Ammofoska - how to apply it correctly for a rich harvest?

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.

Application

Experts advise using ammophos in combination with nitrogen fertilizers, because phosphorus remains the main component of this type of fertilizer. An equal amount of both microelements is necessary for the full development of gardening plants both in personal gardens and summer cottages, and in large farms.

If the climatic conditions in a certain area of ​​agriculture have a reduced amount of precipitation, in the case of complex use, the nitrogen component should be reduced.

How to use ammophoska 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.

Analogs

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).

When to use ammophoska?

Determining whether it is time to start excavation work is quite simple: you need to pick up some earth, form a small lump and, holding it at a height of about a meter, throw it down without accelerating. If a cake forms when you hit the surface, the soil is still too wet. If the lump has crumbled, you can begin work. But you can add ammophoska without waiting for this time. It is often scattered on the soil in March, right on top of the snow. The moisture generated from its melting dissolves the granules, and nutrients fall into the ground.

How to dilute ammophos in water

Liquid feeding remains the most effective way to fertilize cultivated plants. To prepare a nutrient solution from fertilizer:

1. Pour 0.5 kg of ammophoska with 5 liters of hot water.
2. Stir and wait until the residue settles out.
3. Drain the liquid part and use it for root or foliar feeding.
4. Add 2 more times 2.5 liters of hot water to the sediment and repeat the same operation again.

Since the components that are used as ballast in the production of such fertilizers include sulfur, the sediment after rinsing with water can be used as an additional element of compost or ground dressing.

Instructions for preparation and use

Each crop has its own timing and norms for applying the fertilizer in question.

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.

Effect on plants

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.

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.

Application of Ammophos in different types of soils

Experts recommend using fertilizer on all types of soil, regardless of the climatic characteristics of a particular farming area.

In this case, it is necessary to take into account not only the types of cultivated plants, but also the composition of the soil:

• for chernozem soils of the forest-steppe, meadow and soddy-podzolic categories, ammophos is the main fertilizer when planting root crops, flax, grain crops and all chlorophobic plant species;
• carbonate, simple and southern chernozems require an individual approach. Therefore, here ammophos is the only acceptable type of fertilizer due to the high temperature during the vegetative and fruiting periods;
• on gray soils and chestnut soils, it is recommended to use this type of fertilizer in combination with irrigation - this is the only way to use its effectiveness to the fullest;
• the use of ammophos on saline soils will help to grow a good and high-quality harvest;
• for greenhouses, fertilizer is considered the most effective as a basis for complex use.

Advantages and disadvantages

Comparison with organics allows us to highlight the following advantages of Ammofoska :

• low cost;
• economical consumption;
• absence of unpleasant odors;
• universal purpose for crops and soil types;
• ease of transportation;
• balanced composition;
• no preparation required for application.

In addition to the positive characteristics, we can highlight the negative aspects of feeding:

• overdose acidifies the soil;
• application in the fall can provoke the growth of weeds;
• long-term storage causes volatilization of nitrogen and sulfur;
• upon contact with mucous membranes and skin, it causes inflammation and irritation;
• incompatibility with alkaline chemicals.

Fertilizer composition

Ammophos - the composition of the fertilizer and beneficial properties are in constant relationship. The main components are monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate. Nutrient content:

• Nitrogen – 12%;
• Phosphorus – up to 22.5%;
• Potassium – up to 13%;
• Calcium – less than 1%;
• Magnesium – less than 1%;
• Sulfur – up to 14%.

Due to its composition, ammophos has special physical and chemical characteristics:

• the final result of the produced substance is granules with a diameter of 3.5 mm;
• a substance that prevents moisture accumulation;
• dense content does not emit harmful substances, therefore it is safe for people;
• dense granules are easy to use - just place a few pieces next to the root system of the flower.

The total composition, ideal for activating all the beneficial properties of ammophos, is 12:52: 12% ammonia and 52% phosphorus. Initially, ammophos was created to help plants absorb phosphorus-containing substances, but later a new chemical formula was created with the addition of nitrogen. The new composition improves the actions of all components, since nitrogen and phosphorus complement each other when interacting.

