Ammonium nitrate or ammonium nitrate: composition, properties of fertilizer, use in gardening and in the garden

Ammonium nitrate: properties of fertilizer

Main properties of ammonium nitrate:

1. high efficiency of the drug - its consumption per 1 hectare of garden area is no more than 1 kg;
2. if an excessive amount of lime was added to the soil, this saltpeter will acidify the soil;
3. the substance dissolves perfectly in water without forming sediment;
4. Ammonium nitrate contains nitrogen in two forms - with a rapid dissolution period and an extended one;
5. the temperature characteristics of the soil do not affect the absorption of nitrogen by the root system of plants, so this preparation can be applied immediately after the snow melts;
6. Almost all applied fertilizer is absorbed by the plant, its losses in the soil are minimal, so it does not need to be embedded into the soil to a depth.

Description of fertilizer - video

In addition, the cost of ammonium nitrate is not too high compared to most fertilizers, which makes the drug very attractive to farmers.

But you should remember some of the disadvantages of this drug:

1. it cannot be used as a foliar fertilizer, since the ammonium nitrate solution severely burns the foliage even in a small concentration;
2. This fertilizer cannot be applied to acidic soil;
3. Failure to comply with the dosage and exceeding it lead to burns of the root system; fertilizing should be done after watering or rain.

Photo of ammonium nitrate - what the fertilizer looks like

Fertilizing should be applied according to the schedule - for most vegetable plants, a single application of ammonium nitrate per season is sufficient

. Instead, you need to add drugs containing potassium and phosphorus.

Ammonium nitrate is a very strong fertilizer; exceeding its dosage when applied to the soil can lead to an increase in the amount of nitrates in fruits

. However, nitrates can be washed out of the soil by heavy watering or during rainy periods.

Compatibility with other fertilizers

Ammonium nitrate is full of nitrogen, but tomatoes also need other elements. Of course, it is advisable to mix different minerals and organic matter in one bucket and carry out a one-time balanced feeding of tomato bushes. However, to do this you need to remember a number of rules:

Do not mix:

• potassium and sodium nitrate with ammonium sulfate and manure;
• calcium nitrate with potassium chloride, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium sulfate, manure;
• ammonium nitrate with lime fertilizers, ash, manure, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate;
• manure with calcium, sodium, potassium, ammonium nitrate and ash;
• superphosphate with ash, lime fertilizers, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, phosphate rock;
• ash with manure, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, urea;
• carbamide (urea) with calcium nitrate, stove ash, lime fertilizers;
• ammonium sulfate with ammonium, sodium, potassium, calcium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium chloride.

There is another list. Some fertilizers combine well, mix well, and can be stored for a long time.

• sodium and potassium nitrate with potassium chloride, ash, urea, ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate;
• ash with sodium, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, phosphate rock;
• calcium nitrate with phosphate rock;
• ammonium nitrate with phosphate rock, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, urea, sodium and potassium nitrate;
• carbamide (urea) with nitrate (sodium, ammonium, potassium), potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, manure.

Ammonium nitrate - formula and composition of fertilizer

This substance is a white powder or granules with a yellowish tint. Granulated ammonium nitrate has the same properties as powder, but decomposes a little more slowly in the soil.

This drug has other names:

• nitric acid salt;
• Ammonium nitrate.

Ammonium nitrate formula: NH4NO3

. Some manufacturers add sulfur to its composition, which is also required by cultivated plants for active growth. The percentage of this trace element in ammonium nitrate is up to 13%.

Table:

There are several varieties of this drug, depending on the additional elements included in its composition:

• Indian saltpeter
  - in addition to active nitrogen, it also contains potassium. As a result, this fertilizer, when applied to the soil, simultaneously promotes the growth of vegetative mass by the plant, and also prepares it for active budding and ripening of fruits.
• Norwegian
  - it contains carbonate (like lime), magnesium and potassium. During the production process of the drug, its granules are exposed to petroleum products, which break down for a long time in the soil. As a result, nutrients are supplied to the soil in portions over a long period.
• Ammonium nitrate B
  , which contains nitrogen, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, potassium.
• Magnesium
  , in this preparation magnesium ions are part of the crystal lattice of the substance.
• Ammoniated calcium nitrate
  . This fertilizer can be applied to almost all cultivated plants, fruit trees and shrubs. The drug prevents soils from acidifying, maintaining their neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

The benefits of calcium nitrate

There is a widespread belief among novice gardeners that for normal growth of cultivated plants, only nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are needed. Despite the fact that these elements are irreplaceable, in addition to them, tomatoes need a sufficient amount of calcium. The fertilizer contains 13% nitrogen and 19% calcium. Because of this composition, saltpeter is also called calcium nitrate and calcium nitrate.

