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To date, the market presents an unusually wide selection of ready-made organic fertilizers for various purposes from well-known brands. However, you can prepare such mixtures yourself, and this has many advantages. Firstly, it makes it possible to choose the kind of composition that your soil requires. And secondly, self-prepared mixture will help to save money significantly.
Read also an article about mineral fertilizers!
What are fertilizers for?
Although theoretically healthy soil should contain all the nutrients needed for normal growth and development of plants, in reality the soil on most household plots in need of fertilizer. During site development, the topsoil is often destroyed or compacted, the remains of harmful building materials materials - all this for many decades can disrupt the natural composition of fertile land and lead to a shortage of nutrient substances. Given the tendency to impoverishment of soils, and also taking into account the diversity of plants and their needs, I interested in the issue of self-preparation of fertilizing on the basis of organic products of animals and of plant origin. For a start, I decided to learn about the types of organic food and their beneficial properties.
Types of natural organic fertilizers
Bone flourrich in phosphorus and calcium. It is used for fertilizing flowering perennials, shrubs and trees, as well as when planting bulbs - to develop strong roots and early growth.
Flour from a cake of seeds of a cottonis a rich source of nitrogen and acidifier of the soil. It is used for feeding azaleas, rhododendrons and boxwood. These shrubs with a superficial root system benefit greatly from such nutritional top dressing - when introduced in the early spring they promote active vegetative growth.
Flour from the shells of crabsIs a rich source of chitin, which helps to increase the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Chitin - a compound containing nitrogen, in structure it resembles cellulose. Chitin can be found in shells of crustaceans, such as shrimps and crabs, as well as in the exoskeleton of insects. Crushed chitin, introduced into plowed soil, helps to fight root rot, powdery mildew, alternaria and late blight, and root nematodes. Nitrogen in the composition of chitin promotes active growth of foliage.
Feather flourExcellent for feeding high-nutrient fodder crops, such as corn, different types of cabbage - broccoli, color, Brussels and white-collar, and green leafy vegetables. It is one of the richest sources of organic nitrogen.
Fish flour- a rich source of nitrogen and phosphorus. It can be used for fertilizing vegetables, trees and shrubs, as well as flower beds. Fishmeal promotes the activation of the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, the development of the root system and the earlier onset of active growth.
Glauconite (green) sandconsists of a blue-green glauconite mineral, which contains iron, silicon and potassium compounds. It began to be used as a fertilizer from the beginning of the 1970s. Glauconite sand is recommended for loosening heavy clay soils - it is able to absorb up to 1/3 of the water from the soil. It is especially useful as a source of minerals and trace elements for roses - provides lush flowering, as well as tomatoes - allows you to achieve rich, rich taste and high nutritional value.
Flour from algae- this is primarily a rich source of potassium. It is introduced into the soil in the early spring or autumn, which promotes more active absorption of nutrients and increases the resistance of plants to stress. However, the main benefit of fertilizing on the basis of algae is that they contain growth hormones and natural plant growth regulators. All this ensures rapid growth of healthy and strong plantations.
Soy flour- top dressing of plant origin. Slow release of the nitrogen contained in it promotes active vegetative growth of plants. Soy flour can be considered as a more affordable alternative to feather flour.
Flour from shrimp shellsrich in nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and chitin. This universal top dressing is used for vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants and flowers. In addition, it serves as an excellent bioactivator for compost. The bioactivator is an active ingredient that accelerates compost maturation and provides an environmentally friendly fertilizer.
Testing of soil samples
Before adding fertilizers - whether purchased or prepared by yourself, test soil samples from your site. This will give you a complete idea of what you really need. Thus, you will not spend money for nothing and do not harm your plants.
What are the advantages of organic fertilizers?
This type of fertilizer naturally slows down its effect when the soil is cold and the growth of plants Suspended, and acts more actively when the soil warms up and the period of active growth.
Another advantage of organic fertilizing - they activate the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which provides a healthy microbiological balance. In addition, they promote the splitting of mineral substances in the soil into elements suitable for assimilating by plants. All this makes your household plot less dependent on the constant introduction of additional nutrients into the soil.
Unlike organic fertilizing, chemical fertilizers are not fully absorbed by plants - some of them are washed out by groundwater. In this regard, plants often suffer from a change in overabundance and a lack of nutrients. In addition, chemical fertilizers adversely affect the maintenance of microbiological balance of soil, repel worms and acidify the soil. With their constant use, plants become real "drug addicts" who are no longer able to do without constant feeding.
Features of application of organic fertilizers of vegetable origin
If you want to avoid using animal products in fertilizers, then you should know that the vegetable organic top dressing works best when the soil is warm enough, as their digestion takes place with the participation of microbial populations. It is best to use flour from seaweed at the beginning of the season, and then gradually go over to soy flour, flour from cotton cake or glauconite flour.
Read the article about nitrogen fertilizers for cottages!
