In the process of vegetable planting, the choice of fertilizer is crucial. It is directly related to the yield and quality of vegetables, and also affects the economic benefits of growers. So, what fertilizer is best for growing vegetables? Next, let’s discuss it in detail.
a. Farmyard manure: including human and animal feces, stable manure, compost, etc. It is a traditional organic fertilizer, but it must be fully decomposed before use, otherwise it may carry pathogens and insect eggs, causing harm to vegetables. Farmyard manure can improve soil structure and increase soil fertility.
b. Green manure: using the stems and leaves of green plants as fertilizers, common ones are astragalus, alfalfa, clover, etc. Green manure can be plowed into the soil as base fertilizer during the growth period, which can increase the organic matter content of the soil and inhibit the growth of weeds.
c. Cake fertilizer: such as bean cake, rapeseed cake, cottonseed cake, etc., is the residue after oil is pressed from oilseed crop seeds. Cake fertilizer is rich in organic matter and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It is a high-quality organic fertilizer. It needs to be fermented before use and can be used as base fertilizer or topdressing.
- Inorganic fertilizers
a. Nitrogen fertilizer: It can promote the growth of vegetables, increase the number of leaves and the degree of greenness. Common ones include urea, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, etc. However, excessive use will cause vegetables to grow too long, the quality will decline, and it will also pollute the environment.
b. Phosphorus fertilizer: It can promote the growth and development of vegetable roots and improve the stress resistance of vegetables. Common ones include superphosphate and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer. It should be fully mixed with the soil when used.
c. Potassium fertilizer: It can improve the quality and stress resistance of vegetables, such as lodging resistance, disease and pest resistance, etc. Common ones include potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, etc. When using, avoid applying it at the same time with nitrogen fertilizer to avoid volatilization loss of nitrogen.
- Biofertilizer
a. Microbial fertilizer: contains beneficial microorganisms, can improve soil structure, increase soil fertility, and promote the growth and development of vegetables. Common ones include rhizobium fertilizer, nitrogen-fixing fertilizer, phosphate-dissolving fertilizer, potassium-dissolving fertilizer, etc.
b. Seaweed fertilizer: made from algae in the ocean, rich in a variety of nutrients and bioactive substances, can promote vegetable growth, improve quality and stress resistance.
- How to judge whether vegetables are lacking fertilizer?
You can judge by observing the growth of vegetables. If the leaves of vegetables turn yellow, grow slowly, and the plants are short, it may be nitrogen deficiency; if the root system is poorly developed and there are few flowers and fruits, it may be phosphorus deficiency; if the vegetables are prone to lodging and have weak resistance to diseases and pests, it may be potassium deficiency. In addition, soil testing can also be used to accurately judge the nutrient status of the soil.
When planting vegetables, the choice of fertilizer should be comprehensively considered based on factors such as the variety of vegetables, growth stage, and soil conditions. In the actual planting process, the combination of organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers and biological fertilizers and scientific fertilization can achieve the best fertilization effect, increase the yield and quality of vegetables, and bring better economic benefits to growers.