Fertilizer for tomatoes can be purchased in specialized stores in packages of 0.5 and 2 kg in the form of crystals or granules. A granular mixture is considered the best for feeding vegetable crops, since it does not spray when applied.

Fertilizing tomatoes with saltpeter has a number of advantages:

• under the influence of nitrogen and calcium, seeds germinate faster;
• the fruits ripen 2 weeks earlier than the date specified in the description of the variety;
• plants are strengthened at the cellular level;
• tomatoes form a powerful root system;
• the crop tolerates sudden temperature changes better;
• the survival rate of seedlings improves;
• immunity to diseases increases, the risk of infection of plantings by ticks and slugs is reduced. Moreover, resistance to pathogenic microorganisms remains even after the end of the application of nitrate;
• as a result of regular application of calcium nitrate, the yield increases by 10-15%;
• the taste of fruits and their keeping quality are improved;
• under the influence of nitrogen and calcium, the soil structure improves.

Unlike many fertilizers, calcium nitrate can be used to feed tomatoes on acidic soils, since the substance does not oxidize the soil. Moreover, calcium promotes the absorption of nitrogen, which makes the fertilizer as beneficial as possible for all vegetable crops, fruit trees, and flowers. The use of nitrate is especially effective on podzolic soils.

In view of such an impressive list of beneficial properties, it is simply useless to deny the need to add calcium nitrate to the crop. However, despite its usefulness, the fertilizer must be used only in the recommended dose, since if fertilizing is carried out incorrectly, the roots of the plant are burned and the plant dies.

Ammonium nitrate application rate

In the spring, ammonium nitrate in powdered or granular form can be added to the planted seedlings of any vegetable crops.

, 5-10 g of the drug should be used per square area. Typically, fertilizer is applied 12-15 days after transplanting seedlings into open ground, or 18-21 days after sprouts appear.

Before planting root crops in the prepared beds, pour up to 30 g of the drug per square area

. If the soil is severely depleted, then the dose of ammonium nitrate should be increased to 50 g per 1 m2.

For fruit bushes, the dosage of applying nitric acid salt is up to 18 g per 1 m2

. The fertilizer is scattered around the tree trunk after digging.

Fertilizer application rates for various crops of ammonium nitrate - video

To feed fruit trees, 24-28 g of the drug is diluted in a bucket of water and poured into the tree trunk in the spring after flowering.

. After about a month, fruit trees are re-fertilized with this fertilizer.

Important!

After plants or fruit trees and shrubs have been fed with ammonium nitrate solution, they should be watered with plain water so that the root system does not burn.

Feeding time

The ideal time to apply calcium nitrate is in the spring. The area allocated for planting the crop is covered with granules and dug up. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer to the site for digging in the fall: due to frequent precipitation, nitrogen is washed out of the soil, and the remaining calcium is harmful to tomatoes.

The first root feeding of tomatoes with saltpeter is carried out during transplantation of seedlings to a new location. Foliar feeding is carried out periodically until the flowering phase begins. The seedlings are sprayed a week after planting on the site or in the greenhouse. In the future, tomatoes are sprayed once every 2 weeks. In case of disease, additional foliar feeding is applied to the tomatoes.

Important! Calcium nitrate cannot be mixed with multicomponent mineral fertilizers that contain phosphorus and sulfur.

The use of ammonium nitrate in the garden

Ammonium nitrate

– one of the most popular fertilizers among gardeners and gardeners in the spring and early summer, which is used to ensure that cultivated plants actively increase their vegetative mass.
In summer and autumn, nitrogen-containing fertilizers (including ammonium nitrate) should not be applied to the soil.
In this case, plants and trees will only grow green mass, stems and shoots. Shoots and branches on trees and shrubs that grow in mid- and late summer do not have time to become woody before the cold weather begins and simply freeze out in winter.

Below we will describe for which vegetable and garden crops ammonium nitrate is used.

Application of ammonium nitrate - video

Ammonium nitrate for vegetable seedlings

Ammonium nitrate is rarely used to feed vegetable seedlings. Most often, liquid organic fertilizers and urea are applied to seedlings (with an interval of 10-12 days).

