For normal development, plants need to receive a large number of various elements from the soil. With their shortage, special fertilizers are used, including those based on potassium.
potash fertilizers- minerals used for enrichment with potassium, they increase the yield of crops and improve their quality characteristics. With a lack of potassium, metabolic processes are disturbed, the production of protein and complex carbohydrates slows down.
IMPORTANT! One of the first signs of potassium deficiency in plants is sluggish, drooping leaves.
The disadvantage of this element can be determined by the following features:
- "marginal burn" - the edges of the leaves die off;
- the appearance of brown spots;
- discoloration and curling of leaves;
- the stem becomes thinner and less elastic;
- growth retardation and delayed flowering.
A sufficient amount of potassium makes plants more resistant to low temperatures, lack of moisture, pests and a number of diseases. The fruits become more beautiful and resistant to transportation, they are stored longer, their quality improves. taste qualities.
Additionally:
- fruit crops accumulate more monosaccharides;
- in root crops, the amount of sugar increases;
- the proportion of starch increases in potatoes;
- in cereal crops, the stems become thicker, the plants later lean towards the ground;
- flax and hemp produce better quality fibers.
Application
Potash fertilizers can be used to feed and spray plants, as well as to enrich the soil. The effectiveness of their use directly depends on the type of soil:
- On sandy, podzolic, peaty calcareous, and also red soils, it leads to a noticeable increase in yield and an increase in its quality.
- Loams, chernozems, serozems - the result of the additional introduction of potassium is almost imperceptible. On such soils, it is recommended to feed only some plant species that are most sensitive to its lack.
- Salt licks - the use of such fertilizers is not required, since the potassium content is quite high.
IMPORTANT! For calcareous soils, the dosage must be increased!
Potash fertilizers are used in several main ways:
- the main fertilizer for soil enrichment - in the fall when digging or plowing the land;
- sowing - added directly to the hole when planting certain types of crops (potatoes, cucumbers, etc.);
- for top dressing - diluted with water and used when watering plants.
IMPORTANT! With an insufficient content of nitrogen and phosphorus, the effect of potassium fertilizer will be minimal!
Plants should be fed with potash fertilizers in cases where there is a lack of this element. Also, such top dressing is produced for:
- additional nutrition of flowers and vegetables - in early and mid-spring;
- preparation for winter of perennial plants - during the ripening of the crop;
- lawn grasses - in the fall;
- fruit and berry trees and shrubs - in years with a large amount of harvest.
IMPORTANT! It is better to feed the plants with potassium after heavy rains!
Among the plants that need an increased intake of potassium are nightshade and silage crops, most of the fruit trees and shrubs. At the same time, fertilizers with the presence of sodium are better suited for root crops - it contributes to the flow of nutrients to the roots. For greenhouse plants, potatoes, flax and buckwheat, as well as other chlorophobic crops, fertilizers that do not contain it are suitable.
Video - Potash fertilizers
Kinds
All potash fertilizers are divided into several large groups:
- concentrated - these include potassium chloride and potassium sulfate, potassium magnesia and kalimag, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride electrolyte;
- raw - potassium salts sylvinite and kainite;
- from industrial waste - cement dust, furnace ash;
- complex - potassium nitrate, ammophosphate, nitrophosphate, liquid complex fertilizers;
- combined - a variety of mixed fats treated with acids, ammonia and other substances.
The table below shows the most common potash fertilizers and their main characteristics.
