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No matter how fertile the soil is initially, it depletes over time. After all, the owners of private and summer cottages do not have the opportunity to give her rest. The soil is exploited annually, unless crop rotation is used to reduce the load. Therefore, from time to time the site must be fertilized so that the plants do not feel discomfort from a lack of nutrition.
The modern market is represented by a large assortment of mineral supplements. By purchasing Potassium Sulfate, vegetable growers can solve the problem of a lack of nutrients in the soil, 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 potash fertilizer is a powdery substance of white or grayish color. If you look closely, there are many small crystals in it that do not stick together during storage. They are bitter-sour in taste. Mineral fertilizer is an easily soluble substance, which is very convenient for application.
Composition
The composition of the fertilizer Potassium sulphate includes 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 sulphate is sold in specialized stores. Convenience of packaging and low price, compared to other fertilizers, increase interest in the complex feeding of vegetable and horticultural crops.
Advantages
Many gardeners do not use mineral fertilizers on their plots, because they have little understanding of their properties and role for the growth and development of plants.
Let’s see what potassium sulphate gives:
- responsible for the vegetative development of horticultural and horticultural crops, which is necessary to obtain a rich harvest;
- stimulates metabolic processes in plants;
- increases immunity, so plants fed with potassium sulfate in the fall are better able to tolerate harsh winter conditions;
- thanks to improved water circulation, nutrients are more quickly absorbed 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 sulphate 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 dressing, in addition to this element, there are other useful substances. Today, wood ash is still in the arsenal of gardeners.
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 microelement leads to a violation of carbon metabolism, due to which starch and sugar are formed in small quantities. This reduces not only the productivity of horticultural and horticultural crops, but also affects the taste and beneficial properties.
Due to the decrease in photosynthesis, the immunity of plants falls, they become more susceptible to diseases, and are not able 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:
- green mass grows slowly;
- shoot internodes 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 even those that have appeared die off before they 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. Fertilizing plants with potassium sulfate fertilizer can save the situation.
use Features
Potassium sulfate can be strengthened 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 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 making Potassium sulfate, you must use the instructions for use.
Soil fertilization can be carried out during the autumn or spring digging of the soil. But one should not refuse mineral potassium top dressing during the growing season of plants, if necessary. You can feed the plants with dry fertilizer or dissolved in water.
The instructions indicate which garden and garden crops can be fed with potassium sulfate:
- grapes and potatoes, flax and tobacco;
- citrus;
- all cruciferous;
- legumes are sulfur lovers;
- gooseberries, cherries, plums, pears, raspberries and apples;
- 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 need 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 pit.
If top dressing is required in the vegetative period, then from 10 to 15 grams per square are applied under vegetables and strawberries. You can apply fertilizer under planting or in the furrow at some distance.
Potassium sulfate is also used for foliar top dressing. To do this, prepare a weakly concentrated 0,05-0,1% solution and spray it in any convenient way.
For irrigation on a ten-liter bucket, you need to add 30-40 grams of potash top 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, top dressing is stopped. Otherwise, instead of useful products, poisoned vegetables and fruits that can cause allergies or even poisoning will fall on the table.
Safety measures
There are no toxic components and harmful impurities in the potassium sulfate fertilizer. 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 as a last resort, a cotton-gauze bandage. The eyes are protected with goggles, and rubber gloves are put on the hands.
If the solution gets into the eyes, it irritates the mucous membrane. Flush eyes quickly with plenty of water.
At the end of the work, the exposed parts of the body are washed with soap and water. Things must be washed to remove dust from the powder substance. Everything is detailed in the instructions on the package.
Storage Rules
When buying mineral top dressing, each vegetable grower is guided by the size of his plot. The packaging of 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 in the presence of sulfur in the composition.
Store potash top dressing in a dry place in a tightly closed container so that water or dust does not get in. Otherwise, the fertilizer will lose its useful properties, it will become a useless powder.
With regards to the prepared solution, its storage is generally impossible, even in a dense container. Therefore, top dressing should never be prepared in volumes that do not meet the needs.
Conclusion
The benefits of potassium sulphate cannot be disputed. Buying fertilizer is easy. It is only important to consider that the composition of mineral supplements is not always the same. Sometimes they sell fertilizer, which includes other minerals, in particular phosphorus. You can safely buy it, because such top dressing gives the plants more strength for growth and fruiting. In addition, you do not have to purchase separately phosphorus-containing fertilizers.