But, for example, ammonium nitrate is necessarily used to feed tomato seedlings. For the first time, these seedlings are fertilized with a solution of mullein, and after 12-14 days you can add a solution of nitrate, diluting 15-20 g of the drug in a bucket of water. This amount of solution is used to apply 3 m2 of crops.

Ammonium nitrate for tomatoes

Nitrogen is needed by young tomato bushes so that they actively grow green mass and strengthen the stems

. Ammonium nitrate contains about 34% of this macroelement, so it can be used as the main fertilizer in the spring, as well as as part of a complex fertilizer in combination with potassium salt and superphosphate.

Ammonium nitrate is also added to planting holes (1 tbsp) when planting tomatoes in a permanent place. Also, 5 g of this nitrogen fertilizer is sprinkled on each m2 during the period of active flowering.

The use of ammonium nitrate for cucumbers

Ammonium nitrate is added to the soil before planting cucumber seeds or their seedlings in a permanent place in the garden. It should be buried about 8-10 cm into the soil for spring digging. Many vegetable growers simply scatter this fertilizer around the garden during the period of massive snow melting.

During the period of growth of cucumber vines before flowering, you can water them with a solution of ammonium nitrate, diluting 15-20 g of the drug in a bucket of water.

It is important to know!

However, experts warn that this crop actively accumulates nitrates in its fruits, so ammonium nitrate should be applied under it with great caution and in no case exceed the doses specified in the instructions for use.

Ammonium nitrate for potatoes

Before planting potato tubers in holes, add 1 tbsp. l. Ammonium nitrate. Subsequently, after 18-20 days, the dry preparation should be scattered over the area at the rate of 5 g per square area.

Fertilizing potatoes with ammonium nitrate - video

Fertilizing strawberries with ammonium nitrate

Before planting strawberries in a permanent place, compost or humus is added to the prepared beds at the rate of at least 5 kg per 1 m2. In the first year after planting this berry crop, it is not recommended to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers, because they provoke rotting of the strawberry bushes.

Starting from the second season in the spring, ammonium nitrate should be added to strawberry beds.

. The application rate of the drug is 100 g per 1 m2 of area. Trenches 10 cm deep are dug along the rows, into which nitrogen fertilizer is poured in an even layer, the furrows are leveled with a rake and watering is carried out.

Next season, strawberries are fertilized with complex fertilizer, which contains per 10 m2:

• phosphorus – 100 g;
• potassium salt – 100 g;
• ammonium nitrate – 110-140 g.

This composition is applied to the beds during the period of green mass appearance, as well as after harvesting ripe fruits.

Instead of dry fertilizer in the spring, you can fertilize with ammonium nitrate solution

. To do this, dilute up to 30 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water and carefully water the bushes strictly at the root.

Ammonium nitrate for root vegetables: beets, carrots, etc.

When preparing beds for planting root crop seeds, ammonium nitrate is applied to the furrows that are made between the rows. This fertilizer is added to them in dry form.

Ammonium nitrate for fruit trees: apple, pear, plum, apricot, peach and others

In the spring, when the snow has completely melted, it is time to feed all fruit trees and shrubs.

. During this period, cultivated plants in the garden need fertilizers containing nitrogen.

Nitrogen nitrate should be applied to the tree trunks of fruit trees several times during the summer.

.

Prepare the solution as follows: dissolve up to 30 g of the drug in a bucket of water. This proportion is the most optimal and saturates the soil with a sufficient amount of nitrogen. Watering with ammonium nitrate is carried out strictly in the tree trunk circles, preventing the drug from getting on the bark and vegetative mass of the trees.

Fruit trees are fertilized at least 3 times per season with an interval of 18-20 days.

Description of fruit tree varieties!
Apricot Northern Triumph Plum Study Apricot Royal Peach Redhaven

Fertilizing berry bushes with ammonium nitrate (raspberries, honeysuckle, currants, blackberries, gooseberries)

You can also apply this preparation to fruit bushes several times a season, but strictly “at the root.”

. For gooseberry and currant bushes up to 3 years old, the rate of application of this fertilizer is up to 30 g per square. During the period of active ripening of berries, the consumption of ammonium nitrate should be up to 50 g.

Spring feeding of these shrubs with ammonium nitrate can be carried out even in the snow.

