Content
Peppers, like other horticultural crops, require access to nutrients to maintain their development. The need of plants for nitrogen is extremely important, which contributes to the formation of the green mass of the plant. To fill the deficiency of this element helps feeding peppers urea. Processing is carried out at each stage of the development of peppers and is complemented by other types of dressings.
Signs of a nitrogen deficiency
For proper functioning, the peppers need to ensure the supply of nitrogen. This component is contained in the soil, however, its amount is not always sufficient for the development of plants.
Nitrogen deficiency can be present on any type of soil. Its deficiency is noticeable in spring, when the formation of nitrates is still slowed down at low temperatures.
Lack of nitrogen in peppers is detected according to certain criteria:
- slow growth;
- small leaves with a pale color;
- thin stems;
- yellowing of the foliage at the veins;
- small fruits;
- premature leaf fall;
- curved shape of the fruit.
When such symptoms appear, processing of peppers substances containing nitrogen. In this case, it is necessary to observe the established proportions in order to avoid oversaturation.
You can determine the excess of nitrogen by a number of manifestations:
- slow growth of peppers;
- dark green leaves;
- thick stems;
- a small number of ovaries and fruits;
- susceptibility of plants to diseases;
- long term of fruit ripening.
With an excessive supply of nitrogen, all the forces of the peppers go to the formation of stems and foliage. The appearance of ovaries and fruiting suffers from this.
Properties of urea
The main nitrogen source for peppers is urea. Its composition includes up to 46% of this element. Urea is produced in the form of white granules, readily soluble in water.
When urea is used, the soil is oxidized. However, this process is not as pronounced as when using ammonium nitrate and other substances. Therefore, urea is preferred when caring for peppers. This applies to both watering the soil and spraying plants.
The substance does not lose its properties on any kind of soil. Once in wetted ground, the joint is strengthened and becomes less susceptible to washout. The fertilizer is covered with soil to avoid nitrogen loss.
Under the influence of bacteria present in the soil, urea is converted into ammonium carbonate in a few days. This substance decomposes quickly in air. The transition process is quite slow, so the peppers have enough time to saturate with nitrogen.
How to use urea
Urea is used as the main fertilizer for peppers, and as a top dressing. Watering is done in small doses. When mixing the solution, it is important to observe the proportions of the constituent substances in order to avoid oversaturation of the soil with nitrogen.
An excess of urea in the immediate vicinity of the planted seeds negatively affects their germination. This effect can be neutralized by creating a layer of soil or using fertilizers and potassium.
Cloudy weather is best suited for processing.This is especially true for spraying peppers. Otherwise, under the sun's rays, the plants will receive a serious burn.
The substance is mixed with other minerals if it is necessary to obtain fertilizer for the soil. The addition of components is possible only in dry form. If superphosphate is added to urea, then its acidity must be neutralized. Chalk or dolomite will cope with this task.
After watering, you need to analyze the condition of the peppers. With this in mind, the proportions of the constituent components are adjusted.
When working with urea and other mineral fertilizers, a number of rules must be observed:
- to prepare the solution, a separate dish is required, which is not used anywhere in the future;
- the substance is stored in a vacuum package;
- if the fertilizer has been stored for too long, then it is passed through a sieve before processing the peppers;
- substances are placed in the soil in such a way as to avoid contact with roots and other parts of plants;
- with a lack of nitrogen, the application of fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium will be ineffective, therefore all components are used in the complex;
- if organic feeding is additionally applied, then the content of mineral fertilizers is reduced by a third.
Urea feeding stages
Urea treatment is carried out at all stages of the development of peppers. Nitrogen saturation is especially important during the growth of seedlings. In the future, its intake decreases, and other nutrients are added - potassium, phosphorus, calcium.
Soil preparation
Peppers prefer light, loose earth that has a porous structure. This type of soil provides access to moisture and air. For the development of plants, the content of microelements (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, iron) and useful microflora in the soil is important.
Peppers grow well in neutral soil, as it reduces the likelihood of developing blackleg and other diseases.
For pepper seedlings the soil is taken, consisting in equal parts of peat, earth, sand, humus. Before planting, you can add a glass of ash to the soil.
To increase the fertility of loamy soil, sawdust and manure are added to it. For 1 sq. m of soil enough one bucket of sawdust and manure. Add one bucket of sand and sawdust to the clay soil. The addition of humus and sod soil helps to improve the properties of peat soil.
Additionally, before planting plants in the ground, you need to add a complex of substances:
- superphosphate - 1 tbsp. l .;
- wood ash - 1 glass;
- potassium sulfate - 1 tbsp. l .;
- urea - 1 tsp.
Such a complex nutrition will provide the peppers with the necessary substances. After adding the mixture, the soil is dug up to get beds up to 30 cm high.After leveling the surface of the beds, they are watered with a mullein solution (500 ml of fertilizer is diluted in 10 liters of water).
To keep nitrogen in the soil, it is buried deeper. Part of the fertilizer can be applied in the fall, however, urea is added in the spring, closer to planting.
