When and how to properly use Ammofoska as a fertilizer?

Form, composition

Appearance – light granules less than 6 mm in size.

Ammophoska consists of four main elements:

• Nitrogen (12%). This component plays a huge role in increasing the yield of all garden and vegetable crops. It is part of the proteins that make up the cytoplasm and nucleus of plant cells, as well as all vital organic plant compounds. When fertilizing with nitrogen, it is necessary to comply with the norms for applying this chemical, although it is impossible to overdo it when using a complex mineral fertilizer; all nutrients in its composition are strictly balanced.
• Phosphorus (15%). This substance is the most important biogenic element of plant nutrition. Plays a major role in the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a nucleotide that is responsible for energy metabolism in the cells of plant organisms, and is the source of energy for all biochemical processes occurring in living plant forms.
• Potassium (15%). It is part of the complex in the form of sulfate. This element not only increases productivity, but also improves the quality characteristics of agricultural products and improves plant immunity.
• Sulfur (14%). This element was added to the composition of this fat for good reason - it helps the flagship of ammophoska, nitrogen, to be absorbed. At the same time, sulfur does not acidify the soil, since in a nitrogenous compound it is almost completely absorbed by plants and does not linger in the soil complex.

Composition and purpose of ammophoska

The basic formula of the composition includes 4 chemical elements: phosphorus (15%), sulfur (14%), nitrogen (12%) and potassium (15%). Calcium and magnesium are present in small amounts (0.5% each).

1. Phosphorus – provides plants with the energy necessary for proper growth and development, stimulates abundant flowering and fruiting, and increases endurance. The fertilizer in question contains ammonium phosphate and potassium phosphate.
2. Sulfur – converts nitrogen into an easily accessible and quickly digestible form that is completely absorbed by plants.
3. Nitrogen (ammonium sulfate) – promotes the growth of green mass, the synthesis of elements and an increase in yield.
4. Potassium (presented in the form of sulfate) – increases sugar content and oil content, improves taste and increases the shelf life of fruits, regulates water balance, supports the immune system of plants, and increases the number of ovaries.

Varieties

On sale, types of ammophoska are presented under the brand “A” (granular form) and under the brand “B” (in powder form). Moreover, the composition of the complex in both brands is approximately the same: phosphorus is contained in the range of 44-52%, nitrogen 10-12%.

The division by brand is present due to the different method of application:

1. Granular fertilizer (grade “A” ) is recommended to be used as a starting (local) option before planting crops. It is also called ordinary.
2. Powder fertilizer (grade “B”) should be considered as the main feeding for continuous planting of plants. Powder fertilizer can be used for fodder areas, fields with perennial grasses, green lawns of park and sports types.

Maximum consumption rates

Fertilizer application rates are different for all crops. The calculation is based on the area. The specified standards must be applied per 1 square meter:

• fruit trees - 75-95 grams;
• vegetable crops - 20-30 grams, depending on the type;
• berries - 15-20 grams;
• ornamental plants - 20 grams.

When applying fertilizer during spring plowing, use the first number (for example, for vegetables - 20 grams). The granules are spread and then incorporated into the soil. When used indoors, the rate increases.

Purpose, indications for use

Ammofoska fertilizer is used for tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, grapes, melons and legumes, as well as for feeding berry fields.

On average, you can increase productivity from 20 to 40%.

Berry bushes that react poorly to chlorine happily absorb ammophoska. It is applied in accordance with the instructions in spring or autumn.

When fertilizing in autumn, nitrogen does not affect the growth of shoots, since it does not dissolve immediately.

>By spring, nutrients enter the soil in full and the bush begins to grow vigorously.

Thanks to the potassium in the composition, flowering occurs faster and the berries ripen 2 weeks earlier. This is important for those summer residents who grow berries for sale: someone else will ripen them, but here they are already selling them.

Fruit trees are fed mainly in the fall, pouring buckets of solution into the tree trunk. Then they fill the ditch with earth and pour more water on top - about 200 liters so that the substances dissolve.

It is also recommended to prepare the soil for potato beds in advance: 2 - 3 weeks before planting or in the fall. The fact is that potato bushes are lovers of nitrogen, and it takes longer to dissolve.

Grapes and beets are garden plants that prefer ammophosphate than chlorine fertilizers. Indoor plants - greenhouse plants - need more nutrients, since they are limited in sunlight and can begin to suffer from a fungal infection.

Greenhouse owners cannot always afford to constantly use manure if there are no animals on the farm, so they have to combine mineral fertilizers with organic matter.

