Nitrogen fertilizers are organic and inorganic substances applied to soil layers to increase crop yields. As you might guess from the name, such compositions include nitrogen, a chemical element located in seventh place in the fifteenth group of the periodic table.
The application of nitrogen fertilizers is especially effective in the spring, when plants enter the active growth phase. Soil productivity characteristics can be increased both with the help of industrial compounds and with fertilizing prepared independently. This article discusses the procedure for creating nitrogen fertilizers with your own hands.
Why do plants need nitrogen?
When assessing the importance of the NPK complex in agriculture, it is customary to assign nitrogen the role of a growth stimulator, phosphorus - flowering, and potassium - fruiting.
In addition to its main role, nitrogen helps to grow not only green mass, but also flowers and fruits. Nitrogen not only increases the size of fruits and vegetables grown, but also their quality. Often, cut areas on trees do not heal for a long time, which negatively affects the frost resistance of the garden. To prevent trees from freezing in winter and contracting black cancer and other diseases, after pruning, the garden needs fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers.
Precautionary measures
When working with nitrogen substances, it is important to strictly follow the instructions for their use. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to violate the dosage. It is important to wear closed and tight clothing to avoid contact of substances with the skin and mucous membranes.
Particularly dangerous are liquid substances – ammonia and ammonia water. Therefore, only people who have undergone appropriate training and medical examination can work with them. They must wear special protective clothing.
Ammonia fertilizers must not be stored or used near sources of open fire - up to 10 meters. It is also important to consider that fine-crystalline nitrate quickly cakes. Therefore, it cannot be kept in rooms with high humidity.
Consequences of excess nitrogen for plants
When planning to use liquid nitrogen fertilizers on a site, their value and application should be carefully considered. An excess of nutrients is no less harmful than a deficiency. An excess of nitrogen in the soil leads to the following consequences:
- plants fatten, which is especially noticeable on tomatoes, cucumbers and other fruit vegetables. The bushes grow wildly green without producing fruit. Potatoes behave in the same way;
- Berry and fruit perennials freeze even during a warm winter if you overfeed them with nitrogen after mid-summer. This happens due to the increased water content in the shoots;
- bulbs, tubers and fruits rot quickly and are not stored for long;
- plants become vulnerable to pests and diseases;
- Nitrates accumulate in greens and fruits.
Storage
Preparations containing nitrogen should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. After the expiration date, the use of fertilizers is strictly prohibited. The storage area should be free of potential sources of fire and ignition.
Using nitrogen fertilizing will help you get a good harvest. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions and in no case exceed the recommended dose, since an overdose of nitrogen compounds leads to the accumulation of dangerous compounds - nitrates - in vegetables and fruits. The rational use of complex preparations will help make amateur gardening as effective as possible.