Seedling processing
First, the peppers are grown in small containers, after which the seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse or into an open space. Seeds should be planted 90 days before moving the plants to their permanent location. This is usually mid-February - early March.
To improve seed germination, they are wrapped in a damp cloth and then left warm for several days.
When the first shoots appear, they are treated with urea. This requires an aqueous solution containing urea and potassium permanganate. Spray the solution onto the leaves with a spray bottle.
For the processing of peppers, melt or settled water is used. Its temperature should not be too low, otherwise the peppers will start to hurt and die.
The first feeding is performed when the peppers have a second leaf. Additionally, you can feed the plants with superphosphate and potassium solution. After 2 weeks, a second treatment is performed, when the peppers are released on the third leaf.
Periodically, the soil in containers must be loosened. So, the soil's ability to pass moisture and air will improve, as well as to absorb nitrogen from urea. The room with seedlings is periodically ventilated, but without creating drafts.
Post-disembarkation procedures
After transferring the peppers to the greenhouse or soil, you need to provide them with constant feeding. Before the beginning of flowering, the plant's need for nitrogen increases. With its deficiency, further plant growth is impossible.
Warm water is used to fertilize peppers with urea. For this, containers with water are left in the sun so that they warm up well, or they are brought into the greenhouse.
The first feeding with urea is performed 10 days after the plants are transplanted to a permanent place. During this period, the seedlings will get stronger and adapt to new conditions.
All components are placed in water and mixed until completely dissolved. For each bush of peppers, up to 1 liter of water is needed. When watering, you need to make sure that the solution does not get on the leaves.
The second feeding is carried out as the peppers grow until the inflorescences appear. During this period, plants require potassium, which promotes fruit setting and ripening.
The second top dressing is prepared from the following components:
- potassium salt - 1 tsp;
- urea - 1 tsp;
- superphosphate - 2 tbsp. l .;
- water - 10 liters.
Top dressing during flowering
Plants require less nitrogen during the flowering period. Therefore, urea is combined with other minerals. If you feed the peppers exclusively with nitrogen, then the plants will direct all their forces to the formation of foliage and stems.
During flowering, peppers can be fed with the following composition:
- urea - 20 g;
- superphosphate - 30 g;
- potassium chloride - 10 g;
- water - 10 liters.
Another option for feeding is a solution of the following substances:
- urea - 1 tsp;
- potassium sulfate - 1 tsp;
- superphosphate - 2 tbsp. l .;
- water - 10 liters.
After dissolving the components, the composition is used for irrigation. Complex fertilizers are effective in cases where it is difficult to determine by external signs which elements are lacking in peppers.
The components can be purchased separately and then mixed to make a solution. Another option is to buy a ready-made pepper fertilizer, where all the elements are already present in the required proportions.
Fertilizer for fruiting
You need to feed the peppers after the first harvest. For the further formation of the ovary and the development of fruits, plants require complex feeding:
- urea - 60 g;
- superphosphate - 60 g;
- potassium chloride - 20 g;
- water - 10 liters.
During the fruiting period, fertilizing is effective, including mineral and organic components.
The following solutions are used to feed peppers:
- urea - 1 tbsp. l .;
- mullein - 1 l;
- chicken droppings - 0.25 l.
The resulting solution is left for 5-7 days to let it brew. For 1 sq. m of beds with peppers requires 5 liters of such fertilizer. Feeding with organic substances is recommended if the plants were previously treated with mineral components.
If the growth of peppers has slowed down, flowers fall and the fruits have a curved shape, then additional feeding is allowed. At least a week should elapse between procedures.
In addition, ash is added under the peppers in the amount of 1 glass per 1 sq. m. The lack of complex fertilization reduces the number of ovaries and leads to the fall of the inflorescences.
Foliar dressing
An obligatory step in the care of peppers is foliar feeding... It is carried out by spraying the leaves of the plant with special solutions.
The absorption of nutrients through the leaves is much faster compared to the application of fertilizer under the root. You can notice the results of the procedure within a few hours.
Spraying is especially effective when the peppers are depressed and lack nitrogen and other nutrients.
For foliar processing, less consumption of components is required than when watering. All trace elements are absorbed by the pepper leaves, and do not go into the soil.
For spraying peppers with urea, a solution of a weaker concentration is prepared than for root feeding. The procedure is carried out in the evening or in the morning to prevent sunburn of plant leaves.
If you need to stimulate plant growth, then 1 tsp is diluted in 10 liters of water. urea. For work, a spray bottle with a fine nozzle is used.
Spend spraying with urea possible at the beginning of flowering peppers and throughout the entire fruiting period. Up to 14 days should elapse between treatments.
Conclusion
Urea is the main fertilizer that supplies the peppers with nitrogen. Processing plants is required at all stages of their life. When performing work, the established norms must be observed in order to avoid burns on plants and excess nitrogen. Urea is applied to the soil or added to liquid fertilizers.
Urea dissolves well in water and is quickly absorbed by plants. The substance is used in combination with other mineral and organic fertilizers. To obtain a good harvest, root feeding and spraying of peppers must be carried out. It is necessary to carry out work in cloudy weather and in the absence of hot sunlight.