Ammofoska or Ammophos is suitable for garden ornamental crops - standard varieties of roses, or other flowering plants.

It is better to use ammophos, since its composition is balanced, and you still need to add some potassium fertilizer to ammophos. If flowers prefer potassium chloride, then buy it separately.

How to dilute ammophos in water

Ammophos granules are poured into the prepared container and filled with slightly warm water in a ratio of 1 to 3. Next, stir well and allow time to dissolve and infuse for a couple of days. One way or another, everything will not dissolve and sediment will remain at the bottom.

When adding fertilizers, they are often mixed together to save time and labor. However, it is important to follow the rules for mixing fertilizers. Thus, ammophos can be mixed with ammonium nitrate, nitrophoska, urea, potassium salt and potassium chloride. Only before using the mixture (solution) - with sodium, calcium and potassium nitrate, superphosphate, phosphate rock and bone meal, precipate. Do not mix ammophos with lime, ash, manure and chicken droppings.

You can apply the ammophos solution into a hole near the root of the plant; sometimes, in order to cover large areas, the solution is introduced into the drip irrigation system through a separate container connected to the system. It is recommended to start introducing the solution 15 minutes from the start of watering, introduce the solution for 20-30 minutes, and then continue watering for about 30 minutes, flushing the system.

Important! The solution must be introduced into the drip irrigation system, having previously filtered it from sediment, otherwise the system will become clogged.

Instructions for use

The range of applications of ammophoska is very wide - it is used for pre-sowing, main and local application, as well as for feeding plants.

The application rates of this fertilizer for different crops have the following values:

• Vegetables – 25-30 g per sq.m.
• Berries – 15-30 g per sq.m.
• Lawn, flowers, ornamental plants – 15-25 g per sq.m.
• Root vegetables – 20-30 g per sq.m.
• Fruit trees – 100 g for an old tree (over 10 years old); about 50 g – for young people (under 5 years old).

Sometimes ammophoska is used as an element of vegetable compost. The result is a complex mineral-organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen. It is used on depleted soils, as well as for the resuscitation of sick and dying plants.

For flowers and lawn

Apply spring application. Fertilizer is embedded directly into the soil before planting to a depth of 3-5 cm.

Another way: having distributed the granules over the surface, sprinkle a small layer of earth, sawdust or sand on top. This is done to prevent nitrogen from evaporating from the fertilizer.

It is better to replenish the lawn by spraying with an aqueous solution of the drug. By feeding, the grass becomes juicier and thicker, and ornamental plants delight with the brightness of their colors and the duration of their flowering.

For potatoes

Ammophoska for potatoes is added in the amount of 1 tablespoon locally directly into the holes when planting tubers. The multicomponent composition of the fertilizer contributes to the proper development of the plant and the formation of an excellent harvest.

Adding ammophos as a top dressing increases the starchiness of potatoes, the number and size of tubers.

For peppers

Granules of the drug are added during digging (30 g / 1 m2) or when replacing soil. Adult plants are fed with a fertilizer solution (10 g per bucket of water).

For tomatoes

The drug is applied throughout the growing season. When planting seedlings, add ammophoska for tomatoes to the holes in dry form; during the flowering of tomatoes and ripening of fruits, water with the solution once every 14 days.

For pear

Spring application of the drug stimulates flowering and the appearance of ovaries. Further feeding will improve the taste and fruit filling. Due to the deep root system of trees, fertilizer is applied in liquid form.

For cucumbers

To improve soil fertility in the garden, when digging you need to add 20-30 g of granules per square meter of area, and then during the summer feed the plants with an ammophosphate solution every 10 days.

For onions and garlic

When planting, apply 20 g of dry fertilizer per 1 m2. During the growing season, spraying greenery will be of great benefit.

For strawberries

Ammophoska is mixed with ammonium nitrate or urea in a 2:1 ratio to increase the nitrogen content in the fertilizer.

In spring, nitrogen is the main element for the growth of young shoots and leaves.

To prepare the solution 1 tbsp. a spoonful of the mixture should be diluted in 10 liters of water. The resulting liquid is poured over the strawberries at the root, 0.5 liters per bush.

For fruit trees and shrubs

Fertilizing is carried out in the spring, as soon as the snow melts. Having retreated 30-50 cm from the trunk, a small groove 5-7 cm deep is made around the tree or bush. From 50 to 100 g of ammophosphate is poured into it, depending on the age and size of the plant, and the granules are covered with earth on top.

For berry growers

Feeding is needed during flowering or immediately after it. It has a beneficial effect on the formation and taste of berries.