But it is better to carry it out after the snow has melted, and bury the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of 9-11 cm.

Fertilizing garlic with ammonium nitrate

Garlic, like many other root vegetables, really needs nitrogen, which promotes the active germination of cloves.

Fertilizing garlic in spring using ammonium nitrate - video

Ammonium nitrate is applied to the beds with garlic in the spring at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. drug per square area. Or you can prepare a solution of ammonium nitrate according to the instructions for use (up to 30 g per bucket of water). Fertilizing garlic with ammonium nitrate in the spring is carried out in the snow.

You can also apply this fertilizer under garlic in the fall - before the onset of cold weather.

Ammonium nitrate for flowers

Ammonium nitrate is also actively used in gardening, adding it in the spring in order to stimulate foliage growth.

For perennials, granules of the drug are applied during the snow melting period - in this case, the fertilizer reaches the roots faster along with the melted snow. In this case, additional watering of the plants is not required - due to the large amount of melt water, the flower roots will not be burned by the preparation.

In mid-spring, when the flowers begin to actively grow, it is better to feed them with a solution of ammonium nitrate (up to 2 tablespoons per bucket of water), in this case the nutrients will flow to the roots evenly.

When the first buds appear on flowering plants, fertilizing with ammonium nitrate is stopped, otherwise the vegetative mass of these crops will continue to increase to the detriment of flowering. Because of this, aphids may appear more actively on the bushes.

FUNGICIDES for the GARDEN AND VEGETABLE VEGETABLE!
Bordeaux mixture Fungicide Antracol

Ammonium nitrate for roses

“Queens of flowers” ​​require ammonium nitrate no less than other cultivated plants during the period of active growth. Therefore, this fertilizer with a large amount of nitrogen is applied for the first time at the end of April or beginning of May after the spring sanitary pruning of the bushes has been carried out.

Varieties of beautiful roses!
Rose Gloria Day climbing Rose floribunda climbing Rumba Yellow rose floribunda Arthur Bell
To do this, dilute this drug in a bucket of water (the norm is 1 tbsp.). Other fertilizers should be added to this solution - superphosphate and any potassium salt. Approximately 6 liters of this liquid fertilizer is applied to each plant.

. These complex fertilizers first of all activate the growth of roots, which will serve as an impetus for the start of sap flow.

After 2-3 weeks, similar feeding should be repeated in order to activate the appearance of buds

. After the first flowers begin to appear on the rose bushes, ammonium nitrate is no longer added, otherwise the vegetative mass, including young shoots, will continue to grow, and flowering will be inactive (or buds will not appear at all).

Ammonium nitrate for lawn

After winter, the lawn grass does not look very attractive - some freezes, some dried grass remains, and there is very little fresh greenery. But after a month and a half, young greenery comes from the roots. And all dried and frozen grass should be removed during spring cleaning in the garden.

To activate the growth of green mass, it is recommended to add ammonium nitrate to the lawn.

. The consumption of this granular fertilizer is no more than 40 g per 1 m2. All granules are evenly distributed over the surface of the earth, then abundant watering is carried out.

Important!

You cannot increase the dosage of the drug, otherwise you can burn all the roots of the lawn grass.

The use of ammonium nitrate for indoor plants

Not every indoor plant needs to be fertilized with ammonium nitrate, so in each specific case, before applying this drug, you need to read the literature about what specific fertilizers your flowers need.

This nitrogen fertilizer is best suited for long-growing indoor plants - palm trees, ferns, as well as other ornamental crops, the main advantage of which is foliage

. After all, the main property of nitrogen is the ability to give impetus to the development of the above-ground parts of plants (shoots, foliage).

Usually, all fertilizers for indoor flowers are applied in liquid form, and saltpeter is no exception.

. Usually no more than 2 tbsp is diluted in a bucket of water. l. Saltpeter, and for each plant an amount of liquid fertilizer is applied, proportional to the capacity of the pot or flowerpot.

Foliar feeding with ammonium nitrate

Foliar feeding of any vegetable plants, flowers (including indoor flowers), fruit trees and shrubs is usually not carried out, since the solution of this drug is quite concentrated and causes burns to the leaf blades

. Because of this, plants get sick for a long time and often die.

Some summer residents still carry out leaf feeding of some cultivated plants, but the amount of ammonium nitrate in the solution should not be more than 0.25 g per 1 liter of water. In a private household, it is extremely difficult to measure such an amount of the drug.

