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Anyone who is fond of growing tomatoes on their land would like to get a good harvest of tomatoes, regardless of the soil and climatic conditions that characterize their plots. And tomatoes are a rather capricious crop, and without good nutrition, you can’t count on the fact that you can grow a decent crop. There are fertilizers that are not in vain very popular among both large farmers and ordinary summer residents. When used correctly, they are able to make tomatoes produce a good harvest even on the poorest and most depleted soils. One of the most famous of these complex fertilizers is azofoska.
Composition and main characteristics
Azofoska is a typical representative of multicomponent mineral fertilizers. It consists of all three main macroelements necessary for plants for normal life – potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Moreover, all the elements are in a form that is as easily assimilated by plants.
This microelement is necessary for plants in small quantities, but it is very important for the normal course of photosynthesis and for the formation of useful organic compounds in tomato fruits.
The fertilizer is produced in the form of non-hygroscopic granules of white or light pink color. Their size usually does not exceed 5 mm.
Azofoska is a truly universal fertilizer – it can be used on all types of soil, in any climatic conditions and for all representatives of the plant world.
Azofoska has a low density and, as a result, has good diffusion, that is, when applied to the soil, it does not accumulate in one place, but quickly spreads throughout the entire thickness of the soil.
Despite the fact that azophoska always contains three main elements, their quantitative ratio may vary and depends on the brand of fertilizer.
Varieties of azofoska and their properties
The following ratios of the main nutrients in azophos are most common.
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This equal ratio of nutrients is classic for use in tomato cultivation, especially in the first period of plant development.
This type of azophoska is often applied to the ground when preparing beds for planting tomatoes. The application rate is on average 1-2 tablespoons per square meter. ground meter. The same brand of azophoska is most often introduced into the holes when planting tomato seedlings in the soil of greenhouses or beds. At the same time, about 0,5 teaspoon of fertilizer is consumed for each bush.
During the period of flowering and the formation of ovaries, an aqueous solution of azofoska of this brand is used to feed tomatoes. Depending on the specific conditions of use, primarily the composition and richness of the soil, different dosages are used. On average, to obtain a ready-made solution for watering tomatoes, it is necessary to dilute from 30 to 50 grams of the substance in 10 liters of water. But more accurate figures are always indicated on a specific package, and they must be guided primarily when using this type of fertilizer.
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As part of this fertilizer, phosphorus is in much smaller quantities compared to other elements. Accordingly, it is used specifically for soils that are rich in mobile phosphorus. Usually, phosphorus is actively washed out of soils by rain or melt water, so its deficiency is observed in the climatic conditions of the middle zone. In the southern, more arid regions, the loss of phosphorus in soils is negligible. Therefore, it is in these regions that the use of this brand of azofoska is most justified.
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This type of azofoska contains a large amount of nitrogen compared to other elements. The fertilizer is specially designed for particularly neglected and poor soils that have lost their ability to self-heal and on which even herbs grow hard, not to mention such a nutritionally demanding vegetable crop as tomatoes.
Thus, the composition is more suitable for industrial use.
Azofoska and others
This fertilizer has another official name – nitroammophoska. As a rule, these are different names for the same fertilizer. Only nitroammophoska never has sulfur additives in the composition. There are no other differences.
There are other fertilizers that are so close to azofoska both in sound and in composition that it is impossible not to pay attention to them.
Ammofosca – this mineral fertilizer contains, in addition to the main three macronutrients, magnesium and sulfur. It can also be used indoors.
Nitrofosca – very similar in composition to azofoska, but instead of sulfur, it is supplemented with magnesium. In addition, unlike azophoska, nitrogen in this fertilizer is contained exclusively in the nitrate form, while azophoska contains two forms of nitrogen – nitrate and ammonium. The nitrate form is different in that it is quickly washed out of the soil, so the effect of fertilizer on plants quickly disappears. On the other hand, the ammonium form of the nitrogen content increases the duration of the mineral supplement.
Nitroammophos – it is also called nitrophosphate in a different way, it radically differs from azofoska in that it does not contain potassium. This fact somewhat limits the scope of its application.