Instructions for fertilizer

You can use various feeding methods. For example, when planting potatoes, add a tablespoon of granules to each hole, mixing them with the ground. In this case, the tubers are laid above the fertilizer layer. Per hundred square meters you will need approximately 2 - 2.5 kg of granules. This is a more economical method of sealing. In the fall, you can sprinkle the mixture over the entire garden bed and dig it up with the soil.

Do the same with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons. If organic matter was added to the soil before, you can limit yourself to watering the seedlings every 7 days.

There is a method in which slurry is enriched with an additional amount of granules diluted in water. This brings double benefits: organic matter serves to replenish the population of soil microorganisms that produce fertile humus, and minerals nourish plants.

How to apply on different types of soil?

Granular fertilizer is evenly scattered over the surface of the soil before digging. In the form of a solution, it is used as root and foliar feeding for all types of plants.

Chernozems of the forest-steppe and meadow zones

Although these types of soil contain a sufficient amount of nutrients, additional fertilizing will not hurt them.

Carbonate chernozems

Instead of ammophos, it is permissible to use ammophos as a fertilizer for this soil, since potassium does not need to be added to it.

Gray soils and chestnut soils

When growing industrial crops (sunflower, rapeseed, flax, etc.) on these soils, the application of ammophosphate must be accompanied by watering.

Saline soils

The meager content of nutrients makes fertilizing the soil with ammophos a mandatory condition for farming.

Protected soils

Due to the rapid depletion of soil when growing various crops, the addition of these nutrient granules is also necessary to obtain a good harvest.

Storage conditions and periods

The closed package can be stored for no more than 9 months in a dry, dark place at a temperature of 0 to +30 °C. Be sure to limit access to the drug to children and animals.

Having a balanced nutritional composition, ammophoska has found application not only in many summer cottages, but is also widely used for agricultural needs. It helps to almost double the yield. When ammophoska is applied to cereal crops, the quality of flour made from them improves by increasing the gluten content. Fruits and berries acquire a more pronounced taste, tolerate transportation better and are stored longer.

Price

Today, each manufacturer sells ammophoska at its own price. For example, for 1 kg of composition he asks for 78 rubles. sells 1 kg of fertilizer for 102 rubles.

If the plot of land is large and you need a lot of fertilizer, it is advisable to buy it in bulk.

Each manufacturer sets its own price per ton. On average, 1 ton of granular fertilizer is sold in Russia for 25,000 rubles.

What is Ammofoska fertilizer used for?

The favorable qualities of Ammofosk are used for growing crops.
It can be used alone or in combination with other fertilizers. The need for Ammofoska arises when the appearance of plants - sparse leaves, a thin trunk, a small number of flowers and the formation of ovaries, indicate a lack of phosphorus in the soil, which is one of the main components of fertilizer that increases crop yields and their resistance to adverse external factors such as weather and pests.

Ammophoska (ammonium phosphate) is a nitrate-free, concentrated water-soluble substance (presented in granules), which belongs to the class of nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers. In the agricultural field, its ability to reduce the amount of nitrates in vegetables and fruits, as well as other positive qualities, is used:

1. The ability to strengthen plant roots.
2. Increasing the shelf life of the harvested crop.
3. Increasing the quantity and quality of harvested crops.
4. Plant resistance to diseases, climate, soil pests.

Ammophoska is used for basic vegetable, shrub, fruit crops and lawn grass. The fertilizer combines well with ammonium nitrate, which helps increase productivity by up to 40%. The cost of up to 100 rubles per 1 kg makes the substance available for purchase by individuals and agricultural organizations.

Important! In arid areas, the use of Ammofosk is especially necessary to increase soil and plant fertility. Chernozem soils are quickly depleted, and they also need phosphorus feeding.

Reviews

According to gardeners, in comparison with organic fertilizers, ammophosphate has a number of advantages:

• affordable price;
• low consumption;
• versatility of use;
• no unpleasant odor;
• balance of nutrients (unlike ammophos, ammophos is a complex fertilizer);
• ease of transportation;
• can be applied without prior preparation;
• Possibility of use on any soil.

Flaws:

• Incompatibility with alkaline fertilizers (calcium and sodium nitrate, ash). When mixed, phosphorus compounds acquire a form that is inaccessible to plants for absorption, and a large loss of nitrogen also occurs.
• Contact with skin or mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract causes irritation and inflammation. Precautions must be taken.
• An excess leads to increased soil acidity.
• Autumn application is not recommended (it provokes weed growth).
• During long-term storage of opened packaging, nitrogen and partially sulfur evaporate.