Nitrogen fertilizers for the garden - video

Fertilizing with ammonium nitrate

Fertilizing of fruit trees, flowers, roses, lawns and indoor flowers is also carried out carefully, avoiding exceeding the dosage of this drug. Fruit trees and shrubs have the ability to accumulate nitrates in ripening fruits, which negatively affects human health.

The best fertilizers for the vegetable garden!
Epin Extra Potassium Nitrate Superphosphate Potassium Monophosphate
The use of ammonium nitrate in gardening allows you to increase the volume of vegetative mass, improves flowering and fruiting, but strict adherence to the rate of application of the drug to the soil is required.

What plants are fertilized with saltpeter?

Solanaceae provide for feeding seedlings three times a day with multi-mineral complexes, including: saltpeter (up to 15 g), potassium fertilizer (up to 20 g) and superphosphate up to 80 g) per standard bucket of water. The first watering is carried out immediately after diving, the second after about 1-2 weeks, the third 3-5 days before planting in the ground. The solution is applied carefully, exclusively at the root, carefully avoiding above-ground parts.

For cucumbers, complex nutrition is provided twice per season, including nitrogen (saltpeter 10 g), potassium and phosphorus. First during the period of active growth, and then in the flowering phase.

Potatoes are flavored with ammonium nitrate at the planting stage, at the rate of 15-20 g of the substance per square meter. m of beds, and also water the row spacing with a solution (20 g per 10 l) before the first hilling.

Strawberries begin to be fertilized with saltpeter from the second year of life, adding 10-15 g of substances per hundred square meters of land, pouring granules into small trenches along the berry rows.

Onions and garlic are fed twice a year with a mineral complex, including: 7-12 g of saltpeter, as well as a potassium mixture and superphosphate.

Questions from gardeners and gardeners

Below are the most frequently asked questions from readers about this nitrogen fertilizer, along with their answers.

Why is ammonium nitrate needed?

Ammonium nitrate is needed to enrich the soil with nitrogen, which is needed by all cultivated plants in the garden to increase vegetative mass.

What is the chemical formula of ammonium nitrate?

The chemical formula of this drug is NH4NO3.

How much nitrogen is in ammonium nitrate?

This drug contains approximately 34% nitrogen.

Are urea and ammonium nitrate the same thing?

Urea (or carbamide) and ammonium nitrate are completely different fertilizers, the main advantage of which is their high nitrogen content. And if the first preparation contains up to 46% nitrogen, then ammonium nitrate contains only up to 34% of this mineral element.

Urea can be used to apply root and leaf fertilizers, while ammonium nitrate is applied only to the soil.

Urea takes longer to be absorbed by plants, and ammonium nitrate has the ability to be absorbed more quickly by the root system of plants.

Description of urea and ammonium nitrate - pros and cons

What is the price of ammonium nitrate?

The cost of 1 kg of ammonium nitrate is about 13-14 rubles per 1 kg.

What is the composition of ammonium nitrate?

This chemical contains nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. Sulfur, magnesium, potassium, and calcium are often added to ammonium nitrate.

How many grams of ammonium nitrate are in a tablespoon?

One tablespoon contains approximately 13 g of this drug.

How to replace ammonium nitrate for fertilizing?

Ammonium nitrate can be replaced with any other drug containing approximately the same amount of nitrogen in its composition.

How much ammonium nitrate is in a matchbox?

A matchbox can contain no more than 20 g of ammonium nitrate.

Ammonium nitrate or azofoska - which is better?

It is impossible to say unequivocally that one of these fertilizers is better or worse. It’s just that ammonium nitrate contains only easily digestible nitrogen, so it is used only in the spring and early summer.

And azofoska contains all the main components necessary for plants to grow and develop fruits - potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Therefore, this fertilizer can be used for application to garden and vegetable crops throughout the spring and summer season.

Where to buy ammonium nitrate?

You can purchase ammonium nitrate in any specialized store, or order it online.

Urea (urea) or ammonium nitrate - which is better?

Urea contains 2 times more digestible nitrogen than ammonium nitrate, so the nutritional properties of 2 kg of urea are equal to 6 kg of ammonium nitrate.

In addition, urea can be used for foliar feeding when plants require urgent nitrogen application, otherwise they may die.

Which is better ammonium nitrate or urea - video

What brands of ammonium nitrate are there?

There are only two brands of this fertilizer: A and B.

