It is very important to choose fertilizer when planting crops. If the fertilizer is not chosen properly, it will cause fertilizer damage to the crops. Now there are so many types of fertilizers on the market, including organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, bacterial fertilizer/microbial fertilizer. Which fertilizer should we choose?
- Organic fertilizer
Organic fertilizer refers to farmyard manure, including various animal and plant residues or metabolites, such as human excrement, straw, etc., and cake fertilizer. After a certain processing to eliminate harmful substances and reach the harmless standard, the fertilizer can effectively improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Classification of organic fertilizer
Organic fertilizer can be divided into agricultural waste, livestock manure, industrial waste, domestic garbage, urban sludge, modern physics and chemistry, etc.
Function of organic fertilizer
First, organic fertilizer can improve soil, improve soil fertility, and create good soil conditions for plant growth;
Second, organic fertilizer can increase crop yield and improve the quality of agricultural products;
Third, organic fertilizer can improve the utilization rate of fertilizer.
Precautions for using organic fertilizers
First, the bio-organic fertilizer should not be applied too deep into the soil layer, as it will affect the activity of the bio-fertilizer;
Second, it is best to apply the bio-organic fertilizer alone;
Third, applying the bio-organic fertilizer in holes can make the seedlings absorb nutrients faster, activate the soil, and better promote the rapid growth and development of the plant roots.
- Inorganic fertilizers
Inorganic fertilizers are mineral fertilizers, also called chemical fertilizers, or chemical fertilizers for short. They have simple ingredients, high effective ingredients, are easily soluble in water, decompose quickly, and are easily absorbed by the roots, so they are called “fast-acting fertilizers.” Common chemical fertilizers are “inorganic fertilizers.” Inorganic fertilizers refer to fertilizers produced by chemical synthesis methods, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and compound fertilizers.
Classification of inorganic fertilizers
(1) Ammonium bicarbonate: also called ammonium bicarbonate, it contains about 17% nitrogen. Under high temperature or humid conditions, it is very easy to decompose and produce ammonia volatilization. It has a weak acidic reaction and is a fast-acting fertilizer.
(2) Urea: Contains 46% nitrogen, which is the type with the highest nitrogen content among solid nitrogen fertilizers. The fertilizer effect is slower than ammonium sulfate, but the fertilizer effect is longer. Urea has a neutral reaction and is suitable for all kinds of soils. Generally, when used as foliar fertilizer, its concentration is preferably 0.1%~0.3%.
(3) Ammonium sulfate: Contains 20%~21% nitrogen. The fertilizer effect of each kilogram of ammonium sulfate is equivalent to 60~100kg of human feces and urine. It is easily soluble in water, has a fast fertilizer effect, and a short effective period of generally 10~20 days. It has a weak acidic reaction and is mostly used as topdressing.
(4) Calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer: Contains 14%~18% phosphorus, is slightly alkaline, has a slow fertilizer effect, and a long after-effect. If it is made into compost with crop straw, garbage, manure, etc., it can produce organic acids during the fermentation process to increase the fertilizer effect, and is suitable for use as base fertilizer. It is suitable for acidic or slightly acidic soils, and can supplement the deficiency of calcium and magnesium trace elements in the soil.
(5) Potassium sulfate: Contains 48% to 52% potassium. It is mainly used as basal fertilizer and can also be used as topdressing. It is advisable to dig deep trenches and apply it close to the root layer for quick results. When used as foliar topdressing, the concentration should not exceed 0.1%. It has a neutral reaction and is not easy to absorb moisture and clump. It can be applied to general soil. Grapes are fruit trees that like potassium fertilizers, and the application of potassium sulfate has a very good effect.
(6) Wood ash: It is the residue left after the burning of plants. Wood ash contains about 5% to 10% potassium, 1% to 4% phosphorus, 0.14% nitrogen, and up to 30% calcium. Most of the potassium in wood ash is water-soluble and is a quick-acting fertilizer. It can be used as topdressing or basal fertilizer. Wood ash should not be mixed with ammonium sulfate, human feces and urine to avoid nitrogen loss. It should be kept away from moisture during storage to prevent nutrient loss.
- Biofertilizer/microbial fertilizer
As the name suggests, microbial fertilizer is bacteria + fertilizer. Bacteria are various beneficial microorganisms. Fertilizer can be organic fertilizer or inorganic fertilizer such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements. The main advantage of microbial fertilizer lies in the functional beneficial bacteria it contains!
Improving soil
The beneficial microorganisms in microbial fertilizer can produce sugar substances, accounting for 0.1% of soil organic matter. Combined with plant mucus, mineral embryos and organic colloids, it can improve the soil aggregate structure, enhance the physical properties of the soil and reduce the loss of soil particles. Under certain conditions, it can also participate in the formation of humus. Therefore, the application of microbial fertilizer can improve the physical properties of the soil and help improve soil fertility.