Types of nitrogen fertilizers
Manufacturers produce different types of nitrogen-containing fertilizers, each with its own characteristics and timing of application. The list of the most popular includes the following names:
- ammonium nitrate (up to 35% nitrogen). Advantages: dilutes well with water and is immediately absorbed. Can be applied in early spring. Disadvantages - used only on alkaline and neutral soils, not used for foliar feeding. Due to storage in a humid place, it cakes into clumps. Overdose causes plant death. Apply in spring and autumn (before digging), in summer - as soil fertilizing;
- urea (46% nitrogen). Advantages: It is easily dissolved and absorbed. Disadvantages - it quickly erodes and is washed out of the soil, so it requires embedding 10 cm deep. It is used on alkaline and neutral soil, as it increases the acidity of the soil. Such nitrogen mineral fertilizers are applied as top dressing in spring and summer;
- ammonium sulfate (20% nitrogen). Pros - it does not cake during storage, dissolves well and is not washed out of the ground. In addition to nitrogen, it contains 24% sulfur, which has a positive effect on the quality of the crop and shelf life. Sulfur-depleted lands in Russia are located in the Pskov and Rostov, Kursk and Belgorod, as well as in the Lipetsk, Volgograd and Tambov regions. Disadvantage - it is used only on alkaline soil, as it strongly acidifies the soil. It is applied in the fall before digging;
- calcium nitrate (15.5% nitrogen). Advantages - it dissolves well, prevents damage to the crop by blossom end rot. Disadvantages - requires protection from moisture during storage, otherwise it will dissolve. Used on neutral and acidic soil in the form of spring and summer fertilizing;
- sodium nitrate (16% nitrogen). It is a sodium salt of nitric acid. Advantages - it dissolves easily, and also contains sodium, which is loved by root vegetables. Disadvantages: it cakes during storage and is quickly washed out of the soil. Used only on acidic soils. The substance irritates unprotected skin and is dangerous for animals. It is prohibited to use in a greenhouse;
- manure cannot be left out of the list of nitrogen supplements. This is the most famous and widespread organic matter. Considering that manure and droppings contain only 0.5% and 2.5% nitrogen respectively, really large doses will be needed. Pros - in addition to nitrogen, manure contains phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium. This is a natural substance that can improve soil structure. Cons - contains weed seeds, difficult to dose. Semi-rotted (not fresh) manure is applied to the ground on the eve of autumn digging. If the fertilizer is completely rotten, it is added to the holes for planting.
As a result of proper application in the garden, nitrogen fertilizer will help produce a rich harvest of beautiful and tasty fruits.
The following table shows the types of nitrogen fertilizers by nitrogen form:
| Nitrate |
|
| Ammonium nitrate |
|
| Ammonium (ammonia) |
|
| Amide |
|
| Liquid nitrogen |
|
| Slow-acting forms |
|
Advantages and disadvantages
Nitrogen fertilizers are substances that are significantly affected by the activity of soil microorganisms. After fertilizing in the first week, bacteria and fungi consume approximately 70% of the nutrients (the immobilization process is underway). Plants can absorb nitrogen only after the fungi and bacteria have died, so a lot of nitrogen is wasted. Another reason for nitrogen loss is the leaching of easily soluble ammonium salts and nitrates from the soil profile. Denitrification (loss of nitrogen in gaseous form) and nitrification (nitrogen goes into nitrates, then they are removed) are also common occurrences. Therefore, the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizing at best (very rarely) is 50%, no more.
Among the undoubted advantages are:
- accumulation effect;
- long-term action;
- inexpensive cost and availability;
- the possibility of obtaining and extracting some fertilizers (manure, peat) at home.
Gardeners also love nitrogen fertilizing because it helps to quickly increase yields.
Which crops are important to process first?
Vegetables need nitrogen more than others. If you plan to harvest a good harvest of cabbage or pumpkin, eggplants and zucchini, potatoes and peppers, then it is worth feeding the soil during planting, during the period of growth and flowering.
Nitrogen is consumed in large quantities by fruit and berry and ornamental crops (cherries, raspberry and blackberry bushes, violets, roses and peonies). You can help plants develop well by adding ammonium nitrate at the rate of 25 g per 1 sq. m. m.
Smaller doses of nitrogen are required for beets, tomatoes and cucumbers, carrots, corn and greens, apple trees, currants, gooseberries and annual ornamental flowers. It is enough to take 20 g of nitrogen per 1 sq. m plot.
Approximately 15 g of nitrogen fertilizers per 1 square. m of plot is used for onions, radishes, leafy vegetables and early potatoes. The same amount is required for pears and bulbous plants in the flower bed.
The least need for nitrogen fertilizing is peas and legumes, heather, azalea, spicy crops, and poppy. They only need 8 g of fertilizer per 1 square meter. m.
In the spring, trees and shrubs will benefit from complex organic nitrogen fertilizers in the form of 1–2 kg of manure or 0.5 buckets of manure (rotted) per 1 square meter. m of land around the trunk.
Instead of organic matter, mineral fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate and ammophosphate are also suitable.