What is the hazard class of ammonium nitrate?

This drug is classified as hazard class 5; it does not ignite in direct contact with fire, but can explode - it decomposes at high ambient temperatures and releases oxygen.

Advantages and disadvantages

Knowing all the advantages and disadvantages of urea, you should consider what are the best characteristics of ammonium nitrate.

Advantages of ammonium nitrate:

• Saltpeter can be used from very early spring, when there is still snow, until late autumn with frosts.
• Nitrogen in nitrate is present in two forms, which benefit plants both at the beginning of application and throughout the growing season.

If we consider the disadvantages, the fertilizer cannot be applied to acidic soils. It is also explosive and capable of spontaneous combustion.

Ammonium nitrate - reviews from gardeners and gardeners

Natalya, 55 years old, Kazan: I use this fertilizer to feed my fruit trees in spring and summer. I also apply ammonium nitrate to gooseberries, currants and strawberries, but only in the spring. I buy small packages of this drug and usually use them in one season so as not to leave them for the next year.

Olga, 49 years old, Volgograd: I use ammonium nitrate to feed most vegetable crops and root crops during the spring. As a result, all my plants are green and strong. I am also pleased with the cheap price of this fertilizer.

You can use ammonium nitrate in your garden and garden throughout the spring.

The undeniable advantage of the drug is that it can even be scattered on the snow, and it will be absorbed immediately into the soil, and will not flow away with melt water. The low cost and optimal amount of easily digestible nitrogen in this fertilizer are also advantages of ammonium nitrate.

Recently searched:

Useful tips

1. The application of nitrate should be stopped approximately two to three weeks before harvest, so that harmful nitrates do not accumulate in the fruits.
2. The drug is applied on damp soil, providing special artificial irrigation or after heavy rain. And at the end of the procedure, abundant watering is also required.
3. Root feeding is carried out with extreme caution, avoiding contact of the drug on the foliage. Spraying with saltpeter is not allowed, since the potent agent can damage the ground parts.
4. The combined use of nitrate and lime group fertilizers (chalk, dolomite flour, wood ash, etc.) is not recommended.
5. When using organic matter (also a source of nitrogen) on the site, the amount of nitrate must be reduced.

Using saltpeter in the garden or garden will almost double the yield. As a result of the saturation of the soil with nutrients, the condition of agricultural crops noticeably improves: resistance to diseases and sharp temperature fluctuations increases, the appearance is transformed, the plants look strong, healthy and beautiful. It is important not to violate the recommended dosages and apply the preparations in a timely manner, then the harvest will delight you with colossal harvests.

How to apply fertilizer

Tuk is used everywhere: in vegetable gardens, in gardens, for ornamental crops, as well as in home floriculture.

Dry application rate:

• 20-25 g per 1 sq.m in cultivated areas;
• 30-45 g per 1 sq.m. on depleted soils.

On a note! The validity period of the fertilizer (on average) is up to 14-16 days.

Preparation of the solution (step by step):

• pour water into the container, approximately 2-3 liters;
• add the required amount of fertilizer (granules, crystalline powder);
• mix thoroughly;
• Fill the container with water to full volume.

The substance does not form sediment and dissolves well even in cold water.

How else can you use it?

Ammonium nitrate can be used not only as a fertilizer, but also in everyday life, in the fight against various pests and weeds.

From weeds

Ammonium nitrate in high concentrations has the ability to damage plant roots and slow down their growth. That is why it is used in weed control. In addition, it is harmless to humans, as it quickly disappears and not a trace remains of it.

To do this, you need to make a solution of a highly concentrated drug: 3 kg of saltpeter per 10 liters of water. This killer liquid is sprayed and spilled on areas where unnecessary grass grows. It is advisable to do this in dry, hot, windless weather, so that the solution lingers longer in the soil and on the greenery of the weed.

From ants

Ammonium nitrate is also effective in the fight against ants. To do this, you need to sprinkle the anthill with granules of the drug, and after a while the insects will leave their home. The second way is to make a solution of ammonium nitrate and pour it well into the ants’ habitat. They will also leave this place.

From the wireworm

Wireworms pose a particular danger to potatoes in the garden. He gnaws through it, making various moves in it. They get rid of it using ammonium nitrate, since the worm does not tolerate the smell of ammonia.