| Name | Picture | Compound | Application | Dosage | Receipt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | KCl mixed with NaCl | 15-20 gr per m2 | From natural ore by galurgical and flotation methods | ||
| K2SO4 | Suitable for crops that do not tolerate chlorine; applied to greenhouse plants | 20-25 gr per m2 | Teach by processing potassium chloride | ||
| Potassium salt | KCl*MgSO4*3H2O mixed with NaCl | Used for fertilizing fruit and berry crops in autumn | 30-40 gr per m2 | Obtained by mixing potassium chloride with sylvinite | |
| KNO3 | It is most often used for feeding greenhouses and irrigating fruit and berry plants; as a base fertilizer, it is applied to the soil in spring - early summer. | 15 - 25 gr per 10 liters of water | On an industrial scale - by the decomposition of potassium chloride and sodium nitrate, at home - by leaching manure with water with the addition of ash, lime, etc. | ||
| K2SO4*MgSO4 | 20-30 gr per m2 | Obtained by processing chenite |
|||
| K2CO3 | Used for feeding potatoes | Mixed with peat in a ratio of 1:2 or 2:3 | A by-product of processing nepheline into aluminum |
||
 | Potassium is presented in the form of K3PO4 and K2CO3, also contains oxides, sulfates and chlorides of calcium, magnesium, sodium, etc. | It is used as a fertilizer and top dressing for all types of plants throughout the year. | Aqueous solution in a ratio of 1:10 - for irrigation, as a dry fertilizer when planting - ½ cup per well | wood burning product |
|
| cement dust | K2CO3, KHCO, K2SO4, CaCO3, MgO, etc. | Suitable for crops that do not tolerate chlorine; used to neutralize acidic soils | Mixed with peat in a ratio of 1:1 | Is a waste product of cement production |
|
| K2SO4*MgSO4 mixed with CaSO4 and NaCl | It is applied to all agricultural crops as the main fertilizer and in the form of dressings. | 40-45 gr per m2 | Potassium magnesia concentrate |
||
| Chleorpotassium electrolyte | KCl with a small amount of NaCl and MgCl2 | Used for autumn soil fertilization | 15-20 gr per m2 | Waste of magnesium production from carnallite |
Too much potassium
Excessive intake of potassium leads to uneven maturation of crops. Plants are less resistant to pests and diseases, more difficult to tolerate frost and lack of moisture. Growth retardation, lighter coloration and early leaf fall are noted. The thickness of the peel increases and the size of the fruits themselves decreases, their taste becomes less pronounced, and the shelf life is reduced. The absorption of magnesium, zinc, calcium and a number of other elements decreases, magnesium starvation of plants may occur.
Production of potash fertilizers
The production of potash fertilizers is carried out in several ways, the main of which is the processing of potash salts: carnelite, sylvinite, kainite, shenit and some others.
The main countries producing potassium salts are: Russia, Canada, Belarus, Germany, Turkmenistan. Moreover, the share of the first three accounts for more than 80% of world production.
They are also the leading producers of potash fertilizers. Germany, China, Israel and Jordan have significant production volumes. The difference between the last two countries is that they produce fertilizers based on Dead Sea salts. The leading consumers of fertilizers are the USA, Brazil and India, France, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Italy and some other countries also occupy a prominent place in the world market.
Most of the potash fertilizers produced in Russia is potassium chloride - about 98%. The rest is potassium sulfate. In Russia, the largest potassium deposits are located in the Upper Kama basin - more than 30% of the world's reserves are concentrated there. A number of enterprises are engaged in the extraction and processing of potash ores, the largest of which are Uralkaliy and Silvinit. Potash fertilizers containing sulfates are produced from kainite and langbeinite rocks, as well as from alunites. Their reserves are being developed in the Orenburg and Saratov regions, as well as in Bashkiria. Among the producers of potassium sulfate are also enterprises of the aluminum industry - here it acts as a by-product of the processing of bauxite ores.
Proper use of potash fertilizers will increase the resistance of plants to adverse factors, and inept use can lead to unpleasant consequences. There are two types of potassium-based fertilizers: chloride and sulfate. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Chloride - pink crystals. They increase productivity and immunity, promote the formation of root crops, increase the shelf life of products. However, due to the chlorine content, they should be applied in advance. An excess of chloride preparations has a negative effect on the soil, causing an increase in acidity, so it is recommended to fertilize them only with light soils. For feeding nightshade and indoor plants are not recommended.
- Potassium sulphate (sulfate) includes not only sulfur and potassium, it contains magnesium and calcium. It has a beneficial effect on development, improves the taste of fruits. It can be applied regardless of the season. Suitable for all garden, berry, fruit crops.
The use of top dressing for indoor plants requires special care, as well as dosage accuracy, because they can only be fertilized during a period of intensive growth. More than others, the following species need the procedure: callas, spathiphyllums, gerberas, browallia, streptocarpus. In case of an overdose, the cultures begin to hurt, wither, lose leaves and shoots.
