Application of superphosphate fertilizer for plant feeding

Superphosphate is a mineral fertilizer produced by the decomposition of natural phosphates. These fertilizers are obtained through the mineralization of animal skeletons and Thomas slag. It is a powdered or granulated product, gray in color with varying shades from white to gray.

As the name suggests, the main component of this fertilizer is phosphorus. All plants require this mineral in their soil, and since it only contains about 1% of the total, it is vital for plants.

Description

This mineral fertilizer affects all plants in several ways. First, it improves metabolism, which leads to increased yields. Second, it improves the quality of the entire crop by affecting the root system, as well as by enhancing development and flowering. In addition, this product will help your plants fight a variety of diseases and slow down the aging process. It is used in agriculture as a fertilizer for virtually all crops in all soil types.

Double superphosphate is a highly concentrated, water-soluble phosphorus fertilizer. It contains approximately 42-46% phosphorus, which is readily absorbed by all plants. In addition to the above, it also contains calcium sulfate, monomagnesium phosphate, aluminum phosphate, and iron phosphate. Compared to other types, it differs solely in its higher phosphorus content, which is easily absorbed. This fertilizer is suitable for all types of plants and soils. This mineral fertilizer contains a small amount of ballast material, which makes it economically beneficial to use. This type of agricultural fertilizer is applied in early spring before planting.

Superphosphate contains a large number of components. The most important is phosphorus, accounting for approximately 20-50% of the total composition. This element is often present as free phosphoric acid or monocalcium phosphate. Calcium salts of orthophosphoric acid are mixed with gypsum. Additionally, salts of molybdenum, potassium permanganate, boron, and other microelements are added. In addition to the above, other microelements may also be present, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sulfur. Depending on the type of fertilizer, it will contain varying amounts of chemical microelements. The original mineral is created through the natural mineralization of the bones of deceased animals.

Double superphosphate contains the same phosphorus-containing elements, but in different proportions. Externally, it is no different from simple superphosphate, but this fertilizer contains twice the amount of phosphorus, 45-55%. Another distinctive feature is that it does not contain gypsum. Nitrogen content ranges from approximately 14-18%. It also contains approximately 6% sulfur. It has good friability and low hygroscopicity.

Gardeners and agricultural workers alike love to fertilize their crops by watering. However, fertilizers containing phosphorus dissolve poorly in water, or, more accurately, are practically insoluble. To change the fertilizer's state of aggregation, it's necessary to increase the temperature of the water in which we dissolve the product. There are two main methods: pouring boiling water over the granules or powder, or placing the container with the solution in a warm place—for example, in the sun in summer. High temperatures do not reduce the beneficial properties of the product. To create a highly concentrated solution, take 300 grams of fertilizer (approximately 30 tablespoons) and add 3 liters of water. Stir the solution periodically to dissolve and dissolve the granules or powder. Shake or stir the solution immediately before watering. In the spring, you can add about 20 mg of nitrogen fertilizer or about 500 mg of wood ash.

Both professional and amateur farmers have access to a wide range of agrochemicals today. As soil fertilizer applications expand, several types of superphosphates have been developed, as listed below:

1. Simple, or monophosphate, is a low-concentration, water-soluble fertilizer available in both powder and gray granule form. Storage humidity should not exceed 50%. It is suitable for all types of soil. It improves the growth of sulfur-intensive crops. Compared to newer fertilizers, it has lower efficiency, but it has nevertheless gained widespread popularity due to its low cost. In industrial farming, it is used to fertilize potatoes, legumes, beets, carrots, cereals, and more. It is also used to enrich compost bins and as a plant fertilizer. It has superior water solubility compared to other fertilizers.
2. Granular superphosphate. This type is produced by moistening, pressing, and rolling fractions into granules using industrial methods. This method is used for ease of use and storage. It has a longer action than other types. It has low hygroscopicity, does not cake, is explosion-proof, and is non-flammable. It contains approximately 50% phosphorus and approximately 30% calcium sulfate. It is used primarily as a pre-sowing fertilizer and as a primary fertilizer.