There are two ways to do this. The first is that before planting potatoes, the drug is placed in the holes at the rate of 25 g per 1 m2. If the wireworm was noticed in the summer, it is recommended to water the beds with a solution in a proportion of 3 g per 1 liter.

For septic tank

Special products for septic tanks based on ammonium nitrate decompose complex organic substances, eliminate unpleasant odors and reduce the volume of wastewater. The approximate consumption of such drugs is 750 g per tank volume of 1500 liters. In time it is approximately 30-40 days.

To remove stumps

Ammonium nitrate is used to destroy stumps without uprooting them. To do this, you need to drill holes in the stump with a diameter of about 1 cm at a distance of about 10 cm from each other. Pour ammonium nitrate granules into the holes, level with the edges of the holes. It is good to pour the stump so that the product settles. Each hole must be closed with a plug at the top. It can be plasticine, wood or clay.

The stump is left for 1 - 2 years so that the drug can be absorbed into the structure of the tree. After time, the stump is dug around the circumference and a fire is made. The stump burns completely.

How often should you feed tomatoes?

There is no one correct answer or clear recommendations in this matter. The amount of fertilizing is influenced by a number of factors, from the climate zone in which the tomatoes are planted, to the quality of the soil and the condition of the plant as a whole. If the plant is weakened , then root feeding should be reduced, and foliar feeding, on the contrary, should be increased. On average, a couple of times a month is enough, alternating types of feeding, but again, everything is individual.

Please note that at the beginning of growth, before the appearance of the ovary, foliar feeding is preferable. In the second half and the rest of the development period - root. In addition, you need to remember:

• For more ovaries and fruit development, feeding does not stop during flowering, the main thing is to follow the timing and concentration described above. Each tomato bush is fed, regardless of where the seedlings are planted.
• If the soil is dry, it must first be moistened. On average, each medium bush requires 3 liters of water. If the tomato bush is large, then about 5 liters will be required. Water the tomatoes generously, but carefully.
• Excessive humidity in the greenhouse will only do harm, so water and feed carefully and ventilate more often.
• Care should be taken when feeding tomatoes in windy weather . If there is still a need, then for safety reasons, arm yourself with at least a damp cloth over your nose, or better yet, special goggles and a respirator.

How to prepare a nutrient solution from saltpeter

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
To quickly feed plants, use a liquid solution of potassium nitrate. Fertilizer can be purchased in finished form as a nitrate compound of potassium nitrate. Gardening stores usually offer ready-made water-soluble fertilizer granules with precise instructions for use.

For root feeding of tomatoes, prepare a solution: 25 grams of saltpeter are dissolved in 15 liters of warm water. During the peak of plant flowering, 1 liter of solution should be poured under each bush. One bucket of solution is enough to feed 15 tomato bushes.

Application

Feeding tomatoes with potassium nitrate immediately after picking ensures good rooting and growth for seedlings.

Features of application

It is believed that the main share of nitrogen fertilizers (up to 80%) should be applied in the spring months and early summer, at the stage of active plant growth. Ammonium nitrate is no exception, and the characteristics of the sulfur-containing composition are taken into account.

Since the fertilizer contains two types of nitrogen, the degree of assimilation (absorption) of it by plants will be different. The nitrate form (due to its mobility) is quickly absorbed by crops, but does not remain in the soil and is actively washed into groundwater. For her, pH values ​​above seven are preferable.

Ammonium nitrogen is not so mobile, it is fixed on humus particles and clay minerals in the soil, and is quickly absorbed by crops. Soils with a pH value of less than seven are more suitable for this type of nitrogen.

A universal fertilizer works on different types of soil and is suitable for many crops, but for better results you must follow a number of rules for using the composition:

• on chernozem it is allowed to add pure ammonium nitrate;
• on wood-podzolic soils, it is recommended to use lime nitrate, and also, if possible, replace it with urea (urea), be sure to recalculate the dosage;
• on acidic soils, saltpeter is added only in mixtures with dolomite flour, fluff or chalk.

In some cases, ammonium nitrate is applied for winter crops, as well as onions planted in autumn. In addition to feeding, the use of the additive as a means to combat various infections is indicated.

On a note! To prevent the accumulation of nitrates harmful to the human body in vegetables and fruits, the last application for vegetative plants is carried out no later than 18-20 days before harvest time.

Application methods:

• dry on snow in early spring;
• granules when digging soil;
• in liquid form in the first half of the growing season.