How to enter correctly
If the leaves have acquired a grayish tint, the plant is lagging behind in development - it's time to apply potash fertilizers. There are several different ways, but with any of them, the whole process must be carried out very quickly, since the substance quickly dissolves in the soil and will not be able to have the proper effect in a day. For each crop, there are optimal rates of fertilizers that are applied at certain times, which ensures best conditions for full development throughout the growing season:
- Pre-sowing (main) is carried out randomly or locally in spring or autumn, depending on climatic conditions. The main purpose is to provide plants with nutrients for the entire coming season.
- Sowing (starting). Mineral fertilizers are applied when planting seeds or seedlings. This method provides young shoots with strong rooting support.
- Post-sowing (top dressing) - good addition to previous actions. The goal is to strengthen nutrition during a period of intensive growth, to compensate for the lack of micro and macro elements.
Usually, potash fertilizers are applied in the fall, since during the winter the harmful effects of chlorine have time to neutralize. Doses must be regulated, depending on the type of soil - for the poor, the norms are much higher.
Only in very rare cases, without enough potassium, will it be possible to grow good harvest, however, the use of chlorine-containing substances is not recommended for freshly planted seedlings.
The introduction of small doses of fertilizers on the soil surface (distance 10-15 centimeters from the roots) several times per season will have more effective impact than once in a large volume. Most often, gardeners use potassium nitrate. Its use is not limited by strict rules, it is suitable for most plants.
For liquid dressings, the following solution is prepared: 30 - 40 grams of saltpeter are dissolved in 10 liters of water. About one liter is poured under each spine, for half a liter is enough. The procedure is carried out every two weeks.
Varieties of potash fertilizers
Different periods of culture development are characterized by the consumption of different elements, so the need for nutrients must be adjusted by feeding. Potash fertilizers are most in demand during flowering, budding, and ovary formation. They dissolve easily in water. Main types:
- Potassium chloride is used on various soils, suitable for most plants. Easily absorbed, slightly washed out by precipitation.
- Potassium sulphate is effective on all soils. Especially recommended for feeding cabbage, turnip, radish.
- Potassium salt. It is best to apply in the fall as the main fertilizer.
- Potassium nitrate is ideal for top dressing on protected ground - greenhouses, greenhouses, greenhouses.
- Potassium carbonate is perfect for acidic soils, especially for potatoes.
- Kalimagnesia - very effective remedy for light sandy soils. Dissolves with sediment.
- Wood ash is the most affordable mineral fertilizer. It can be applied at any time, both in dry and in dissolved form.
Potash fertilizers regulate the most important processes of plant life. With a sufficient amount of them, fruit crops absorb sunlight better, which significantly increases productivity, improves taste, increases resistance to fungal diseases and cold.
The value of mineral fertilizers
Potash fertilizers, along with phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers, are the most important elements of plant nutrition. About 80% of potassium is in the juice and is easily washed out with water. Young shoots, in which there are active processes of metabolism and cell division, contain several times more of it than mature shoots.
With a deficiency, cultures quickly wither, this is due to a slowdown in protein synthesis, productivity decreases, and susceptibility to diseases increases. The cells grow unevenly, which causes first corrugation and then curling of the sheet. A bronze-colored coating appears on potato tops.
Mineral elements directly affect the quality indicators of products, the content of substances useful for the human body. Potash fertilizers have a positive effect:
- Increase the intensity of photosynthesis.
- Stimulates oxidative processes.
- Promote the formation of organic acids.
- Accelerate carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism.
- Increase disease resistance.
- Strengthen the stability of the stem.
More than other potash fertilizers are required for beets, potatoes, sunflowers, cabbage, a little less for cereals, legumes, and herbs. If they are not applied in a timely manner, the yield and productivity of agricultural crops will be limited. The likelihood of soil degradation will increase. 
Conclusion
The population of our planet is constantly increasing, and with it the need for food. Plants constantly extract minerals from the soil, thereby impoverishing its composition, as a result of which the yield decreases. Therefore, it is very important to replenish their consumption by applying fertilizers, which are liquid, solid, crystalline, granular. The most popular and popular are granular preparations.
It is very important to choose the right composition, calculate the dosage, determine when to fertilize. Today, many gardeners and gardeners refuse to use synthetic preparations, however, there are many cases of nitrate accumulation in vegetable crops from the introduction of a large amount of manure, and individual herbal solutions can cause fungal diseases.
