It is difficult to overestimate the role of potassium fertilizers in gardening and horticulture. Why do they need potassium fertilizers? For garden crops, they are used to increase yield and resistance to low temperatures. A sufficient amount of potassium contributes to an increase in the drought resistance of plants, makes the fruits easier in winter storage. In tomatoes, which are very sensitive to a lack of potassium, may not ripen and remain a green part of the fruit near the stalk.
What potash fertilizers exist?
The composition of potassium fertilizers makes them different from each other. Distinguish chlorine-containing fertilizers and without it. The presence of chlorine is different in different types of fertilizers and varies in percentage. Thus, the highest content of chlorine in potassium chloride is up to 60%, then potassium sulfate goes up to 52%, and the least chloride content in fertilizer potassium salt is 40%.
Since chlorine is a fairly aggressive substance and can adversely affect the plant, fertilizer with its content is not used in the spring-summer period. This category of fertilizer is introduced into the soil in late autumn, so that during the winter chlorine is washed by rainwater and does not damage plants. Chlorine is very sensitive to Solanaceae - potatoes, peppers, and tomato, so it is necessary for them to choose a fertilizer that does not contain chlorine.
Do not forget that the regular use of chlorine-containing fertilizers leads to acidification of the soil on the site. To prevent this from happening, immediately before the fertilizer is added, lime is added to it for neutralization.
Complex fertilizers
Phosphoric-potash and nitrogen-potassium fertilizers belong to complex types of fertilizers. A wide range of their applications makes them very popular among those who independently cultivate garden crops. So, for example, the potassium nitrate , which has long been known to all fertilizers, with nitrogen content is the best fertilizer for greenhouses. The best phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is superphosphate. It dissolves well and can be used throughout the summer.
Potassium-magnesium fertilizer - calimagnesium gives a good effect on sandy soils where other species may not be effective.
The most common fertilizer still known to our grandmothers is ash - also a potash fertilizer. In addition to potassium, the ash contains magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper and some others. The ashes can be made regardless of the season. In winter, it is added before digging the earth, and in summer the ash is used for top-dressing in both dry and liquid form.
Ash has a wide range of uses - berries, trees, potatoes and root vegetables. Due to the large content of calcium, ash is used to reduce the acidity of the soil.
Methods of application
Liquid potassium mineral fertilizers are most effective, since they start to act immediately after fertilizing the plant. Dilute the dry mixture with water according to the instructions
Dry potash fertilizers are introduced mostly under winter or early spring, when only the snow falls. Then, due to the high soil moisture, the fertilizer gradually dissolves.
If the harvest is not collected as we would like, then, most likely, the poor soil is the cause. Such soil needs fertilizers. Starting to apply them, the gardener will find with surprise that the yield has increased, and even the pests of the garden and the garden have become much smaller. The main thing is to learn correctly, without fanaticism to apply fertilizers - your own for each plant species.