Foliar spraying is not practiced, as the fertilizer solution can burn the leaf blades. Any fertilizing is carried out only on moist soil - after irrigation or rain. Then they water and thoroughly loosen the soil.

Safety rules when working with saltpeter

The basis of the fertilizer is a strong oxidizing agent that interacts with flammable substances. When using and storing potassium nitrate, it is necessary to use protective equipment and adhere to certain safety rules:

• store in an airtight container, away from children and heating devices;
• use the fertilizer immediately, do not leave it for long-term storage;
• do not use food containers for diluting potassium nitrate;
• Fertilize plants while wearing rubber gloves;
• When spraying plants, use a respirator.

Alternative Sources of Potassium

The main, environmentally friendly and affordable potassium fertilizer is wood ash. It is obtained by burning branches, straw, sawdust, and wood. Ash contains a large number of microelements that are necessary for tomatoes. The concentration of potassium in the dry matter of the ash depends on the material being burned:

• when burning straw, ash with 30% potassium content is obtained;
• birch wood produces ash containing 13% of this element;
• Coniferous ash contains only 5%.

Experienced gardeners use ash as an independent fertilizer, incorporating it into the soil in the fall and early spring when digging up the site. Throughout the season, ash is poured onto the tomato beds, after which shallow loosening of the top layer of soil is required.

Potassium salts reach the roots of the plant with every watering and rain. Ash contains many components, but it contains no nitrogen at all. For this reason, during the growing season, ash is used in combination with nitrogen fertilizer.

The preparation of potash fertilizer based on ash depends on the method of applying fertilizer.

1. For watering at the root, prepare an infusion: 2 cups of ash per 1 bucket of water, mix well and leave for 1 day. Water 0.5 liters per bush.
2. For spraying, prepare an ash decoction: pour 300 grams of ash into 1 liter of water and boil for 20 minutes. After the decoction has cooled, dilute it in 10 liters of water. For better wettability, add 30 ml of liquid soap. The product has a wide spectrum of action - in addition to feeding the plant, it protects tomatoes from pests.

Secrets of preparing a water infusion of ash and agricultural techniques for feeding tomatoes

If we compare feeding tomatoes with ash and potassium nitrate, we can note the following.

1. You can feed tomatoes with ash infusions once a month, without toxins accumulating in the root vegetables;
2. The saltpeter solution is prepared quickly (it does not need to be infused). Can be used immediately after dilution. 2-3 feedings per season are enough.

The correct regime of fertilizing and watering avoids the risk of nitrate accumulation in fruits. Which feeding option to choose is up to each gardener to decide for himself.

In what cases are foliar fertilizers used?

Foliar feeding of tomatoes is recommended in several cases when applying fertilizers to the soil clearly will not bring the desired result :

• High acidity of the soil or high salt content prevents plants from receiving essential mineral elements, especially potassium, calcium and phosphorus.
• The appearance of tomato bushes indicates a lack of a certain substance, which, nevertheless, was added to the soil as fertilizer.
• The budding period is favorable for foliar fertilizers. Alternating foliar feeding of tomatoes with boric acid and urea will be of particular benefit.
• Excessive soil moisture does not allow fertilization in the usual way.
• The root system of tomatoes is weakened by pests or mechanically injured.

Before feeding, you need to carefully study the recommendations on spraying times and dosages of drugs.

Storage of calcium nitrate

When this amount of a substance is large, the fertilizer can be stored until the next season by choosing the right packaging and place for it. Since granular fertilizer has the ability to absorb moisture, the remains of unused nitrate are stored in a tightly closed plastic bag, and to ensure that the fertilizer does not deteriorate, the container is placed in a room with moderate humidity.

Fire and explosion hazardous substances, which include calcium nitrate, are stored away from open flames.

Regular feeding of tomatoes with calcium nitrate strengthens the root system, accelerates the ripening of fruits and improves their quality, and will also help the seedlings develop immunity from some diseases and many pests. In order for fertilizing to be successful, you need to learn one rule - it is better to under-fertilize than to apply it in excess of the recommended amount. In this case, dreams of a large harvest will turn out to be unrealistic, since “fattening” plants actively form green mass, and the few fruits crack.

Related Posts

1. Feeding tomato seedlings after planting in the greenhouse
2. Fertilize tomatoes with mullein
3. Boric acid for tomatoes
4. How to feed tomatoes with yeast in open ground
5. Fertilize tomatoes with onion peels