Content
No matter how fertile the soil was initially, it depletes over time. After all, the owners of private and summer cottages do not have the opportunity to give her a rest. The soil is exploited annually, except that it is used to reduce the load on crop rotation. Therefore, from time to time, the site must be fertilized so that the plants do not feel discomfort from lack of nutrition.
The modern market is represented by a large assortment of mineral dressings. By purchasing potassium sulfate, vegetable growers can solve the problem of lack of nutrients in the soil, the plants will develop and grow normally, the harvest is guaranteed.
Description
Potassium sulfate is also called potassium sulfate. This is a complex mineral fertilizer used for garden and vegetable garden plants. It contains a large amount of the element potassium, which is necessary for plants almost throughout the growing season. The use of potassium sulfate is possible in open and protected ground.
Potassium sulfate or potassium fertilizer is a white or grayish powdery substance. If you look closely, there are many small crystals in it that do not stick together during storage. They taste bitter-sour. Mineral fertilizer is an easily soluble substance, which is very convenient for use.
Composition
Potassium sulfate fertilizer contains the following components:
- Potassium - 50%:
- Sulfur - 18%;
- Magnesium - 3%;
- Calcium - 0.4%.
As a rule, this fertilizer is packed in various packages, which is convenient for consumers. Polyethylene bags can weigh 0.5-5 kg. Potassium sulfate is sold in specialized stores. Convenience of packaging and low, in comparison with other fertilizers, price, increase interest in complex feeding of vegetable and garden crops.
Benefits
Many gardeners do not use mineral fertilizers on their plots, since they understand little about their properties and role for the growth and development of plants.
Let's see what potassium sulfate gives:
- is responsible for the vegetative development of horticultural and horticultural crops, which is necessary to obtain a rich harvest;
- stimulates metabolic processes in plants;
- improves immunity, therefore, plants fed in autumn with potassium sulfate better tolerate harsh winter conditions;
- due to improved water circulation, nutrients are absorbed faster by crops;
- increases not only soil fertility, but also improves the quality of fruits, in which the content of nutrients and vitamins increases;
- the use of potassium sulfate as a fertilizer is possible not only for garden crops, but also for indoor plants.
Our ancestors used wood ash to increase the potassium content in the soil. In natural feeding, besides this element, there are other useful substances. Today, wood ash still remains in the gardener's arsenal.
About the benefits of potassium for plants:
Potassium deficiency, how to determine
As already noted, potassium is one of the important elements for the full development of plants.The lack of a trace element leads to a violation of the exchange of carbon, due to which starch and sugar are formed in small quantities. This reduces not only the productivity of garden and vegetable garden crops, but also affects the taste and health properties.
Due to a decrease in photosynthesis, the immunity of plants decreases, they become more susceptible to diseases, and are unable to repel insect attacks. This is especially true for buckwheat, potatoes, corn.
Useful Tips
Potassium deficiency is difficult for a novice gardener to determine. But by observing the plants, their condition, you can help in time:
- the green mass grows slowly;
- internodes in shoots are less than normal;
- leaf development slows down, their shape changes;
- necrosis is observed on the leaves, dots and white-brown spots appear;
- the growth of buds is reduced, and those that have appeared die off, not having time to open;
- plants become less cold-resistant;
- the harvested crop is not subject to long-term storage.
You can also determine the lack of potassium by the changed taste of the fruit. The situation can be saved by feeding plants with potassium sulfate fertilizer.
Features of use
Potassium sulfate can be enhanced with nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing fertilizers, but urea and chalk cannot be combined.
Potassium from the fertilizer quickly mixes with the soil, and the plants absorb it by the root system. But this process does not take place in different soils in the same way, for example, in heavy soils with clay, the mineral is not able to penetrate into the lower layer, but on sandy and light soils, potassium is absorbed faster due to its rapid penetration into the soil. That is why fertilizer is applied closer to the roots.
Application rules
In order not to harm your plantings, when adding Potassium sulfate, you must use the instructions for use.
Fertilization of the soil can be carried out during the autumn or spring digging of the soil. But you should not give up the mineral potash feeding during the growing season of plants, if necessary. Plants can be fed with dry fertilizer or dissolved in water.
The instructions indicate which garden and horticultural crops can be fed with potassium sulfate:
- grapes and potatoes, flax and tobacco;
- citrus;
- all cruciferous;
- legumes - sulfur lovers;
- gooseberries, cherries, plums, pears, raspberries and apple trees;
- various vegetable and berry crops.
When applying any fertilizer, it is important to know the dosage and strictly adhere to the recommendations.
Here are some options:
- tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers and flowers are enough 15-20 grams per square meter;
- cabbage, potatoes a little more - 25-30 grams;
- fruit trees, when planting, require from 150 to 200 grams per hole.
If top dressing is required during the growing season, then 10 to 15 grams per square are applied under vegetables and strawberries. You can apply fertilizer under the planting or in the furrow at a certain distance.
Potassium sulfate is also used for foliar dressing. To do this, prepare a weakly concentrated 0.05-0.1% solution and spray it in any convenient way.
For watering on a ten-liter bucket, you need to add 30-40 grams of potassium dressing. About 20 plants are watered with this solution, depending on the size.
When using potassium fertilizer, it is necessary to take into account the shelf life of the substance in the fruit. Therefore, 15-20 days before harvesting, feeding is stopped. Otherwise, instead of healthy products, poisoned vegetables and fruits will fall on the table, which can cause allergies or even poisoning.
Precautions
The fertilizer potassium sulfate does not contain any toxic components and harmful impurities. Therefore, working with it is relatively safe.
Before feeding, it is advisable to wear protective clothing and cover the nasopharynx. To do this, it is better to use a respirator in extreme cases with a cotton-gauze bandage.Eyes are protected with glasses, and rubber gloves are put on the hands.
If the solution gets into the eyes, it irritates the mucous membranes. It is necessary to quickly rinse the eyes with plenty of water.
At the end of the work, the exposed parts of the body are washed with soap and water. Clothes must be washed to remove dust from the powder. In the instructions on the package, everything is detailed.
Storage rules
When buying a mineral supplement, each grower is guided by the size of his site. The packaging of the goods is different, but even with small volumes, part of the substance is not consumed, it will have to be stored until the next season. This does not present any particular difficulties, since the substance does not burn and does not explode even if there is sulfur in the composition.
You need to store potash dressing in a dry place in a tightly closed container so that no water or dust gets in. Otherwise, the fertilizer will lose its beneficial properties and become a powder that no one needs.
As for the prepared solution, its storage is generally impossible, even in a tight container. Therefore, top dressing should never be prepared in quantities that do not meet the needs.
Conclusion
The benefits of potassium sulfate cannot be disputed. Fertilizer is easy to purchase. It is only important to take into account that the composition of the mineral dressing is not always the same. Sometimes they sell a fertilizer that contains other minerals, in particular phosphorus. You can safely buy it, since such feeding gives the plants more strength for growth and fruiting. In addition, you do not have to purchase phosphorus-containing fertilizers separately.