3. Double superphosphate. Contains the same phosphorus-containing components, but in different proportions. It contains almost three times more phosphorus. It does not readily liquefy. It has one major advantage over other types: it contains little ballast, reducing consumer costs for transportation, storage, and packaging. It is suitable for a wide variety of crops and soils.
4. Ammoniated superphosphate. This type contains up to 55% potassium sulfate and approximately 12% sulfur. It is highly water-soluble and easy to apply. It is primarily used for fertilizing cruciferous and oilseed crops, which have a high sulfur requirement.

Also, for the cultivation of certain plant crops, other types of this fertilizer can be used, such as those with increased content of molybdenum, boron, and magnesium.

Instructions for use

To achieve the best and maximum results from plant nutrition, it's essential to understand and follow all the principles of interaction and ratio of components for each crop. Detailed instructions for use can always be found on the product packaging.

This simple formula is suitable for any type of soil, whether growing seedlings or seeds. However, it has little effect on acidic soils, which requires first neutralizing the soil's pH.

Double superphosphate is added to the soil immediately before planting using a grain seeder or by hand broadcasting, as it is essential to achieve maximum penetration into the crop's root system. It can be used in combination with nitrogen-potassium and potassium compounds. These compounds are applied either in the spring or fall.

There are several well-known methods for applying fertilizer, which are listed below:

• Adding to the compost heap.
• When planting, add either into holes or into rows.
• Application during spring or autumn soil digging.
• Dispersion over the surface of the area.
• Preparing the solution and watering the soil.

For seedlings

Young plants often have low phosphorus levels and require increased levels. Early seedlings that undergo hardening-off procedures or are planted early in the open ground usually have low phosphorus levels. To replenish phosphorus levels, seedlings need to be fertilized. In greenhouses, apply monophosphate at a rate of 100 grams per square meter, applied during tillage or loosening. When growing seedlings indoors, create a concentrate at a rate of 20 grams of fertilizer per 3 liters of water. Then, add another 10 liters of water to the concentrate. Water each young plant with 30-50 grams of this mixture.

For vegetables

Fertilizing tomatoes

Superphosphate fertilizer for tomatoes should be applied approximately twice during the growing season: immediately upon planting and again during flowering. When planting, add 20 g of fertilizer under each plant and mix it into the top layer of soil. During flowering, apply the same amount of fertilizer by loosening the soil or by watering with 0.5 liters of the solution. This fertilizer will positively influence fruit set and also improve the taste of the vegetable.

Fertilizing potatoes

When growing potatoes, it's essential to fertilize the plants with superphosphate, as potatoes, like tomatoes, require a high phosphorus content. Apply the fertilizer either as a continuous fertilizer by digging the soil at a rate of 20 grams per square meter, or by placing approximately 5 granules in each hole during planting.

Fertilizing cucumbers

When growing cucumbers, it's also important to remember that they require increased phosphorus levels in the soil. Cucumbers need to be fertilized approximately four times during the growing season. However, superphosphate is only used in the first and second fertilizations, not in the third and fourth. For the first fertilization, use 60 grams of superphosphate per 10 liters of water, and pour approximately 400 ml of this mixture under each plant. The second fertilization is more complex. For 10 liters of water, use 40 grams of superphosphate and approximately 20 grams each of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate.

Fertilizing garlic

This crop requires phosphorus-based fertilizers approximately six months before planting. Neutral-alkaline soils are preferred. The optimal fertilizer for garlic is a combination of superphosphate and potassium fertilizers. For every 10 liters of compost, use 20 grams of superphosphate and 30 grams of potassium sulfate, along with approximately 500 mg of ash.

