;
• Additionally, for seeds, use a 10-liter aqueous solution of a gram of copper sulfate, 10 g of potassium permanganate, and 2 g of boric acid. The seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes and washed in plenty of running water.

During the formation of buds and flowering, the use of the substance is prohibited.

Also in the spring, no more than once every 4-5 years, the soil for planting is spilled with a solution of 0.5-0.1%. This disinfects the soil and nourishes it. If the land is treated with copper sulfate, then this area is not used for planting for at least a year.

It is advisable to use the substance more frequently in soils with a predominance of sand and moisture (peat), as well as on marshy soils - up to once a year.

During the summer season

In the hottest season, vitriol is used with great care; the hot scorching rays of the sun in combination with the chemical can burn the plant. Cases in which an exception is made:

• if the bushes are sick with spotted diseases, moniliosis, scab, curl - in this case a 0.1% solution is used;
• when late blight spreads in tomatoes and potato bushes, the plants are sprayed with a mixture of 0.2%;
• injury, for treating wounds of bush plants and trees - from 0.5 to 0.1%; for bush plants it is better to use a less concentrated solution.

in autumn

Autumn is a time of prevention for the next season. Trees, shrubs and soil, if necessary, are treated with a solution of 0.5-0.1%. In this case, the danger of burning plants is eliminated, and even at the beginning of the gardening season, protection from pests will remain.

Toxicity

Copper sulfate has a hazard class 3 for humans (can cause serious irritation of the mucous membrane upon contact with the drug or solution) and a hazard class 3 for bees (border protection zone for bees is 4-5 km). The drug has low toxicity for bees, however, it is better to isolate the bees during the period of crop treatment and for the next 5-20 hours. Not phytotoxic if dosage is not exceeded.

Security measures

Perform processing using gloves and goggles; avoid smoking, drinking, and eating while working. In case of contact with skin or mucous membranes, rinse with plenty of water; if it enters the digestive tract, vomiting usually occurs immediately, do not take any medications, call an ambulance immediately.

Precautionary measures

To ensure that interaction with the substance does not cause harm, adhere to the following rules:

1. When working with the drug, it is necessary to wear a protective suit, goggles and gloves to protect eyes, hands, skin and clothing from exposure to toxic substances.
2. To prepare the working composition, you cannot use iron utensils, since the copper contained in the vitriol quickly enters into a chemical reaction with the metal, destroying it.
3. In the process of preparing the drug and treating plantings with it, smoking, eating and drinking are prohibited.
4. Any substance that comes into contact with the skin should be immediately washed off with plenty of clean water.
5. A solution of copper sulfate that enters the digestive tract almost instantly causes vomiting and pain. In this case, you cannot make independent attempts to cleanse the body; you must urgently call an ambulance.

Copper sulfate is a universal assistant for summer residents in the fight for the health of cultivated plants. If the instructions for use are strictly followed, this drug can solve many problems for gardeners and gardeners on their way to a good harvest.

General characteristics of copper sulfate

In a chemical sense, copper sulfate is a salt of sulfuric acid - sulfate. In agriculture, it is used as a fungicide, antiseptic and copper-sulfur fertilizer.

Externally, copper sulfate is difficult to confuse with something else. It appears as a bright blue powder and dissolves easily to form an equally blue aqueous solution. Copper sulfate is valued by plant growers for the following advantages:

• availability and low price;
• variability of application;
• work with a wide range of pathogens;
• when used correctly, microorganisms are not addictive;
• low level of danger for humans and bees.

It also has disadvantages. If the rules of use are not followed, copper sulfate can exhibit phytotoxicity, which manifests itself in the form of premature leaf fall in tree crops and the appearance of a dry “net” on the fruits.

Another serious drawback is the high acidity of the substance. When copper sulfate enters the soil, it causes a significant shift in pH to the acidic side. Therefore, copper sulfate is most often used in combination with lime, which neutralizes acidity. However, this option is not without its drawbacks. Excess copper in the soil leads to the death of beneficial soil bacteria and deterioration in the absorption of iron, leading to chlorosis.

Important! To reduce the harmful effects of copper sulfate on the soil, it is better to apply it by spraying plants, reducing watering to the required minimum. In this case, treatment of plants with copper sulfate should be supplemented with intensive soil treatments with EM preparations.

Greenhouse use

Active use of the product in a greenhouse microclimate is limited by the following factors:

1. a closed space prevents the free migration of active substances in the soil, which leads to their excessive accumulation in greenhouse soil and subsequent inhibition of plant development;
2. sulfuric acid acidifies the soil, which also adversely affects crops grown in the greenhouse.

For these reasons, the use of copper sulfate in greenhouses is a rare phenomenon, relevant only for heavily contaminated areas.

Locally, the drug in dry form is sometimes used to treat gray rot of cucumbers. For this purpose, 1 teaspoon of vitriol crystals is mixed with the same amount of ash and the resulting powder is sprinkled on the affected areas of the plants.

Another option is the use of copper sulfate as a fungicidal impregnation of greenhouse elements during construction. The substance can also be used to treat finished wooden buildings to remove any mold that has appeared from them.