- decrease in the body's immune defenses
- drowsiness
- frequent fatigue
- depression
- headaches, and as well as various pains and spasms in the internal organs
If you feel frequent ailments, you just need to cleanse the body. How to do it
Every gardener knows that in order to get a good harvest, it is necessary to provide additional nutrition to the roots of plants. Potash fertilizers are ideal for enriching the soil with an important trace element - potassium. The use of potash fertilizers allows for the normal development of plants, which is very popular with gardeners today.
- any planting on soils enriched with potassium is better tolerated by a hot dry summer due to the enhancement of many vital processes;
- easier to tolerate planting and temperature fluctuations, without dying from the slightest frost;
- phosphorus-potassium fertilizer contributes to a longer storage of the resulting crop;
- plantings become more resistant to pests and diseases.
Potassium is one of the most important elements necessary for the full growth and development of all plant species. That is why the standard for fertilizing is quite large: for a plot of 1 hectare, you will need 250 kg of potassium oxide. If the site is planted with vegetables, cereals, the dose is much smaller.
How to determine the lack of potassium?
In a significant number of cases, plantings located on light soils suffer from a lack of a microelement. Determining a micronutrient deficiency is quite simple. It is especially noticeable during the active growth of plants:
- the appearance of brown spots on the culture. The foliage first begins to turn yellow, and then takes on a brown tint. In a number of cases, growers noted a bluish tint that appeared;
- the tips of the leaves may begin to die off - this is how the “marginal burn” manifests itself;
- immersion of the leaf veins deep into the tissues;
- a decrease in the density of the stem, it becomes thinner;
- suspension of crop growth;
- the appearance of wrinkles on the surface of the sheet;
- twisting leaf blades into a tube;
- inhibition of the budding process.
The use of potash fertilizers allows you to avoid such negative manifestations, while maintaining the health of plantings throughout the season.
Potassium can be found in any soil, even if no additional substances are added. Its percentage is largely determined by the structure of the land on the site. So, in heavy soils there will be much more potassium than in the lungs. Often in loamy and clay soil, the potassium content reaches 3%, while in the lungs it is only 0.05%. Most low interest potassium in peaty soil.
Potassium is located close to the surface, but even with a large percentage of it in the ground, preparations are still required. The fact is that natural potassium is poorly absorbed by plants, being a poorly soluble substance. Plants can absorb only 10% of the natural content of the trace element. This is not enough for their full development, therefore, the lack of potassium is compensated by the addition of special water-soluble preparations.
What is potash fertilizer
In general, popular supplements are several types of drugs. Potash fertilizers include not only ore containing potassium, but also concentrated preparations made from natural, natural components, as well as by-products of industrial production.
There are two types of potash fertilizers depending on the content of additional components in the preparation:
Type 1 - fertilizers containing sulfur (kainite, langbeinite, shenit);
Preparations related to potash fertilizers contain a different composition of salts. A larger percentage of potassium is in popular sylvinites, but this figure is also high in langbeinite and shenite. In total, these preparations contain about 25% potassium.
For the production of dressings, natural ore is used, but not in the form in which it is mined - this is quite unprofitable. Pure ore contains a large percentage of absolutely unusable components, which is why the cost of such fertilizer increases significantly.
Many components contained in the ore can harm plantings. That is why industries specializing in the creation of fertilizers process ore, separating a concentrate from it. In most cases, potassium chloride is obtained. To do this, the ore is enriched using sodium-containing sylvinite, or kainite.
In this way, 4 popular concentrates are obtained for additional planting nutrition.
Potassium concentrates
The most popular concentrate is potassium chloride. It is produced from 90% ore. Popular fertilizer due to the high content of potassium. The crystals are usually white or pink in color and absorb water well. This property causes a number of problems with the storage of the substance and its transportation. Some manufacturers solve this problem with granulation, others use special anti-caking agents in the processing of crystals. They produce drugs in Russia and abroad.
Potash fertilizers of this type can be obtained in 2 ways: galurgical, flotation.
The first method is based on the temperature difference of salt dissolution. With an increase in its indicator to 100 degrees, the ability to dissolve potassium chloride doubles, but the similar properties of sodium chloride remain unchanged. Potassium chloride grains obtained in a similar way differ high level caking. The resulting waste - sodium chloride - is used to prepare table salt and soda.