Azofos – but this fertilizer is so similar to azofoska in sound that it is very easy to confuse them. However, this should not be done, as these are two completely different drugs.
Nitrogen in it is in the ammonium form, absorbed quickly and completely. But it should be borne in mind that the drug is toxic to living organisms, so when working with it, you must follow the basic safety rules: use a protective mask, goggles and gloves.
How to apply Azofoska
Most often, when using mineral fertilizers, questions arise as to whether it is harmful for eating grown fruits for food. Nitrates, of course, will not bring anything good to either people or animals. But the fact is that these are ordinary natural compounds, which are also found in large quantities in organic fertilizers, in the same manure or bird droppings. And they are not able to be completely absorbed by the roots, but pass into fruits only when the recommended doses of use are exceeded. Therefore, in the case of mineral fertilizers, it is especially important to strictly follow all the manufacturer’s instructions for the use of chemicals.
In addition, there are certain rules, the observance of which guarantees one hundred percent absorption of nutrients, without the accumulation of harmful elements.
- It is impossible to apply azophoska to unheated soil, since in cold soil the diffusion of substances will occur very slowly and all nutrients, instead of dispersing, will accumulate in one place. This will lead to their excessive concentration and accumulation of nitrates. In the conditions of the middle zone, it is not recommended to bring azophoska into the ground earlier than the beginning or middle of May. And in the fall, accordingly, it is undesirable to do this later than September. Thus, the first half of summer is the ideal time to use azofoska as a fertilizer for tomatoes.
- To prevent the accumulation of nitrates in the soil, it is recommended to alternate the use of mineral and organic fertilizers. Azofoska cannot be used for more than two years in a row in one place. In the third year, it is better to use organic matter for feeding tomatoes. Moreover, it is desirable to use not manure, but “green fertilizer”, that is, an infusion of herbs using biohumus or vermicompost.
- It is not recommended to use azofoska as a fertilizer for tomatoes during the fruit ripening period, since its use at this time can contribute to the deposition of nitrates in the edible part of the plants.
Advantages and disadvantages of azophoska
Azofoska has been on the market for about 40 years and is very popular among vegetable growers. The following advantages contribute to this:
- It is a complex mineral fertilizer and satisfies almost all the basic nutritional needs of a tomato;
- Tomatoes become more resistant to adverse environmental factors, grow and bear fruit better, their storage time increases;
- Nutrients are stored in the ground for a long time and are not washed out by rains;
- The granules are non-hygroscopic and do not stick together even during long-term storage;
- Fairly highly concentrated fertilizer, active ingredients can be up to 50% of the total mass;
- It dissolves well in water;
- One granule contains all three nutrients;
- Able to increase tomato yield by 40%;
- A very economical fertilizer to use – at a low cost, the application doses average about 35 grams per square meter. meter;
- It is convenient to use, as it can be applied both in dry form and diluted in water.
Azophoska also has some disadvantages that must be considered when used for tomatoes.
- Fertilizer of inorganic nature of origin;
- Can provoke the formation of nitrates in the soil;
- Under improper storage conditions, it can release toxic substances and even explode;
- Short shelf life.
Terms and rules meals
Sometimes you have to buy fertilizer in larger quantities than you need for immediate use.
If the bag is carefully closed, then in a cool, dry place, the fertilizer can be stored for up to 1,5 years.
Azofoska is not toxic and flammable, but there are some features associated with its storage. So, in case of fire, it is unlikely to ignite, but when the temperature reaches + 200 ° C, it is capable of releasing toxic gaseous substances that are dangerous to humans.
In addition, its dust is capable of exploding upon reaching significant concentrations during storage. Of course, this fact is a great danger for large farms, where such substances can be stored in significant quantities. To prevent this, in rooms where a large accumulation of dust from azofoska is possible, they humidify the air with a spray bottle and collect it in one container. In the future, the collected dust can be diluted with water and also used as fertilizer.
Conclusion
In some situations, the use of mineral fertilizers is necessary to obtain a full crop of tomatoes. In this case, the use of azofoska will be a good choice. If you strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the rules for use, then tomatoes will delight you not only with a good harvest, but also with their taste and safety.