Using the product

This product is necessary in those areas where a lot of nitrogen is not needed to ensure normal growth and development of crops, but at the same time there is a need for phosphorus. Thus, in areas with the lowest level of humidity, this fertilizer is used during routine tillage before sowing.

Ammophos is most effective on many types of soil under different climatic conditions. It has a particularly good effect on increasing soil fertility if it is combined with preparations that contain nitrogen. When these chemicals are combined, crop yield can be increased by 50%. The product is needed when it is clear that the applied phosphorus fertilizers are not enough or they are not completely absorbed by the plants.

Ammophos is also quite common on individual farms. But not many people know how to use it correctly. It happens that the product is poured under all crops in a row. This is incorrect because superphosphate is suitable for many plants.

Fertilizer is used not only for the future, counting on a positive effect in the coming time, but also when characteristic features of phosphorus deficiency occur.

Doses of drug application

The instructions for use recommend using the chemical for:

• Potatoes. Fertilizers that contain P in the structure increase the size of the crop and increase the amount of starch in this crop. Add 3 g of product to each well.

• Grapes. When spring comes, the ground under the vine is sprayed with ammophos dissolved in liquid at a dosage of 0.4 kg per bucket. After 14 days, foliar feeding should be done using the composition in the proportions of 120 g to 10 liters of water. The chemical has another significant feature: it prevents toxic substances from accumulating in the resulting products.
• Beetroot. This kind of fertilizer is used for any type of root crops: sugar, table, fodder. It promotes the accumulation of sweetness in vegetables. Fertilizer is applied during planting at the rate of 5 g of substance per meter of land.

Interesting! Fertilizer potassium sulfate: use in the garden.

Security measures

Since ammophoska belongs to the group of chemical fertilizers, it is necessary to take precautions when working with it. For example, contact of granules or liquid solution with mucous membranes or open areas of skin is undesirable. You should also not inhale the fumes of the drug, as this will negatively affect the respiratory tract.

When working with granules, you can inhale dust, so the respiratory tract must be protected with a cotton-gauze bandage or a respirator. To prevent dust from getting into your eyes, you need to wear glasses. You should wear gloves on your hands and protect your skin with thick clothing.

When working with a liquid solution, you need to wear a waterproof raincoat with a hood to prevent drops from getting on your skin and hair. The remaining protective clothing is the same - goggles, rubber gloves and a respirator. You need to work in the absence of directional wind. It is also necessary to remove pets from the area so that the solution does not get on their fur.

If the solution or powder gets on the body, it is necessary to immediately rinse the affected area with a large volume of water. If the drug penetrates the respiratory tract, you need to drink at least a liter of water (warm) and induce vomiting. To remove toxic substances when the solution gets inside, you need to take activated carbon (10 tablets at once). Coal is washed down with water. After this, seek medical help.

Active components, description

Ammophos is an effective type of phosphorus fertilizer that is used during sowing and various stages of the growing season. Its formula is a complex concentrate, which is obtained by neutralizing orthophosphoric acid with ammonia. The phosphorus contained in the feed is highly soluble in water and quickly absorbed by the plant.

It is important to fertilize crops as they grow. During this period, fertilizing with phosphorus is especially required for the successful development of the rhizome and easy absorption of nitrogen.

Active components:

• nitrogen, 12%;
• phosphorus, 15%;
• potassium, 14%;
• sulfur, 14%;
• magnesium.

Fertilizer does not absorb moisture from oxygen well, but dissolves well in water. This allows it to be used as solutions for foliar and root feeding. Due to the chemical reaction during the production of the substance, 10% ammonia and 50% phosphorus are formed. This ratio is ideal for plants. The herbicide is produced in the form of granular form up to 3.5 mm in size under the brand “A” and in powder under the brand “B”.

1. Granular ammophos is recommended to be used topically before sowing.
2. Ammophos "B" is used as a base agent and feed for continuous sowing crops. These include perennial grasses on forage lands, natural lawns for park and sports purposes.

For retail consumption, ammophos is sold in soft containers or polyethylene bags. When large agricultural enterprises purchase fertilizer, it is shipped in bulk.