The second method is based on the difference in the adsorption of substances. It is this ability that affects the hydrophobicity of the substance, so that they can be separated. In this case, pink crystals of potassium chloride are obtained, which are large in size. Hydrophobic components remain on the surface. Thanks to them, the resulting fertilizer has less caking.
Potassium magnesia is another highly demanded concentrate. It is obtained by processing chenite. The tool contains less potassium than analogues, however, it compares favorably with the additional content of the necessary magnesium.
You can identify the product by its pink-gray color and fine-grained structure, and therefore there is a lot of dust from it. Potassium magnesia does not absorb water at all; there are no problems with storage and transportation of the substance. The fertilizer is highly effective. Particularly good results are obtained when it is used on light soils.
Another popular and common concentrate is potassium sulfate. It is used when the use of chlorine is contraindicated. Potassium sulfate is almost 50% potassium oxide. The fertilizer is not hygroscopic, it can be stored without fear of possible caking. There will be no difficulties in transporting the substance.
The product in its pure form has a crystalline form and a yellowish tint. Get it from natural samples. Most often, the well-known langbeinite, shenit are taken for this. Sulfate is also formed as a waste in other industries. Working on improving the structure of potassium chloride, experts get a substance with improved characteristics.
Fertilizer has a higher cost, so it is not chosen as often as analogues. Sulfate is mainly used to feed crops that do not tolerate chlorine. These include: grapes, tobacco, buckwheat. Apply preparations of this kind and for the treatment of protected ground. The remedy is valued not only as a source of potassium, but also as a source of sulfur.
The last concentrate under consideration is 40% potassium salt. It is obtained by mixing potassium chloride with sylvinite. Thus, natural fertilizer is made more concentrated. The resulting crystals can be either pink or gray or white. After mixing, the percentage of chlorine in the fertilizer increases dramatically.
Important!!! Fertilizers can only be applied to those plants that respond well to chlorine.
Another concentrate - 30% - is obtained by mixing potassium chloride with kainite. The mixture will contain magnesium, so it should be used on light soils that are poor in magnesium.
Potash fertilizers obtained from industrial waste
Cement dust is rich in potassium. It contains from 10 to 35% potassium. Often potassium is not found in its pure form, but in the form of salts. All possible compounds are substances that are highly soluble in water, so potassium will not have problems penetrating into the plant. Apply cement dust when cultivating crops that do not tolerate chlorine. Moreover, such a fertilizer can also be used to neutralize acidic soils.
The next good option is stove ash. It does not contain chlorine and is available to anyone with an oven. Ash contains potassium carbonate - the so-called potash. The percentage of its content depends on the type of fuel used. In addition to potassium, adding ash to the ground, you enrich it with phosphorus. Acid soils respond well to the introduction of ash, as it contains potassium oxide.
In most cases, gardeners still prefer to purchase complex samples. They can be double or triple. Double funds are nitrogen-potassium and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers familiar to everyone. Triple samples consist of three substances. The most popular combination is nitrogen + phosphorus + potassium.
Phosphorus-potassium fertilizer
Complex mineral dressing has many options that differ in cost and percentage of trace elements. One of the most popular fertilizers of this type is a drug called Autumn. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizer Autumn is used in kitchen gardens, orchards and for ornamental plants. In addition to phosphorus and potassium, the drug contains boron, magnesium and calcium.
No less popular are Nitrophoska and all its varieties. This phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is used not only for application under the root, but also for preparing seeds for sowing.
Use of potash fertilizers. Their meaning and application.
They are perfectly soluble in water and interact with natural potassium. Chlorine, harmful to many plants, remains in the ground, being washed out of it during irrigation and precipitation.
Such fertilizers are usually applied in the fall, when digging the site. This contributes to the faster absorption of useful trace elements, because they are mixed with the soil, remaining at the level where the root system is formed.
The most favorable time for application depends on the type of soil on the site. So, with light soils, it is better to fertilize in the spring so that potassium does not have time to wash out of the soil.
It is necessary to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizer or single-component potash fertilizers in tandem with lime or preparations containing calcium. This is especially true for acidic lands, since such dressings have high acidity. But on the black earth, such partners are not needed, since this type of land is alkaline.
Where and how are potassium-based preparations used?
Use fertilizers with potassium to deliver additional nutrition to vegetables, fruit trees, ornamental plants and shrubs.
The weak root system of vegetable crops does not allow them to receive good nutrition. At the same time, vegetables are very demanding not only on nutrition, but also on humidity and temperature.
