The use of natural fertilizers is now gaining increasing popularity. Natural remedies can be of plant or animal origin. The use of natural organic fertilizers has a beneficial effect on microorganisms in the soil. So, for example, organic fertilizing gives food to earthworms, loosening the earth, and saturating the plants with the necessary nutrients, and also thanks to organic fertilizing, the soil becomes looser and better allows air and moisture to pass through. What folk fertilizers can be used in the country, we will tell you further.
Useful properties of ash as fertilizer in the garden
Many decades ago, our ancestors began to use ash, noticing its unique properties. The benefits of the substance are simply invaluable. They fertilized the gardens with ash, sprinkled wounds with it, washed their hair. Its composition is saturated with trace elements residues:
- P (phosphorus);
- Ca (calcium);
- Mg (magnesium);
- Ka (potassium);
- Na (sodium).
The ash contains many different trace elements, the only exception is nitrogen. The introduction of ash into the soil contributes not only to its enrichment, but also structures it. The level of soil acidity decreases, it becomes looser. The ash is chlorine free, making it ideal for crops that are not chlorine tolerant.
Provided that it is applied correctly, the use of ash is possible for the following types of soil:
- Heavy clay soil... When ash is added, the soil will become more crumbly. The amount of application depends on the level of acidity of the soil, taking into account the crops grown in this area. On average, the permissible amount of ash application per 1 sq. meter is from 150 to 810 grams. It is recommended to bring ash into this type of soil in the fall.
- Sandy soil. In this type of soil, ash must be brought in in the spring, so that when the snow melts, all the useful trace elements do not go too deep into the ground with melted snow. Improves the quality of this soil and saturates it with useful substances.
- Acidic soil. Normalizes acidity, enriches with minerals.
Ash should not be added to solonetzic soil!
The fertilizer is most favorable for the following plants:
- potatoes - in the process of plowing the soil for planting at the rate of 1 glass per 1 sq. meter;
- tomatoes, eggplant, pepper - 1.5 cups per 1 sq. meter when planting seedlings in a permanent place of growth;
- zucchini, squash, cucumbers - you need to add 1 glass per 1 sq. meter;
- onions, garlic - when planting, add 2 cups per 1 sq. meter;
- beets, parsley, radish, carrots - add 1 glass per 1 square meter to the soil during sowing. meter;
- beans, peas, lettuce, dill - 1 glass per 1 sq. meter;
- cabbage - 2 cups per 1 sq. meter.
In addition to vegetable crops, ash has a beneficial effect on the growth of strawberries, fruit trees, and various kinds of flowers.
When planting trees, 1-2 kilograms of ash mixed with the ground are poured into a dug hole. It is not recommended to fill the ash in its pure form, since in contact with it, the roots of the plant can get burned.
In the process of plant growth, wood ash is used as a subcortex:
- For potatoes, while hilling, 1.5-3 tablespoons of ash are poured under each bush.
- For strawberries - crush loosened soil at the rate of 2 cups per 1 sq. meter.
- Fertilize onions and garlic at the rate of 1 cup per 1 sq. meter.
The ash solution is used as a growth stimulant for soaking seeds. It is necessary to dilute the ash in a ratio of 20 grams of ash per 1 liter of water.
This solution should be infused for 24 hours, then the seeds are immersed in it for 6 hours.
Abuse leads to the extinction of earthworms in the soil and bacteria necessary for plants that saturate the soil.
Ash is not used:
- For plants growing on acidic soil - sorrel, pumpkin, turnip, blueberry.
- For flowers - hydrangeas, azaleas, magnolias.
- For young seedlings, until 3 leaves appear on them.
Lime for fertilizing soil in the garden in spring
An important and necessary component for increasing soil fertility, containing Ca and Mg in its composition. Used in the garden to lower the acidity of the soil. The increased acid level in the soil is the result of depletion, erosion and reduced yields. As a result, the soil becomes looser and retains moisture better.
Slaked liming is used for the following types of soil:
- light loam — 240 grams per square meter. meter;
- sandy - 250 grams per 1 square meter;
- average loam — 360-750 grams per square meter. meter;
- heavy loam - 400-810 grams per 1 sq. meter.
The advantages of fluff are:
- increasing the vital activity of microorganisms living in the soil;
- improving the composition and structure of the soil;
- soil enrichment with microelements;
- activation of plant growth;
- a decrease in the level of toxic microelements in plants.
In the fall, before plowing the soil, garden lime is scattered on the site, manure or humus is distributed over it and the soil is plowed. Due to rains, lime is evenly distributed in the soil, reaching the plant roots. Thus, the liming procedure will fill the soil with the necessary useful components for up to ten years,
It is also possible to carry out liming in small portions in spring before the first loosening of the soil and fertilization. Thanks to lime, the absorption capacity of the soil increases and the applied fertilization is absorbed faster and better. Lime, in the amount of 2.5 kilograms, must be mixed with humus and distributed over the garden. The effect will be the same as when adding ten kilograms of lime flour.
You can make lime flour at home in the following ways:
- Pour quicklime on a flat surface in a layer of 9 cm and spray it with water using a spray bottle.