If you do not overfeed the soil with nitrogen, the harvest will be abundant, high quality and safe.
Compatibility
Gardeners and gardeners often apply combination formulations, mixing several fertilizers. This saves time and allows you to achieve good yields, but requires precise knowledge of the compatibility of substances.
Experts recommend pre-mixing a small amount of fertilizer before fertilizing to see the reaction (appearance of sediment, flakes). But it’s even easier to study the information by making the necessary notes for yourself.
Basic Rules:
- compositions of the ammonium group (ammophos, ammonium sulfate) are not mixed with lime, dolomite flour, ash (nitrogen losses occur);
- manure is not suitable for simultaneous application with ammophos, diammophos, ash, lime, nitrate (calcium, sodium, potassium);
On a note! Gardeners often mix manure and ash, believing that they are getting a good complex fertilizer. In fact, when the components are combined, ammonia “leaves” into the air, that is, nitrogen is lost.
- urea does not like the company of superphosphate, lime, chalk and dolomite;
- Ammonium sulfate is not compatible with manure, poultry droppings, slaked lime, and ash.
When preparing mixtures, it is advisable to take into account the above recommendations and always try to use one-component formulations.
Standardized use of fertilizers
Regardless of the form of release (granules, powder or liquid), the application of nitrogen fertilizers to the soil is carried out strictly according to the instructions indicated on the packaging. The manufacturer gives recommendations on timing, standards and method of application.
Typically, nitrogen mineral fertilizers are used for basic and pre-sowing treatment of the site, and often for fertilizing. There are restrictions on the timing of the use of nitrogen substances. One-component mineral fertilizers are not recommended as a basic fertilizer in the fall. Instead, they choose combined formulations (nitroammophoska, etc.).
As a pre-sowing fertilizer, nitrogen is suitable for regions with light soil and high rainfall. For each type of nitrogen fertilizer (mineral, organomineral and organic), there are proven dosages and expert recommendations for application.
Organic matter based on humus is considered an environmentally friendly fertilizer. The main nitrogen-containing composition is manure. It contains approximately 0.7% nitrogen and potassium, up to 0.5% phosphorus. Farmers get the best results when they apply fresh manure in the fall before digging. For spring and summer tillage, already rotted manure is used or replaced with compost. For trees in the spring, 3 buckets of slurry are enough; 1 bucket is added to each bush.
When planning to use manure during the active growing season of crops, it is necessary to properly prepare organic nitrogen fertilizer. To support the growth and fruiting of tomatoes, prepare a mixture of 30 liters of water and 1 bucket of manure. The resulting slurry is infused for about 5 days, then used for watering at the rate of 2–3 liters for each bush.
In addition to manure, there is bacterial organic matter. These are fertilizers that contain entire colonies of beneficial bacteria. The latter accelerate the transformation of hard-to-reach nutrients into easily accessible ones. Plants better absorb nutrients from the soil, and accordingly, all vital processes in them proceed as expected and on time. The most popular in the list of names of nitrogen fertilizers with bacteria were phosphorobacterin and azotobacterin.
Organomineral compositions are a balanced complex of agrochemicals and organics. Liquid, granular and paste-like formulations are available. The first increase the humus content in the soil, the others have a long-term beneficial effect on plants.
Nitrogen-containing organics
There are natural fertilizers, you can get them (manure) or make them (humus) yourself at home. Each of them has its own scope of application. Most often, modern gardeners use:
- manure;
- peat;
- humus.
Carbamide (urea): the use of fertilizer in the garden and vegetable garden as a top dressing, against pests and plant diseases
The main advantage of these types of feeding is that they do not harm the environment.
Manure
Manure is one of the most common and accessible fertilizers containing nitrogen. Organic fertilizer also contains phosphorus, potassium and chlorine. Manure is collected from animal habitats. The most useful manure is horse and rabbit manure; guano (sea bird droppings) also contains a large amount of minerals and trace elements.
