Storage And Use Of Fertilizers

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Even in the fall, you need to start taking care of the future, carried out in the spring season, procedures: watering, fertilizing, vaccination. Some fertilizing components lose their properties over time. Thinking that he is doing the right thing, the summer resident usually throws them away as unnecessary garbage

Fertilizer packages always describe the expiration date, if any. It is impossible to store only urea and urea for a long time. The rest of the ingredients, as a rule, do not deteriorate and do not decompose during long-term storage. True, care should be taken that too much moisture does not get to them.

There are hygroscopic fertilizers. They trap water even from the atmosphere. This phenomenon is especially often observed in nitrogen-type dressings. In the case of increased moisture values, nitrate (ammonium and potassium) and urea are converted into a compacted conglomerate. It is then very difficult to destroy it. Potassium magnesium and superphosphate are characterized by resistance to moisture. But, if water does get on the granules, then the fertilizers can become mushy. Also, the powder of magnesium sulfate, after getting into it with water and subsequent drying, becomes a solid state.

Mineral fertilizers require the gardener to comply with certain storage conditions. First of all, this is the location of components and preparations inside a dry room. Precipitation, melt and ground water should not get here. And in general, the humidity in such a room should be low.

Houses and apartments are best suited for storing such fertilizers, although a garage will also be a good option if it is heated during the cold season. In sheds and garages without heating, it is by no means possible to store such top dressing. At cold temperatures, even not quite high, moisture in the air begins to release condensation, which immediately becomes noticeable on crystals and granules of fertilizers. But it is not always possible for a successful person to store mineral fertilizers inside a dwelling or in other dry places. Then you can put packages in any buildings on a shelf higher from the floor surface. Also, you cannot open packages with funds. If the bag has already been opened, then it must be tightly closed in dry weather. The best option is to tie with a string or twine.

In a situation where fertilizers are caked, they should not be crushed before storage. In this state, the product must be left until the beginning of springtime. All nutritional characteristics and properties will be preserved in this case. Physical features can be restored before fertilization needs to be applied to the soil. For this purpose, it will be necessary to spread the lumps on a special board with a large width and crush the fertilizer with careful movements using, for example, a hammer.

Wet ammonium nitrate is a rather difficult material to work with. You should not even try to dry the fertilizer in any way. After moisture gets into the components, the nitrate melts very strongly, after which it is converted into a solution. Here it is possible to dilute the fertilizer in water. This preparation can be used to water growing crops. But it is important to pay attention to the concentration of the solution. Two grams of nitrate is enough per liter of water. Fertilizers can be put in less.

Superphosphate becomes mushy after getting wet. But it is still suitable for some manipulation. For example, it can be used to fertilize planting pits or overlay tree trunks. It is not so difficult to prepare a high-quality nutrient mixture: you need to knead the superphosphate together with peat (preferably dry) and soil (the volumes should be small). Further, soil is added here in small portions. As a result, the mass should acquire flowability. Now it will not be a problem to place it in the holes for planting certain crops or to scatter it near the trunks. An ordinary garden shovel will become an assistant in this matter. In the autumn season, according to the same scheme, fertilizers based on phosphorus or potassium can be restored. But this method cannot be used with nitrogen agents.

An interesting form of fertilizer is preparations containing copper. Their varieties: Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate and copper oxychloride. Naturally, most of all such fertilizers contain copper. Suppose that only branches and trunks of shrubs and trees in a calm phase should be treated with copper sulfate. Only Bordeaux liquid and copper chloride can be sprayed on simple plants, even on leaf plates. This will prevent the spread and formation of black cancer and monoliosis on cultures.