- Wait 30 minutes so that the lime has time to extinguish and dry.
- Collect the resulting flour, and sprinkle the remaining lumps again. Carry out this procedure until there are no lumps left.
For 100 kg of lime, the water consumption should be no more than 4 liters.
The amount of lime required for application to the soil is calculated depending on its acidity:
- the most acidic (pH less than 4) —550—600 grams per square meter. meter;
- very acidic (pH 4) —450—550 grams per square meter. meter;
- acidic (pH 4-5) -350-450 grams per 1 sq. meter;
- moderately acidic (pH 5-6) 275-310 grams per 1 sq. meter.
When growing potatoes, liming is not applied, as this can weaken its immunity to diseases! Do not use liming when growing carrots and radishes. They stop giving birth.
Do not use liming on the ground, shortly before that fertilized with manure!
How can you use mustard cake in the country
The use of oil cake as a top dressing has two positive aspects:
- increases productivity;
- protects plants from diseases and harmful insects.
As a top dressing, only cold-pressed cake, well dried and ground, is suitable. If a high temperature regime was used during pressing, and chemical agents were used, then the use of such cake will lead to oppression of plants.
Mustard cake has the following beneficial properties:
- prevents the development and spread of fungal and putrefactive bacteria that contribute to diseases such as late blight and fusarium;
- scares away pests.
The cake is introduced into the soil in a rotted state or in the form of ash left after burning.
The result of application is:
- improving the quality of compacted soil;
- when used as mulch, moisture evaporation is prevented;
- the soil contamination by harmful organisms and various insects is reduced.
Mustard cake should be used as follows:
- when planting potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, pepper, it is necessary to pour 1 tablespoon of oil cake into the hole;
- for onions and garlic, evenly distribute a handful of cake in the grooves for 1 meter;
- when planting strawberries - 0.5 tablespoons per hole;
- sowing carrots, parsley, celery, beets - 1 handful per 1 meter;
- for cucumbers, squash, zucchini — 1 table spoon.
To enhance the activity of the components, after making the cake, it is necessary to sprinkle it with earth.
Correct use of used coffee or coffee grounds
Coffee is increasingly used as an organic supplement in floriculture and horticulture. This type of fertilizer is suitable for all types of soil.
Contains many trace elements necessary for plants:
- potassium;
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- nitrogen.
After adding the thick, the soil becomes looser and more permeable. Also, this type of fertilizer is a beneficial environment for earthworms and serves as a repellant for harmful insects.
How to use sleeping coffee:
- the thick is scattered around the holes with plants and watered abundantly with water;
- when planting seedlings in a permanent place of growth, add a little thick in the hole. It has a particularly beneficial effect on the growth of tomato seedlings;
- used as a drainage layer;
- when mixed with herbal mulch will not form crusts when mulching;
- in diluted form it is used for watering;
- mixed with seeds when sowing, as a result of which the seeds germinate faster.
You can also make nutritious compost with added coffee grounds. The cooking rate is as follows:
- coffee grounds - 45% of the total mass;
- sluggish grass - 18%;
- dried leaves - 42%
- bone meal — 2.5 handfuls;
- fresh soil — 1 shovel.
Compost is best prepared in a compost pit. If there is no hole, then you can cook it on the ground, but always in a place protected from rain and wind. Top this mixture must be poured with water and mixed well. Rotten fruit can be added to improve the fermentation process. With a stick for ventilation, holes must be made in the pile. The larger the heap, the better the maturation of the compost will be.
When planting fruit trees, it is recommended to add compost to the hole and then scatter it around the trunk. This will help retain moisture and inhibit the growth of weeds.
The use of fallen leaves as fertilizer in the fall
At the end of the season, gardeners try to get rid of the fallen leaves in their own way - they burn or dump waste. However, fallen leaves can be used as fertilizer.
The fallen leaves contain such trace elements as:
- Ka (potassium);
- Fe (iron);
- Mg (magnesium);
- P (phosphorus);
- S (sulfur);
- Ca (calcium);
- N (nitrogen).
The easiest way to fertilize fruit trees is to dig in a trunk with a radius of 1 meter, remove the top layer of soil to a depth of 25 cm and lay the vacant space with fallen leaves, including walnut leaves, with the addition of 500 grams of chicken droppings, water and leave for three days. After 3 days, sprinkle the foliage with earth. Over-heating, the foliage will not only saturate the tree roots with useful substances, but also protect against freezing in frost. For compost, you can use not only fallen leaves, but also cabbage leaves left after harvest.
Another way to use foliage is to compost:
- Fallen leaves are placed in the compost pit;
- Then, nitrogen fertilizers are diluted — 25 grams per 1 bucket of water and the leaves are poured;
- With the onset of spring, the leaves are mixed and, if necessary, watered again;
- Vegetation is fertilized with prepared compost.
The most nutritious compost is obtained from walnut foliage. But the compost from tomato leaves serves as both a top dressing and a means to combat aphids.
How to use seed husks
Used for mulching plants, as well as compost. To get compost from sunflower husks, it is better to separate out a separate container, because the husks decompose for a long time. After decomposition, it is necessary to mix with the mullein, since it is rich in nitrogen, and there is not enough of it in the husk.
