Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes
Content:
Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes. When to use nitrogenous top dressing. Organic and mineral sources of nitrogen. How much to fertilize a tomato - you can find all this information in this article.
The use of nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes
Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes are essential because they can support the plant during its growing season, giving it additional strength and protection against attack by microbes and viruses. As soon as the seedlings adapt to the environmental conditions and begin to grow gradually, it is necessary to start applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers. It is thanks to this component that the plant begins to develop faster, strong and strong ovaries are formed, and in abundant quantities, and this is extremely important for every gardener. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on how and for what it is necessary to use nitrogen fertilizers, and also talk about organic sources of nitrogen components.
Nitrogen fertilizers are used to feed a wide variety of crops. They have a rather positive effect on the growth and fruiting processes of both cucumbers and tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries, beets and many fruit trees and shrubs. All this makes nitrogen fertilizers more versatile. In addition, you should also pay attention to the fact that nitrogen can have a positive effect on the development of flowers - on tulips and roses. Nitrogen-containing mixtures are most often used to fertilize lawns, seedlings, shrubs. As a rule, legumes need nitrogen least of all, which should also be noted by gardeners who actively feed their plants.
All existing nitrogen fertilizers that are used today by gardeners are usually divided into several main groups:
- ammonia nitrogen fertilizers - they just contain nitrogen in the largest quantities, but, nevertheless, they are not advised to be used in the most oxidized soils, as this can lead to a deterioration in their general condition. The composition of ammonia nitrogen fertilizers includes ammonium sulfate, as well as other active substances that contain ammonium, which reveals all the useful properties and qualities of nitrogen;
- amide nitrogen fertilizers - they contain nitrogen not in pure form, but in the form of amide. As the gardeners themselves emphasize, the most popular representative of this group of fertilizers is urea, which we so often use to feed the site and soil;
- nitrate nitrogen fertilizers - they contain nitrogen, respectively, in the nitrate form. Best of all, these fertilizers reveal their positive qualities and properties in acidic sod and podzolic soils. Basically, this fertilizer is recommended to be used in order to prepare moist soil for subsequent planting. Sodium and calcium nitrate are considered the most effective fertilizers in this group, so the gardener should be more careful about this when choosing fertilizers from a particular group.
Of course, after choosing a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, the gardener faces the question of how to use this fertilizer correctly so that it is extremely beneficial and does not bring any harm to the plantings and the soil itself. The first time nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes is applied approximately 5-7 days after the seedlings have been planted in the already open ground. This usually helps the bushes to form a green mass, grow leaves, and also energize them to create ovaries.After the ovaries have formed, the second stage of applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers is carried out. In fact, the benefit of this is that it lengthens the time of ovary formation and, accordingly, increases the yield.
Nitrogen fertilizers are needed not only for those tomatoes that grow in the open field, but also for those tomato crops that grow in greenhouses. It should be remembered that you should not apply complex fertilizers, which include phosphorus, if the soil has not warmed up to a temperature of 15 degrees and above. This is due to the fact that on cold, or even frozen soils, fertilizer is not absorbed at all, it can accumulate in the soil, and this can already lead to negative consequences.
Since nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes also include other nutrients and trace elements, it is necessary to clearly know when and in what circumstances they are applied. For example, in addition to nitrogen, it is very important for tomatoes to give potassium trace elements, since it is this substance that is responsible for the formation of ovaries and large fruits. It is important to ensure that potassium is also included in nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes, and in large quantities: it increases the immunity and stress resistance of tomatoes, helps freshly planted seedlings to cope with temperature changes, and also makes it more resistant to attacks from pests, fungi and diseases, and this is extremely important, because the seedlings are very vulnerable after planting.
Also, complex nitrogen-containing fertilizer for tomatoes and tomatoes may contain magnesium and boron, copper and manganese. All these substances together give a really amazing effect, they can affect the growth of a plant, its external and internal state.
You can apply nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes when watering, or directly into the soil - both methods are equally effective, they are proven. Of course, the most important thing is to follow the instructions and not allow an overdose or excess of drugs to occur. Otherwise, this can negatively affect the appearance and internal state of the tomatoes, on what the ovaries will be, what their quality will be.
Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes: organic and mineral sources
Nitrogen is a component that is part of many fertilizers and mineral complexes. Experienced gardeners distinguish among the most popular and common fertilizers such as:
- nitroammophoska Is a nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes, which contains large quantities of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus, that is, those components that are most necessary for growing tomatoes. Most gardeners are very positive about this particular fertilizer, considering it one of the most effective and best of its kind. Therefore, today it is almost the most popular, and another of its advantages is that this fertilizer does not cost a lot of money;
- superphosphate - this nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes is also one of the most famous and demanded among all fertilizers and fertilizers for tomato crops. It contains a large number of nutrients that play a significant role in the growth of tomatoes, their ovary and fruiting. For example, superphosphate contains components such as sulfur and calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and, of course, nitrogen. At the same time, the plus of superphosphate is also the fact that it does not at all increase the acidity of the soil, and this is really a huge advantage over many other fertilizers that are used today to feed tomatoes;
- ammonium nitrate - this nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes contains about 35% nitrogen, which is a very high percentage. Today, this fertilizer is almost the most affordable among all other fertilizers that are used to fertilize tomatoes.But it is worth remembering that ammonium nitrate is especially effective if used simultaneously with other substances - for example, with urea. It is also worth paying attention to the instructions so as not to exceed the permissible rate in the use of this fertilizer, otherwise it can lead to rather negative consequences - the accumulation of the drug in the soil;
- urea - in other words, this nitrogen fertilizer for tomatoes is called urea. It consists of 50% nitrogen, is able to increase the yield of tomatoes several times, is suitable for any type of soil, which is its huge advantage over all other fertilizers and dressings. Nitrogen in urea quickly adapts to the soil, and is also less quickly washed out of it when watering or moistening.
Also, among the nitrogen-containing fertilizers for tomatoes, it is very important to highlight such as ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, which also act as effective mixtures, contain the most significant components and elements that have a positive effect on the adaptation of seedlings, its growth and fruit development.
Among organic materials, you can also find many sources of nitrogen that literally lie under our feet. For example, the sources should include peat or humus, manure or tincture of mullein, chicken droppings and ash, infusion of herbs, which are very effective when we are talking about activating plant growth, as well as how to improve the general condition of the plant, increase its immunity ... To prepare the herbal infusion, you must use cut green grass. Dandelions or nettles are ideal for this. All this is poured with water, covered with foil and insisted in the sun for about 6-7 days. In the future, the infusion should be filtered, the liquid should be stored in a transparent and dark place, periodically water the tomatoes with this infusion.
We examined what organic substances contain nitrogen, but now we should also dwell on how to use them correctly in order to bring the plant exclusively benefits, and not cause any harm. For example, using compost, you can mulch the soil, which is extremely useful. Here, two goals are realized at once - tomato crops are fed, and the soil is mulched.
During the vegetative stage of tomatoes, you can water the bushes with mixtures that include organic matter and minerals. To do this, mix water, mullein and nitrophosphate. This solution is used for root watering of the plant, the amount of the substance directly depends on the stage of development of the tomato, as well as on the number of bushes in the territory.
It is worth remembering that if you use only organic fertilizers, then there is no guarantee that this will fill the nitrogen demand of tomato crops. It is necessary to alternate organic matter and nitrogen-containing mixtures, mineral complexes, and only in this case we can talk about an effective result, which is extremely necessary for a gardener to get when growing tomatoes.
Experienced gardeners also emphasize that nitrogen-containing fertilizers must be used with extreme caution. In excess, they can have an extremely negative effect on the general condition and appearance of the plant, as well as on the speed and in what quantity the fruits are set. Therefore, nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be applied based on the instructions, as well as on the following algorithm:
- the first feeding with nitrogen-containing fertilizers for tomatoes is carried out 7-14 days after the seedlings have been planted in open ground. During this period, it is best to apply complex fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, as well as solutions that can be created in the calculation of one spoonful of concentrate per 1 liter of water;
- after 10 days, tomatoes can be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In general, this procedure is regular, repeated with a frequency of once every 10-14 days.Also, a solution based on bird droppings can be added to the soil for maintenance;
- after another 10 days, the soil is enriched with ammonium nitrate. It is also diluted as a liquid with the calculation of 15-20 grams of substance per 10 liters of water;
- in order to accelerate the ripening processes of fruits, nitrogen-containing components are also excellent, in particular the most common is potassium sulfate. You can also use urea and superphosphate, they are famous among gardeners and are in very good standing.
Of course, top dressing and fertilization are great, but it is also necessary to bear in mind that improper dressing, wrong proportions - all this can lead to extremely negative consequences. In the next part of our article, we will just dwell in more detail on what are the signs of improper feeding of tomatoes with nitrogen-containing components.
Errors in feeding tomatoes with nitrogen fertilizers
Improper feeding of tomatoes with nitrogen fertilizers usually occurs if the gardener does not adhere to the basic rules in fertilizing a tomato. It is possible to overdo it with dosages not only when using a large amount of mineral mixtures, but also with organic substances.
It is important that by the appearance and condition of the plant it immediately becomes clear that it is overfed. For example, if a tomato has an overdose of nitrogen components, then the bush becomes more spreading. This is due to the fact that he devotes all his strength to the formation of the stem system, and completely loses the ability to tie the fruits themselves on the bush.
Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes should be applied before the flowers appear, and then feeding should be stopped. Further, it is possible to return nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes when the bush begins to bear fruit: then it will need help in the fight against certain fungi and diseases, and additional support.
Of course, any failures in feeding, its overabundance or deficiency affect the state of the deciduous part, the color of the plant itself, the size and degree of growth of the shrub, the appearance and size of the fruit. Therefore, the gardener needs to learn more precisely to visually determine in what state the plant is, what he needs to add, and which components to completely exclude from feeding and fertilization.
Nitrogen fertilizers for tomatoes: video