The most common vegetables that can be found in almost every area are tomato and cucumber. If the first is not very picky about the presence of potassium, then the second loves fertile soil, saturated with trace elements. Potassium-based fertilizers allow you to get a better tomato crop without affecting their quantity.
When calculating the amount of fertilizer for tomatoes, you can focus on the following figures: 0.1 kg per hundred square meters should be applied when sowing, from 0.15 to 0.3 kg - when top dressing. In total, two top dressings of tomatoes are produced per season.
Cucumbers are also fed twice: the first time 14 days after planting, the second - during the flowering period of the buds. For the first time, fertilizer is taken at the rate of 200 grams per hundred square meters, the second time, 400 grams of the drug are used per hundred square meters.
What are potash fertilizers, what is their effect on plants, what are these fertilizers made of. Every person who first started growing plants wants to know the answers to these questions. Let's try to figure it out together.
Potash fertilizers organic and mineral what it is and what it is obtained from, where it is mined
Mineral potash fertilizers are made from natural potash salts. The main countries in which potash ore is mined: Russia, Canada, Belarus. IN organic fertilizers also contains a small mass fraction of potassium in combination with other useful plants substances.
Potash fertilizers, their meaning and application for flowers
Potash fertilizers are applied to increase the yield in horticultural farms. Such top dressing helps flowers bloom profusely and for a long time. When used in combination with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, they help the plant resist diseases and adverse environmental conditions.
Potash fertilizer color and brand
The color of potash fertilizers may vary depending on the brand of the product:
- Potassium chloride brand K - white;
- Potassium chloride brand F - pink or red;
- Potassium nitrate grade B - white powder, sometimes with a grayish-yellow tint.
Potassium sulfate is a white crystalline powder, sometimes with a gray tint.
Potash fertilizers are harmful to humans and what can be replaced, solubility in water
Most mineral fertilizers are poisonous to humans. Their negative impact is most dangerous in the production process at chemical plants. Inhalation of dust containing mineral fertilizers causes bronchitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, etc. But potash fertilizers correct application not dangerous for humans. All of them are highly soluble in water.
Organic fertilizers contain a small percentage of potassium. In some farms, only humus, compost, manure and wood ash are used, replacing potash and all other types of fertilizers with them.
Potash fertilizers without chlorine types and names with a brief description
Potassium magnesia does not contain chlorine, it is used for chlorophobic plants that lack magnesium in the soil. This fertilizer contains about 30% potassium and about 15% magnesium. It is well stored due to the fact that it is not hygroscopic and does not cake. When top dressing, 10 grams (half a matchbox) of potassium magnesia per 1 square meter are introduced into the soil.
Does not contain chlorine and potassium nitrate. It contains potassium and nitrogen. Apply this fertilizer when planting seedlings and for summer feeding of plants. The application rate is 20 grams per 1 square meter.
Potassium sulfate also does not contain salt. This fertilizer contains sulfur, at least 48% potassium and 1% magnesium. Good for the development of cruciferous vegetables and greenhouse crops.
Where to buy and how much potash fertilizers cost in Ukraine and Russia
The cost of potash fertilizers depends on the manufacturer, package size and type. Prices may vary at different outlets.
Approximate price in Ukraine:
- Potassium sulfate 500 grams - 22 UAH;
– Potash salt (potassium chloride) 1 kg – from 20 UAH;
– Kalimagnesia 50 kg – 450 UAH.
The cost of potash fertilizers in Russia:
- Mixed potash fertilizer (potassium chloride) 1 kg - 46 rubles;
- Potassium nitrate 1 kg - 114 rubles;
- Potassium sulfate 1 kg - 160 rubles.
You can buy fertilizers in stores selling goods for gardeners and gardeners or on the Internet.
When to apply potash fertilizers to the soil
Potash fertilizers are added to the soil in combination with phosphorus top dressing when planting seedlings in the spring. They are embedded directly into the hole. As a necessary top dressing for adult plants, potash fertilizers are applied throughout the warm season - in spring, summer, early autumn. In winter, fertilizer is not used.
Can potash fertilizer be applied in the snow
There is little benefit from fertilizing in the snow. They will quickly dissolve and wash away, along with the melting of snow, to neighboring areas or in wastewater. Plant roots will not receive the necessary nutrients, and you will get the desired result.
