Content
One of the most convenient and useful fertilizers for use in the garden is superphosphate. This is a drug belonging to the group of phosphorus supplements. Phosphorus is one of the main components that plants need for normal development. In the absence of this element, the development of plants is suppressed, the fruits grow small. Superphosphate eliminates this problem, but an overdose of fertilizer also does not benefit the crop.
Varieties
Superphosphate with a minimal set of chemical elements is often called monophosphate. This type is available in two forms: powder and granular. Simple superphosphate composition:
- phosphorus 10-20%;
- nitrogen ≈8%;
- sulfur not more than 10%.
Monophosphate is a gray powder or granules.
In addition, there are also double superphosphate and ammoniated superphosphate. Double differs from simple in that ballast is removed from it, and the fertilizer itself contains double the amount of phosphorus.
The ammoniated one has a high sulfur content: up to 12%. The amount of gypsum (ballast) can reach 55% versus 40-45% in monophosphate. Ammonized superphosphate is used as a fertilizer for crops that need sulfur. These crops include cruciferous and oil plants:
- cabbage;
- radish;
- radish;
- sunflower.
In addition to the ammoniated version, there are varieties of this fertilizer with other additives necessary for plants. The use of each of the varieties is justified by the existing specific problems. It is not necessary to simply pour fertilizer "because there is another element".
How to use
The properties of superphosphate allow the soil to be saturated with phosphorus for several years in advance, thanks to the filler ballast. Gypsum is poorly soluble in water, so the trace elements that saturate it enter the soil slowly. The use of granular superphosphate as a fertilizer also makes it possible to “lighten” dense clay soil. The porous granules are composed of compressed gypsum. Useful microelements are gradually washed out from them during irrigation, and the granules themselves act as a loosening agent of the soil. If it were not for the high consumption of fertilizer for feeding, the use of simple superphosphate would in certain cases be more profitable than the use of double superphosphate. But a simple feeding option is very inexpensive, so even now gardeners often prefer to use monophosphate.
On the packages of superphosphate, manufacturers print instructions for using the fertilizer made by a particular manufacturer, since the percentage of nutrients varies and different doses of the drug are required.
The main feeding methods:
- introducing the drug in the autumn for digging;
- adding top dressing when planting seedlings and seedlings in the spring in holes and pits;
- mixing with humus or compost;
- sprinkling soil next to plants;
- liquid feeding of plants during the growing season.
Monophosphate is added only a month after the addition of acid neutralizing substances, so that the neutralization reaction has time to end.If the deadlines are not met, phosphorus compounds will react and form other substances that plants are not able to assimilate.
Solution
If the first methods are quite simple and understandable, then with the latter, gardeners constantly have the question "how to dissolve superphosphate in water." Trace element compounds are invisible to the eye, and a large amount of ballast gives the impression that monophosphate does not dissolve in water. Although the instructions for fertilizing superphosphate indicate that it is highly soluble in water. Due to the fact that phosphorus deficiency is noticed when obvious signs appear on the plants, people have a desire to correct the situation as soon as possible. But there is no way to quickly dissolve superphosphate in water. Or "dissolution rate" depends on subjective sensations. It takes about a day to prepare the solution. Whether it is fast or slow depends on personal perception.
The package says how to breed superphosphate for feeding, but it simply says: "dissolve and water." Such an instruction brings the gardeners almost to tears: "He does not dissolve." In fact, gypsum does not dissolve. It shouldn't dissolve.
But the process of extracting trace elements and necessary chemical compounds from porous gypsum granules is rather long. Usually, an infusion for liquid feeding is done within 2-3 days. Knowledge of physics will come to the rescue. The hotter the water, the faster the molecules move in it, the faster diffusion occurs and the faster the necessary substances are washed out of the granules.
One way to quickly dissolve superphosphate with boiling water:
- 2 kg of granules pour 4 liters of boiling water;
- while stirring, cool and drain the resulting solution;
- again pour granules with 4 liters of boiling water and leave to infuse overnight;
- in the morning, drain the water from the granules, mix with the first solution and bring the amount of water to 10 liters.
This amount is enough to process 2 ares of potatoes. Knowing how much dry fertilizer is needed for this area, you can calculate the proportions for other crops. In cold water, the top dressing will need to be infused longer.
Liquid top dressing can be prepared faster by using the monophosphate powder form. But such a solution must be thoroughly filtered, since when spraying fertilizer, the spray nozzle can become clogged.
Dry fertilizer
When feeding plants with superphosphate in a dry form, it is better to mix it with moist organic fertilizers and leave it to “mature” for 2 weeks. During this time, part of the superphosphate nutrients will pass into compounds easily assimilated by plants.
Acidic soils
Since the characteristics of superphosphate depend on the additional substances contained in the product, the amount of ballast and the form of release, for the greatest efficiency it is necessary to select fertilizers for the soil of a particular site. So on acidic soils of the non-chernozem zone, it is better to use a sparingly soluble form in the form of granules. This land needs to be deacidified periodically. Semi-soluble is best used on alkaline and neutral soils.
They reduce the acidity of the soil with the help of alkaline substances: chalk, lime, ash.
Very acidic soils may require significant amounts of alkaline reagents. But usually it is enough to add half a liter of lime infusion or a glass of ash per square meter of soil.
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Conclusion
Superphosphate is one of the most popular, cheap and easy-to-use fertilizers. Its plus is that with the full provision of plants with phosphorus, there is not a large amount of nitrogen in the fertilizer, which causes a rapid growth of green mass in plants instead of flowering and fruit setting. At the same time, garden crops do not remain completely without nitrogen either.