Humus
You can get humus yourself. To do this, it is enough to start a compost heap on the site and put weeds there after weeding, as well as other waste. Humus is used to feed vegetables, fruit and berry crops and ornamental plants. Increases soil productivity and frost resistance of some crops.
Peat
Peat is a decay product of plants that have decomposed due to high atmospheric humidity and lack of air. Can be used for fertilizing and mulching. Helps maintain the vitality of the plant during the growing season. Can be used when growing seedlings.
Sapropel
Sapropel is extracted from rivers and ponds and is a mixture of silt with waste products of fish and other water-dwelling organisms. Promotes rapid fruit set and increased yield. applied before sowing.
Early ripening green manure plants
Green manures are called early ripening plants that produce a large amount of green mass. On the roots of some of them, nodules containing nitrogen form. Lush green mass is used as fertilizer, which is cut off and buried in the ground. Most often, mouse peas or clover are planted as green manure on the site. Lupine used to be very popular, but this plant is toxic and it is not recommended to plant it in the garden.
The most popular liquid formulations
Considering the chemical properties of different types of nitrogen fertilizers, three compositions are considered the most popular - liquid ammonia, ammonia water and urea ammonium nitrate.
Liquid ammonia is classified as anhydrous chemical compound. The composition contains about 82.3% nitrogen. The substance is produced in the form of gas under pressure up to 20 atm. For transportation and storage, tanks with a volume of up to 50 cubic meters are used. m. Treatment of land with liquid ammonia requires the use of special machines. The processing season is spring and autumn. Mandatory conditions: pre-moistened soil, application depth up to 15 cm, consumption - up to 1 tank per hectare.
Ammonia water among the three popular formulations is considered the most affordable. It is made by dissolving synthetic or coke ammonia in water. Divided into 2 varieties. The first variety contains up to 21% nitrogen, the second - up to 17%. The substance is characterized by a pungent odor and requires safety precautions (protective suit, rubber gloves, goggles and gas mask). Season of application: spring and autumn. In terms of effectiveness, fertilizing with liquid nitrogen fertilizers is not inferior to treatment with dry formulations.
Urea-ammonium nitrate is a liquid solution of ammonium nitrate and urea. Contains up to 32% nitrogen. Used as a base fertilizer and foliar feeding. Sealed tanks are used for storage.
Advantages of liquid complex nitrogen fertilizers:
- affordable prices due to the absence of production costs for evaporation and granulation;
- rapid uptake by crops;
- uniform distribution in the soil;
- transportation and applications are mechanized.
Disadvantages of liquid fertilizers:
- expenses for the purchase of containers for transportation and field work;
- the involvement of trained specialists is required;
- TB compliance is mandatory;
- If you fertilize crops during the growth period, they can cause burns and other damage.
The depth of fertilizer application depends on the type of soil. For heavy soils, a depth of up to 10 cm is provided, for medium soils - up to 12 cm, and for light soils - up to 18 cm. Liquid compositions are not sprayed on the surface due to rapid evaporation and possible harm to the environment.
The best folk remedies for flower growth
Plants were fertilized long before the advent of store-bought products. For feeding we used available materials:
- Ash. Disinfects the soil and protects plant roots from rotting. In dry form, it is used when transplanting plants. You can also make an infusion from it and use it as a supplement. To do this, you need to dilute a spoonful of ash in a liter of water.
- Nettle. Revitalizes depleted soil. To prepare the tincture, you need to take 100 grams of herb and add a liter of water. After a day of infusion, the concentrate is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.
- Yeast. They stimulate plant growth by activating the release of carbon dioxide in the soil. A yeast infusion consists of 10 grams of this product, a tablespoon of sugar and a liter of water. The liquid is infused for 20–23 hours and then diluted with water 1:5.
Despite their beneficial properties, folk remedies are not self-sufficient. They are not able to provide plants with all the important elements and must be supplemented with other fertilizers.