How to make potash fertilizers with your own hands from improvised means
There is a lot of potassium in wood ash- up to 40% in the ashes of the vine and potato tops. You can get ash in a city apartment from a dried banana peel or dry grapevine by burning it in an iron bucket (without enamel).
In addition to potassium, wood ash contains phosphorus, calcium and many trace elements necessary for the plant, so it is valuable fertilizer. For 10 liters of water, dilute 1 tbsp. ash and water the plants.
Potash fertilizer with the highest potassium content
Potassium chloride has the highest potassium content. It may contain more than 60% of this element. But given the negative impact of chlorine, this fertilizer is not suitable for all plants. Bring it only in the autumn top dressing.
For proper, harmonious development, all plants need a whole range of vital nutrients. One of them is potassium. The lack of it in the soil will help make up for potash fertilizers, the value and use of which can hardly be overestimated. But here you need to figure it out, because often the names of potash fertilizers make the summer resident lose his head from their diversity and completely get confused even before the moment of their purchase.
We all know the three main macronutrients, without which the plant will never grow and develop, and the timeliness of their application also plays an important role. They are also called "three whales of fertility." These are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is difficult to distinguish from them which element is more important. The absence of at least one is the collapse of all hopes for a good harvest. Entire volumes have been written about each element, and today we will consider in detail only one.
Types of potash fertilizers
Feed the plants suburban area is a must. In nature, there must be a balance in everything. During the stay in the garden, the plant takes a huge amount of nutrients from the soil, including potassium. The way out is to replenish it from the outside, through the use of potash fertilizers. Let's try to understand them and find out what potash fertilizers are.
Potassium fertilizers are obtained from natural mineral salts (sylvinite, halite, etc.) and industrial (shenite, etc.). The composition of ready-made potash fertilizers is different. They can be chlorine-containing and chlorine-free. So, the highest content of chlorine in potassium chloride (60%), potassium sulfate (approx. 52%), and the least in potassium salt (40%).
Chlorine, as you know, is a rather aggressive substance that can have a detrimental effect on the plant, and its regular application can acidify the soil in the area. Therefore, the use of potash fertilizers with it in the composition is not rational to use in spring and summer. You can only bring them in in the fall. During the winter, chlorine will be washed with rain and melt water down into the deeper layers of the soil horizon. To protect the soil from acidification, it is necessary to apply lime before their autumn introduction, which neutralizes the harmful effects of chlorine. On light soils, it is also possible in spring, chlorine will quickly filter down the profile.
Particularly sensitive to the concentration of chlorine are crops from the nightshade family: peppers, eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes. Under them, it is reasonable to choose chlorine-free fats.
Ready potash fertilizers are classified into groups:
- concentrated;
- raw salts. They are obtained by simply grinding potassium-containing ores (sylvinite and kainite);
- industry waste.
Each of them is divided into types. The first is concentrated potash fertilizers:
Potassium chloride. Contains 54-62% K2O and chlorine. The most famous and widespread fertilizer. In the market, its share of all potash fertilizers presented accounts for 80-90%. They get it in two different ways, hence there are serious differences. In the first case, it is a pink-red crystalline salt. Perfectly soluble in water. Long stored, does not cake. In the second, fine-crystalline salt, white, light gray. Absorbs moisture from the air, due to which it quickly caking. Recently served and granulated. It is applied on any soil, under a variety of plants, but only from autumn (15 - 25 g/m2).
Potassium salt. Contains K2O 40-44%. It also contains chlorine. Crystals of various sizes of white, pink, red, gray, blue color. Soluble in water. It's caking. Works great on light soils. Under the autumn plowing. Under fruit and berry from autumn (25-45 gr./m2).
Kalimagnesia. Composed of 26-29% K2O and 8-10% MgO. A very fine, highly dusting off-white-pink powder or granules of the same color. Soluble in water with sediment, does not cake during storage. Very effective, especially on lightly dispersed soils. Good for all crops as the main fertilizer and as top dressing in the spring at a dose of 20-30 g/m2.
