Problems associated with a deterioration in the quality of life of any organism, first of all, affect its appearance. Distress signals appear very eloquently on plants. For example, with a lack of potassium, tomato leaf necrosis begins.
In the article we will talk about the signs of a lack of any elements and ways to feed the plant to improve its condition.
Lack of trace elements in tomatoes
Deterioration of the state of plants most often consists in a lack (less often - in excess) of nutrition. What kind of feeding tomatoes are waiting for can be determined by the nature and location of changesthat happened to the plant.
A wide range of micronutrients is vital for tomatoes:
- Magnesium.
- Phosphorus.
- Potassium.
- Nitrogen.
- Zinc.
- Bor and others.
Plants won't die without them, but will develop much worse, the crop yield will noticeably decrease. All of them are catalysts that accelerate biochemical reactions in plant tissues.
Magnesium deficiency
Lack of magnesium is manifested in the appearance spots between veins on the lower tomato leaves... At first, these spots look light green, then turn yellow, and then turn brown or gray. The leaves dry, curl up, then fall off. Fruits are small, ripen poorly.
The use of magnesium fertilizers
Magnesium sulfate is used at different stages of crop cultivation.
- Soil preparation... Fertilizer is applied at the rate of 10g per 1 sq.m. and then water the beds abundantly.
- During the growing season... For irrigation, you need to dilute 30 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of warm water (apply 2 times a month). When spraying, 15 g of the substance is dissolved in 10 liters of warm water. In order not to burn the leaves, add 5 g of urea to the solution.
The most effective will be the use of magnesium sulfate on sandy soils, on soils with low acidity.
Lack of phosphorus
With a lack of phosphorus occurs weakening of the root system... The above-ground part of the plant acquires a dark green color, which later becomes purple-purple. The leaves become stiff, their edges dry.
Application of phosphorus fertilizers
Fertilizer promotes the development of a powerful root system, increased yield, improves the taste of fruits. It is brought in before the end of the flowering period.
The dry substance is embedded in the soil at the rate 15-20g per plant... An extract is prepared for root feeding.
- Pour 400 g of superphosphate into 3 liters of boiling water.
- Keep the solution warm, stir occasionally, achieving complete dissolution of the powder.
- After a day, the liquid will turn white. Now you can use it.
Then 20 tablespoons of the extract are diluted in 3 liters of water. From this working infusion, the main fertilizer is prepared (150 ml of the resulting liquid + 10 l of water + 20 g of nitrogen fertilizer + 0.5 l of wood ash).
For foliar feeding, 1 spoon of superphosphate is dissolved in 1 liter of water and used for spraying.
Lack of potassium
Lack of potassium is expressed in slowing down the growth of the tomato bush, its meager flowering and a small amount of ovary... The fruits ripen unevenly, often remaining immature near the stalk.
Leaf necrosis starts from their tips, gradually spreading around the entire perimeter. Brown spots appear soon. After a while, the leaves curl and fall off. The stem becomes weak, withers.
The use of potash dressings
- Potassium sulfate (potassium sulfate) is used on alkaline soils. With dry use, 40 g of this top dressing are applied per 1 square meter of the garden with an interval of 10-15 days. For watering, 1 g of the substance is dissolved in 10 liters of water.
- Potassium monophosphate... It dissolves well in water. Used for root and foliar feeding. It is used 2 times during the entire growing period (after transplantation and during fruit ripening). For watering, dissolve 10-15 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of water. For spraying, 1-2 g of the substance is dissolved in 1 liter of water.
- Potassium nitrate (potassium nitrate). The period of use is the formation of an ovary. The dry substance is highly soluble in water. For irrigation, dilute 10-20 g of powder in 10 liters of water. For spraying, 10 g of nitrate is dissolved in 10 liters of water.
- Potassium humate... Obtained from the remains of vegetation, manure, peat, silt. Best used on alkaline, saline and podzolic soils. The period of use is the time of intensive growth of the culture. For spraying or watering, 3 g (1 teaspoon) of the substance is dissolved in 10 liters of water. Fertilize plants 3 times during the entire growing period. The interval is 2 weeks.
Boron deficiency
With its lack, seedlings develop poorly. The bush is withering away of the growth point, but lateral shoots grow actively.
Flowers fall off, little ovary is formed. The yield is low, while dry spots appear on the fruits... The sheets are rolled into tubes and become light green.
Boric acid use
For irrigation 5g boric acid dissolved in 10 liters of water. But boron is best absorbed by the plant with foliar feeding. For spraying, 10 g of boric acid must be diluted in 10 liters of water. The solution is used warm.
It reflects negatively on tomatoes both deficiency and excess of boron... Spraying is carried out once, during the mass flowering of plants.
Lack of nitrogen
Lack of nitrogen leads to the appearance chlorosis... The leaves become small, thin. The color of the veins and the lamina changes from green to light red. Older leaves turn pale, then turn yellow, and finally become yellow-white. The stem hardens, acquiring a red tint.
Application of nitrogen fertilizers
The mixture for introduction into the soil consists of 9 liters of manure (liquid), 25 g of dry nitrate, 80 g of wood ash. Then the beds are watered abundantly. The first feeding is carried out 10 days after transplanting. The second - after another 10 days.
If the dosage and timing of nitrogen fertilization are observed, the nitrate content will not be exceeded in the fruits. 2 weeks before harvest, stop using any fertilizers.
Zinc and magnesium deficiency
Lack of zinc is expressed in the spread on sheet plates gray-bronze spots... Areas of tissue die off over the entire surface of the sheet. Young leaves become smaller, covered with yellow specks, take a slightly vertical position. They become asymmetrical, twisted.
For foliar feeding 5g zinc sulfate dissolved in 10 liters of water.
Lack of magnesium starts to show on the lower leaves... The veins remain green, and around them yellowing occurs, then slight reddening of the leaf tissue, possibly the appearance of a purple hue. The border of the leaves is bent upward, giving them a domed bend. Magnesium chlorosis occurs more often on acidic soils.
Applicable foliar feeding... Dissolve 1 teaspoon of magnesium nitrate in 10 liters of water, which will replace Epsom salt.
Complex multicomponent fertilizers
Manufacturers always indicate the composition of the fertilizer on the packaging, the quantitative content of a particular component.
The instructions describe dosages and methods of administration chemicals. The advantage of these drugs is ease of use and high efficiency.
- Master - Accelerates growth, helps the harmonious development of roots. It is introduced into the ground at the rate of 100-150g per 1 sq. M.
- Kristalon - Dilute 10-20 g of the substance in 10 liters of water. They are used for watering in greenhouses - every time, for watering in the open field - once every 2 weeks. For spraying, dissolve 10 g of the substance in 1 liter of water and spend it once a week.
- Kemira Lux - Dissolve 20 g in 10 liters of water.
- Solution A - For watering, dissolve 10-25g of the product in a bucket of water. For spraying, dissolve 25 g of the substance in 10 liters of water. Fertilizer is applied once a week.
Before working with chemicals, carefully read the instructions for use.
Required condition - compliance with security measures... Do not inhale vapors of solutions or dust formed by dry substances. Gardeners work in respirators and clothing that prevents chemicals from entering the exposed areas of the body.
It is necessary to mix the components to obtain fertilizer with full confidence in the correct dosage.