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“You are what you eat” – this simple truth of Hippocrates is equally true not only for humans, but also for plants. For normal development, resistance to negative factors and diseases, flowering and fruiting, they need nutrients absorbed by the roots from the soil or nutrient solution in case of soilless cultivation.
If the soil is depleted, poor, and the plants do not receive micro- and macro-components, or if there is one or another “distortion” in the nutrient content and, as a result, absorption is blocked, the plant organism rapidly weakens, develops poorly, and withers. To prevent this from happening, and the nutritional needs of the grown crops are covered in full, if the soil cannot be called sufficiently fertile, various types of fertilizers for plants are used, one way or another ensuring the saturation of the root zone with the necessary nutrients.
What is fertilizer?
Fertilizers should be understood as those substances in dry or liquid form that are applied by gardeners to soils, substrates or hydroponic solutions in order to provide or improve plant nutrition and their proper development, increase decorative characteristics or yields.
That is, everything that is naturally contained in soil or water in a dissolved form is not fertilizer, but what the environment is additionally enriched to provide plants with some missing, several or whole complex of nutrient components in the form of their compounds – fertilizer. At the same time, the origin, composition and route of action of fertilizers for plants can differ significantly, so the gardener must clearly understand what, how, when and for what purpose to “feed”.
Fertilizer classification
A plant grower who had no experience or who had not previously studied the “materiel” of a plant grower, the very first visit to a gardening store, can lead to a stupor: how among all these jars, bottles and bags with various types of fertilizers for plants to choose what is needed?
The classification of fertilizers will help to partly clarify the issue. Their entire range, presented on store windows, can be divided into 4 large groups according to their origin and main purpose:
Organic – usually of natural, natural origin. The main purpose of organic fertilizers is to create a favorable nutrient medium for beneficial microorganisms in the root zone. Microorganisms break down complex substances into simple ones, make the soil looser and aerated, saturated with moisture and nutrients, and also provide additional protection to the roots from pathogens. The simple nutrients associated with humic acids are released into the soil gradually and are not washed out.
Mineral – mono- or polycomponent inorganic preparations, which are mineral salts of these or other elements (nitrates, phosphates, potassium, sulfur- and iron-containing, complex, etc.). Mineral salts in the form dissolved in water are directly absorbed by the roots, without requiring preliminary “processing” by bacteria and fungi.
Bacterial fertilizers – do not have nutritional value in themselves, but contribute to the rapid settlement of the root zone with beneficial microflora and the formation of a strong symbiotic biocenosis.
Stimulants – growth, flowering, root formation, immunity. These are additives and preparations used for root and foliar treatment as supplements to the main nutrition and “working” to help the plant reach its fullest potential.
More about organic fertilizers
If we talk about the types of organic fertilizers, then as the simplest examples used by man since time immemorial, we can name manure, bird droppings, sawdust, ash, compost, straw, peat. From the “brand new”, created directly by man, but on a natural basis – humins, biohumus, as well as balanced multicomponent liquid concentrates.
In addition to the release of chelated nutrients into the soil as a result of the breakdown of complex organic matter, carbon dioxide is also released, which plants need for photosynthesis. Thus, plants get the opportunity to “eat right” and photosynthesize more efficiently, which favorably affects their development and productivity.
As already mentioned, you can prepare fertilizers yourself (for example, add ash, manure, litter, bone meal, etc. to the soil when digging a garden, or prepare special infusions, after which you can apply them under the root with irrigation) or use ready-made solutions in accordance with the attached instructions.
However, the introduction of even organic – natural and natural fertilizers should not be thoughtless, even if the risk of “burning” the roots (which bird droppings can “sin” with) or overfeeding green pets is minimal.
It is necessary to have an idea of what elements plants need at a particular stage. If during the period of active set of green mass nitrogen is at the forefront, and during flowering and during the ripening period, plants need an increased dose of phosphorus, they must cover their needs. That is, the soil must be saturated with both those and other components. At the same time, you should not continue to feed crops that are time to bloom with slurry as a powerful nitrogen-potassium fertilizer, as they risk never blooming. But bird droppings and infusions from it will be able to ensure the saturation of the root zone with phosphorus, and in smaller quantities with other important elements.
To “resuscitate” soil fertility, the green manure method is also used, when land plots are sown with green manure crops that accumulate useful substances, and then naturally release them into the ground as a result of natural decomposition and mineralization. Legumes and grains, as well as clover, are considered good green manure. Straw is also used as a good protective mulch and green manure, especially together with manure, which contributes to the saturation of soils with carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese, zinc, etc.
As for ready-made organic polycomplexes for the main nutrition of plants, they are usually divided into those intended for top dressing in the vegetative phase and in flowering, which is noted on the packaging and in the instructions.
More about mineral fertilizers
There are also various types of mineral fertilizers, the peculiarity of which is a “direct” effect on plants – easy, quick absorption. On the one hand, this causes a faster and more violent reaction of crops to this type of top dressing, but on the other hand, unlike organic mineral fertilizers, beneficial microorganisms are not “interesting”, since they are not a nutrient medium for them. Accordingly, a favorable biocenosis that provides additional protection to the roots, improves friability, moisture capacity, and aerability of the soil is not formed, and the plant is practically defenseless against pathogen attacks, requiring increased attention from the grower.
Nature does not take part in the formation of mineral fertilizers. This is a product of human hands, albeit from natural raw materials, but in combination with some waste from chemical and coke industries.
Mineral fertilizers can be mono- (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus) and polycomponent (NPK-complex or so-called macrofertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur, microelement additives, full-ration balanced options, including special chlorine-free fertilizers for some plant species).
“Mineral water” is represented by solid (granulated, powdered) and liquid (as a rule, highly concentrated and requiring preliminary dilution in water) options.
The main properties of mineral fertilizers are that they are perfectly and completely soluble in water and are completely ready for absorption by the roots. For this reason, mineral water is an ideal option for top dressing in hydroponics, as it does not clog the system and does not require prior splitting by microorganisms.
However, given the immediate impact and quick effect, caution in the application, the study of signs of shortage and excess of certain elements in plants, as well as useful tips on plant nutrition from experienced plant breeders should become the law when choosing in favor of “mineral water”, which should also be introduced taking into account the phase of the life cycle of culture.
You can find all types of fertilizers in our AgroDom grow shop!