Potassium sulphate. There is no chlorine, but there is sulfur (18%), which makes it a real find for a summer resident. Contains 45-50% potassium oxide. Small crystals of a white-yellow hue. Great to keep. An order of magnitude more expensive than previously presented fertilizers. It is the best in its segment. They are mainly used for crops for which even a slight concentration of chlorine is certain death. These are grapes, eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. Sulfur is respected by legumes (beans, peas) and cruciferous crops (cabbage, radish, turnip, radish, etc.). It can be applied both in autumn for plowing and in top dressing (up to 25 g/m2).
Potash. Contains 55% K2O. No chlorine. Recommended for potatoes on acidic soils.
Fertilizers from industrial waste
These include cement dust and ash.
In the first K2O varies from 10 to 35%. It is a cocktail of a large number of different salts used in the production of cement, which dissolve well in water and contain K in an easily digestible form. Contains relatively much Cl. It has an alkaline environment, so it is perfect for acidic soils.
Ash, on the other hand, is a product of burnt wood residues, which has a rich composition of a huge amount of nutrients. Especially high content of potassium oxide in it. The amount of which varies greatly, depending on the combustion product. And she has one advantage - does not contain chlorine. Under grapes - the first thing, in fact, as well as under any other crop, at any time: both as the main fertilizer and as top dressing. Able to alkalize acidic soil, as it also contains a lot of calcium. Excellent fertilizer.
The types of potash fertilizers discussed above belong to simple forms of fertilizers, since they contain only potassium in their composition of the three main elements. But it can also be part of complex fertilizers. In this case, the range of potassium-containing fertilizers becomes wider.
These include:
- potassium nitrate (KNO3), with a content of 46% K2O and 13% N. Gray-white-yellow color, crystalline form. Most often used as top dressing for vegetables, especially in greenhouses;
- ammophosphate. Contains potassium oxide 30%, nitrogen - 4%, 24% phosphorus. The present complex fertilizer. Effective for any culture. In the main application and as top dressing;
- nitrophoska. NPK in equal amounts. It can also be used, like ammophosphate;
- ZhKU (liquid complex fertilizers). They also contain “triad”, only in liquid form and are perfect for many crops. In the case of the presence of K in the composition of complex fertilizers, the names of potash fertilizers contain the letter “k” or “ka” in their composition
Potash fertilizers, their meaning and application
And a little about the benefits. Potassium is a regulator of the most important life processes. At the cellular level, it affects the properties of the cytoplasm, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It affects the growth and full development of organs and tissues, it is especially important for the formation of reproductive organs, vegetative mass and root system. With a balanced potassium diet, vegetable, flower, fruit crops absorb and use solar energy more efficiently. This improves the quality of products and increases productivity, the plant tolerates the lack of moisture more easily, increases frost resistance, resistance to fungal diseases, and other adverse factors. And that's not all that potassium affects. Therefore, apply potash fertilizers under different cultures important and necessary. The importance of potash fertilizers here can hardly be overestimated.
It is necessary to apply potash fertilizers competently, differentiated, taking into account all the above characteristics and recommendations. Here the expression “you can’t spoil porridge with butter” does not fit at all. This is where dosage matters. Therefore, clearly study the register of use on the package. Overfeeding means destroying the plant.
How and when to apply potash fertilizers
Potash fertilizers are acidic, so lime must first be added to the soil. On chernozems, only potash fertilizers can be applied. Chernozem has an alkaline environment. It is better absorbed when applied in autumn under fruit trees, during this period it builds up, strengthens the root system, the plant prepares for winter, stocking up on sugars. What helps potassium in the fall.
Under berry and vegetable crops, and in the main reception, preparing the beds in advance, and as top dressing you can’t do without the use of potash fertilizers. But cultures have different need and potassium excretion. Therefore, it would be desirable to know this. How? Unfortunately, only in the laboratory. So, for example, tomatoes and cucumbers are moderately demanding for potassium and, accordingly, it is necessary to average the doses when applying, taking into account the type of soil in this case. So on light soils, it is always lacking, since the element is very mobile and is easily washed out along the profile with groundwater and during irrigation. On heavy ones, on the contrary, it behaves almost like phosphorus, being in the soil at an accessible distance for the root system of plants.
Row crops such as beets, sunflowers, potatoes, and vegetables - cabbage are very responsive to the use of potash fertilizers in the form of dressings. They are characterized by high removal from the soil. Not far behind them in this regard, and grapes. It is vital to apply potash fertilizers under it in the fall and in the form of dressings in spring and summer for a good wintering and laying the next year's crop.
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