The required amount of fertilizer is often indicated on the product packaging. However, it's important to remember one important rule: superphosphate should never be mixed with ammonium nitrate, chalk, lime, or urea. These substrates are acidic, so using superphosphate and these substrates simultaneously will actually acidify the soil. This fertilizer doesn't necessarily need to be dug into the soil. It can also be simply scattered over the soil, observing the precise dosage. To fertilize soil with superphosphate in spring and fall, apply approximately the same amount of fertilizer, about 50 grams per square meter. If your soil has been depleted or is naturally poor, the dosage should be increased to approximately 100 grams per square meter. If you're adding the product to a compost heap, use 100 grams per 100 kg of organic matter. To plant tubers or seedlings, add approximately 3 grams of fertilizer (a little less than a teaspoon) per hole, and 20 grams for bushes. If applied to rows, apply approximately 20 grams per square meter. For vegetables such as beets and potatoes, this fertilizer should be applied alongside nitrogen or potassium fertilizers.

Below are the average application rates of simple superphosphate for the most popular and frequently planted crops:

• When planting fruit trees in the spring, it is necessary to add about 500 grams per tree to the planting hole.
• When planting raspberry bushes, you need to carry about 90 grams per hole.
• For bushes such as currants and gooseberries, you need to apply about 30 grams per square meter.
• For coniferous trees, you need to add approximately 70 grams of agrochemical under each hole.
• For potatoes, add about 3 grams per plant to the hole.
• When sowing vegetable seedlings or root crops such as carrots, beets and radishes, use approximately 30 grams per square meter.
• For planting greenhouse plants, use about 50 grams per square meter, but also with the addition of potassium and nitrogen fertilizers.

Many of you may be wondering, "What kind of soil are these products suitable for?" This question can be confusing for many consumers, as the soil composition of your site can vary. Superphosphates are suitable for neutral to alkaline soils. In acidic soils, phosphorus oxide will react, forming iron or aluminum phosphate. Therefore, it is necessary to neutralize the soil pH before applying the product. This is usually done using wood ash or slaked lime. When using wood ash, apply 200 grams per square meter. When using slaked lime, apply 500 grams per square meter. Neutralizing the soil pH should be done approximately one month before applying the superphosphate. Fertilizer efficiency can be increased by using techniques that reduce the chemical absorption of phosphoric acid by the soil. These techniques include using granular fertilizer, applying it in rows, or applying it locally. Based on the energy with which phosphoric acid is absorbed by the soil, all soils can be ranked in the following order: red soils, podzolic soils, chernozems, and sierozems.

Since phosphorus dissolves very poorly in water, and in a dissolved form it penetrates the plant's root system much better, a superphosphate extract was developed. To convert the phosphorus into a different state, a high temperature must be maintained. This is achieved by pouring boiling water over it. This will allow the fertilizer to retain its properties and transform it into a dispersed form that is easily absorbed by plants. Next, keep the container in which you prepared this mixture warm. The solution should be prepared at a ratio of 20 tablespoons of fertilizer to 3 liters of water. This will create the basic working solution. Next, mix 150 grams of the working solution with 10 liters of water, 0.5 liters of ash, and 20 grams of nitrogen fertilizer. Don't try to turn this suspension into a completely liquid state; you won't succeed. You can crush the granules into small particles, but don't expect complete dissolution. The solution will look something like thick, fatty milk. This fertilizer should be applied in early spring, when crops are actively growing. Gradually, all the microelements penetrate the soil and remain active for several months. Therefore, preparing an extract will help you create an excellent fertilizer for agricultural crops.

Another method for obtaining an extract from superphosphate is the use of live biobacteria. To achieve this, the agrochemical must be composted with various phytosporin solutions. Once this mixture is obtained, it must be diluted in room-temperature water and left for about 24 hours, stirring occasionally. However, this method has one drawback: the time required to obtain the solution. This period can be approximately a week, and sometimes longer.

Reviews

Katya, Volgograd

"Today I tried making my own superphosphate extract. It seemed to work. But I can't judge on my own on the first day. I can say one thing: this is the most detailed description I've seen online. Of course, some might find it overly detailed, but that's the only way to fully understand the issue."

Andrey, Valki

"So, the superphosphate solution for potatoes works. I'm a researcher and part-time gardener. I decided to try superphosphate on potato beds and measure the levels of natural nutrients in the soil. As strange as it may seem, it works! It seems like a simple recipe, but it's effective! I recommend it to everyone!"