Fungicidal and insecticidal properties of copper sulfate

Most often, copper sulfate is used to combat fungal diseases of plants. Its toxic effect on pathogens develops according to the following scheme:

• copper ions bind to enzyme complexes of fungal cells;
• the cell cytoplasm coagulates and denaturation of proteins occurs;
• The Krebs cycle, which ensures cell respiration, is interrupted.

A similar process occurs when copper sulfate interacts with insect cells. But in this case, the drug acts more selectively, showing high toxicity towards eggs and larvae of pests.

Types of solutions depending on concentration

Diluting a substance in one proportion or another changes its properties and scope of application.

1. Burners. The main purpose is the disinfection of soil and wooden buildings, as well as the destruction of mold manifestations on the site. To prepare a working solution, 300-500 g of copper sulfate is poured into 10 liters of water and the liquid is stirred until the powder is completely dissolved in it. The soil treated with the composition is removed from agricultural use for at least one year.
2. Therapeutic and prophylactic. The use of vitriol for such purposes is an effective measure to combat fungal diseases and some pests. Proportions of the composition for treatment: 50-100 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. The same substance can be used to disinfect wounds and cracks in tree bark to protect them from pathogenic microbes.
3. Feeding. Copper sulfate as a fertilizer is used in minimal concentration. To obtain a working composition, 2-3 g of the drug are dissolved in 10 liters of water (for maximum effectiveness, the substance must be completely dissolved).

Pathogens sensitive to copper-containing fungicides

Copper sulfate and mixtures based on it cope well with the following plant diseases:

• peronosporosis;
• coccomycosis;
• moniliosis;
• late blight;
• cercospora;
• scab;
• different types of spots;
• rust;
• septoria;
• anthracnose;
• ascochyta;
• powdery mildew.

At the same time, copper sulfate has a poisonous effect on psyllids, aphids, caterpillars and many other insects. A number of publications also mention the effectiveness of copper sulfate against spider mites.

Copper sulfate is suitable for spraying pome and stone fruit crops, currants, gooseberries, grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, potatoes, onions, raspberries.

Treatment of greenhouses and greenhouses

In addition to the fact that plants are treated with a solution of copper sulfate, the surface of the greenhouse can also be treated with this solution. Plain water will only wash away dirt, while the copper mixture will help destroy pests and diseases.

To treat the surface of the greenhouse, prepare a 1% copper-based solution . Then the following procedures are carried out:

1. The greenhouse is cleared of plant debris, supports and ropes. Particular attention should be paid to the space between the rows, as well as under stones (the largest number of pests gather there).
2. Next, the greenhouse is inspected and structural damage is corrected. The cracks are sealed with sealant.
3. All surfaces of the greenhouse are washed with soapy water to remove visible dirt.
4. Metal structures are treated with table vinegar, scratches are cleaned, primed and painted.
5. Copper sulfate is diluted immediately before processing.
6. The wooden parts are impregnated with the mixture using a paint brush. The frame is washed with a cloth soaked in the solution. If the surface is heavily contaminated, it is best to first spray it with a spray bottle and let it stand for several hours.
7. After the greenhouse has completely dried, it is washed again.
8. Then the beds and row spacing are spilled with a solution of copper sulfate.

Safety regulations

The copper-containing preparation is somewhat toxic to bees and humans. Bees are isolated during the garden processing period for 5-20 hours. If dosages are observed, phytotoxicity does not occur.

The safety measures are as follows:

• Do not cultivate the garden in the presence of children or pets.
• Use glasses to prevent splashes of the drug on the mucous membranes of the eyes.
• Work with gloves so that the mixture does not get on your skin.
• Do not drink, smoke or eat while spraying.
• The remaining solution must not be poured into drainage systems and sewers.
• To prepare the solution, use glass or plastic containers and mark them so as not to accidentally put food in them.
• Enameled metal utensils are not suitable as the mixture will corrode the enamel.

Important. If the solution gets into the gastrointestinal tract and vomits, immediately call an ambulance and do not take any medication on your own. Water with potassium permanganate to induce vomiting will only worsen the condition. If the mixture gets into your eyes, rinse them with running water several times.

You cannot prepare mixtures in your own kitchen, since room temperature affects sulfite impurities, resulting in a cloudy solution. It will take 30 or more days to settle and release the sediment.

How to prepare the solution?

Copper sulfate does not generate dust and is not volatile, so it can be diluted without special precautions; Disposable plastic gloves will suffice. Prepare a mother solution in a glass container, which must be marked so as not to be used later for food purposes. It is not advisable to use metal enamel utensils, because... Copper sulfate solution corrodes enamel.

Dissolving copper sulfate

It is unacceptable to dissolve copper sulfate in the kitchen, pos. 1 in Fig. Copper sulfate is highly soluble in water, but if it is diluted at room temperature, then due to the admixture of sulfites, the finished solution will turn out to be cloudy, pos. 2, and it will sit for a very long time, up to a month or more.

Copper sulfate is dissolved in hot water, from 50 degrees, but use thin-walled chemical dishes and an electric stove for this, pos. 3, undesirable: copper sulfate solution is a strong electrolyte and if the vessel bursts or the solution spills, a serious accident is guaranteed. Dissolve vitriol in a water bath, pos. 4. The cooled solution is stored for a long time, up to a year or more, in PET or glass bottles, pos. 5.