Properties, advantages

Ammofoska fertilizer is used to eliminate and prevent deficiency of mineral nutrition of plants. With timely use, this complex drug helps:

• get rid of chlorosis, accompanied by paleness and falling leaves;
• normalize the absorption of nutrients, due to which plants more actively form green mass and produce more fruits;
• achieve timely formation of larger and evenly colored fruits;
• eliminate disturbances in the circulation of nutrients in plant tissues caused by phosphorus deficiency.

Ammofoska gives a positive effect when applied to any soil:

• On loam and sandstone . Due to its looseness, sand does not hold useful substances; they are quickly washed away with frequent rains and regular watering.
• In clay soil , where the digestibility of nitrogen and phosphorus is low.
• On chernozems, Ammofoska is used to feed grain crops, industrial grasses, and root crops.
• On gray soils and chestnut soils, the fertilizer is effective under the condition of simultaneous irrigation.
• On saline soil, Ammofoska is the best fertilizing option, ensuring abundant fruit formation.

Advantages of the drug:

• There are no additional substances unnecessary for plants.
• Easily digestible form of active ingredients. Ammofoska dissolves in the soil in a short time, unlike other drugs of similar action, the dissolution process of which takes up to 2 months.
• High degree of absorption of mineral elements. Ammophoska is absorbed by 50-60%, while similar mineral preparations are absorbed by only 30-40%.

Nitrogen in the fertilizer is in ammonium form, which eliminates the accumulation of nitrates in the soil and their penetration into fruits. Ammonium is characterized by slow breakdown in the soil, due to which plants receive a sufficient amount of nutrition throughout the growing season.

Security measures

Ammophoska belongs to the fourth hazard class, so when using it you must adhere to certain rules.

When using it, it is necessary to protect the respiratory system with the help of respirators, gas masks, and, in extreme cases, gauze bandages. The body must be protected by a work suit made of thick fabric, and gloves or mittens must be worn on the hands.

Despite the fact that the dust generated when working with this agrochemical is not toxic, it is advisable to avoid its occurrence. To do this, the mound of fertilizer balls is slightly moistened with a spray bottle. After completing the work, hands and face should be washed with soap.

If chemical particles get on your skin, you should immediately wash them off with a generous stream of cold water.

In case of contact with mucous membranes - eyes, nose, mouth, you need to rinse them with water and consult a doctor as soon as possible.

In case of accidental ingestion, drink more liquid, possibly with sorbents, and induce profuse vomiting. In this case, consulting a doctor is strictly necessary.

Analogs

Nitroammophoska
It often happens that novice gardeners do not see the difference between ammophoska and nitroammophoska. However, there is a difference and you need to be aware of it.

Ammofoska is a concentrated mineral granule with a gray tint. The fertilizer is universal and can be used on different types of soil.

It is suitable for all kinds of plants. It can be used dry or dissolved.

The main advantages of the mineral complex are hygroscopicity, non-toxicity, and the ability to store the product conveniently and for a long time.

Nitroammofoska is also a universal drug. However, the difference primarily lies in the composition, which includes many concentrates of different elements. The complex goes on sale in the form of granules with a pink tint.

Experts recommend using nitroammophoska in the process of planting crops. At the same time, although the fertilizer is used on different soils, its effectiveness is best guaranteed on chernozem soils. It is also recommended to apply the complex to the soil in the fall, which is not recommended for ammophoska.

>Nitroammophos is preferably used in dry form.

You can replace ammophosphate with superphosphate and saltpeter. The composition preparation scheme looks like this: Superphosphate (2.5 kg) + Ammonium nitrate (0.35 kg) = Ammophosphate (1 kg).

Behavior in soil

Ammophoska granules slowly dissolve in soil moisture, providing plants with nutrition for a long period. The chemical substances that make up the fertilizer dissociate into individual ions: NH4+ is ammonium ion, H2PO4-, HPO42- and PO43- are phosphate ions, SO42− is sulfate ion, K+ is potassium ion.

Ammonium ion

During the growing season, nitrates are easily absorbed by plants; in cold weather, they are washed out of the soil, especially under conditions of excessive moisture. As a result of nitrification, some loss of nitrogen occurs due to its transition to a gaseous state.

Sulfate ion

Sulfur in the form of the sulfo group SO42− is quickly absorbed by plants. It should be noted that plants are able to absorb sulfur only in this form, without even assimilating elemental sulfur.