When planting potatoes, tomatoes, husks can be placed in the holes. In the same way, it is used when planting shrubs and trees.
The husk added to the soil will make it looser and improve water permeability and oxygen access to the plant root system.
Hulls spread on the soil surface as mulch will not decompose. The mulch layer should be 2.5 cm thick. Such a layer will not allow moisture to evaporate and will inhibit the growth of weeds.
Introducing straw into the soil
Straw is the dried-up stem of cereals and climbing crops. Straw obtained from these plant species is used as fertilizer:
- wheat;
- oats;
- barley;
- peas.
The process of decomposition of straw in the soil occurs under the influence of nitrogen. The more nitrogen in the soil, the faster the process takes place. To accelerate decomposition, straw is recommended to be applied together with nitrogen or manure.
Straw introduced in pure form saturates the soil with various acids during decomposition, which negatively affects the growth of the root system. Therefore, it is imperative to add nitrogen. It neutralizes the negative effects of acids on plants and deoxidation occurs.
Wheat straw contains:
- I (iodine);
- Co (cobalt);
- Mn (manganese);
- Zn (zinc);
- Na (sodium);
- Fe (iron);
- Mg (magnesium);
- vitamin D;
- B vitamins;
- vitamin A.
Barley straw is rich in trace elements such as:
- Ca (calcium);
- P (phosphorus);
- K (potassium);
- Mg (magnesium);
- I (iodine);
- Fe (iron);
- Na (sodium);
It also contains:
- fiber;
- lysine;
- protein;
- vitamin D;
- vitamin A;
- vitamin PP;
- vitamin E.
Oat straw is full of:
- iron;
- cobalt;
- potassium;
- fiber;
- carotene;
- protein.
Pea straw contains:
- lysine;
- fiber;
- protein;
- phosphorus;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- vitamin C;
- vitamin PP;
- B vitamins.
Also, in addition to introducing straw into the soil, it is used as mulch. It prevents the evaporation of moisture from the beds and the growth of weeds.
The benefits and harms of onion peel
Onion peel is used as a fertilizer in the form of a decoction, tincture, and also as a mulch. The broth is prepared as follows - two glasses of husk (fill the glasses well) are poured with a bucket of water. The water temperature should be 40 degrees. Insist for three and a half hours. Apply:
- In case of yellowing of cucumber leaves, irrigate several times after 14 days.
- Water when indoor plants wither. The root system recovers quickly;
- The seedlings are sprayed during growth and watered a week before transplanting. This contributes to the rapid rooting of seedlings in a new place.
The tincture is made from 0.5 kg of onion husks filled with two and a half liters of warm water. This composition must be insisted for 18-19 hours in a dark room.
Apply:
- In case of powdery mildew on cucumbers. Spraying is carried out up to 4 times with an interval of six days.
- If tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses freeze during spring frosts, it is necessary to water the flowers and they will recover.
- Used to fight against spider mites.
The prepared tincture is used immediately. It is not suitable for storage, as it loses its properties.
Summary table of applied organic fertilizers on the site
Fertilizers | Benefits | disadvantages |
Ash | It makes the soil looser, saturates it with useful substances, reduces the acidity level, seeds soaked in an ash solution germinate faster. | Excess in the soil leads to the extinction of earthworms and beneficial bacteria. If roots come into contact with ash, plant roots can get burned. |
Lime | Reduces the level of soil acidity, the soil becomes looser, retains moisture better, neutralizes the effect of toxic metals - Fe, Al and Mn. | Not applicable to all cultures.Not used for potatoes, tomatoes, sorrel, parsley, peas, zucchini, pumpkin. Carrots and radishes stop giving birth. |
Mustard cake | Increases productivity, protects plants from diseases and pests, cleans the soil from root rot. | When in contact with the root system, the roots of the plant burn. |
Coffee grounds | Stimulates the growth of young seedlings, improves soil condition, creates a favorable environment for earthworms, and repels pests | When used as mulch, it dries up and creates a crust on the soil surface. |
Fallen leaves | Loosens the soil, saturating it with oxygen and moisture. Serves as a covering material in winter, protecting plant roots | |
Husk of sunflower seeds | Loosens the soil, makes it breathable. When used as mulch, it prevents moisture evaporation and weeds germination. | Hose watering is not recommended when used as mulch, as the water pressure breaks the mulch layer. It decomposes for a long time and draws nitrogen from the soil. |
Straw | Content in the composition of nutrients. Makes the soil crumbly. The ability to transmit and retain moisture is increased. | Slow decomposition process (3-5 years). When decomposing, it saturates the soil with harmful acids. Organic compounds decompose when there is a lot of moisture. |
Onion peel | Kills fungal and viral bacteria. Does not harm the root system. Contains many nutrients. | The infusion cannot be used over time. Loses its properties. |
Currently, the use of organic fertilizers is gaining the greatest popularity. They can be obtained through the correct use of animal and truck farming waste. The economic approach will provide you with environmentally friendly and healthy feeding.