Fertilization is a crucial agricultural management measure in the process of plant growth and development. I know that fertilization is not only related to the growth rate and health of plants, but also directly affects the yield and quality of crops. The purpose of this paper is to explore the various materials and methods that can be used to fertilize plants, and to provide growers with a comprehensive and practical guide to fertilize plants.
Traditional Organic Fertilizer
Organic fertilizers have a long history as a source of plant nutrition, with a wide variety of types and sources that have multiple benefits for soil and plants.
1. Farm manure
Farm manure including human manure, livestock and poultry manure, etc. These fertilizers are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter, which is an effective means to improve soil structure and improve soil fertility. However, farm manure must be fully decomposed before use to avoid root burning and the spread of pests and diseases.
2.Compost
Compost is a fertilizer made of organic waste such as plant residues, crop straws, and domestic waste, which is fermented and decomposed under the action of microorganisms. In the composting process, organic matter is converted into stable humus, which is rich in a variety of nutrients required by plants. Compost has the advantages of improving soil structure and enhancing the ability of soil to retain water and fertilizer.
3. Green manure
Green manure refers to the use of specialized green manure crops or field weeds as fertilizer. Green manure crops are able to absorb and utilize nutrients in the soil during growth and convert them into organic matter in the plant. When the green fertilizer crop reaches a certain amount of growth, it can be ploughed into the soil or covered on the soil surface and used as fertilizer. Green fertilizer has the effect of increasing soil organic matter, improving soil structure and improving soil fertility.
4. Cake fertilizer
Cake fertilizer is the residue left after oil crop seeds, such as rapeseed cake, bean cake, cottonseed cake and so on. Cake fertilizer contains rich nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter, is a high-quality organic fertilizer. Cake fertilizer needs to be crushed before use in order to better mix and decompose with the soil.
Chemical Fertilizer
Chemical fertilizers have the advantages of high nutrient content, fast fertilizer efficiency, easy to dissolve in water, etc., and are indispensable fertilizers in modern agricultural production.
1. Nitrogenous fertilizer
Nitrogen fertilizer mainly provides nitrogen required by plants, and has a significant effect on the growth of plants. Common nitrogen fertilizers are urea, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate and so on. The use of nitrogen fertilizer should be determined according to the growth needs of crops and soil conditions to avoid soil acidification and environmental pollution caused by excessive application.
2. Phosphate fertilizer
Phosphorus fertilizer mainly provides phosphorus required by plants, and has an important effect on root development, fruit growth and stress resistance of plants. Common phosphate fertilizers are superphosphate, calcium magnesium phosphate, diammonium phosphate and so on. The mobility of phosphate fertilizer in soil is poor, and it is easy to be fixed by soil, so it should be mixed with organic fertilizer or applied in trenches and holes to improve the utilization rate of phosphate fertilizer.
3. Potassium fertilizer
Potassium fertilizer mainly provides potassium required by plants, and plays an important role in plant stress resistance, quality and yield. Common potassium fertilizers are potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate and so on. The use of potassium fertilizer should be determined according to the growth needs of crops and soil conditions, so as to avoid antagonistic effects with calcium, magnesium and other elements, affecting the absorption and utilization of potassium fertilizer.
4. Compound fertilizer
Compound fertilizer is a fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrient elements. Compound fertilizer has the advantages of comprehensive nutrients, lasting fertilizer effect and convenient use. Common compound fertilizers are binary compound fertilizers (such as nitrogen and phosphorus compound fertilizers, nitrogen and potassium compound fertilizers), and ternary compound fertilizers (such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizers). The use of compound fertilizer should be determined according to the growth needs of crops and soil conditions to avoid nutrient waste and environmental pollution caused by excessive application.
Biological Fertilizer
Biofertilizers are fertilizers that use the life activities and metabolites of microorganisms to improve soil and provide plant nutrients.
1. Microbial fertilizer
Microbial fertilizer is a kind of fertilizer that uses the metabolic activities and metabolites of beneficial microorganisms to improve soil structure and provide plant nutrients. Common microbial fertilizer are rhizobia fertilizer, nitrogen fixing bacteria fertilizer, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria fertilizer and so on. Microbial fertilizer can improve soil environment, increase soil fertility, promote plant growth and stress resistance.
2. Bio-organic fertilizer
Bio-organic fertilizers are fertilizers made by mixing organic materials with beneficial microorganisms. Bio-organic fertilizer not only contains a variety of nutrients required by plants, but also rich in organic matter and microbial metabolites, which has the effect of improving soil structure, improving soil fertility and promoting plant growth.
New Fertilizer
With the development of agricultural science and technology, new fertilizers continue to emerge, providing more options for plant fertilization.
1. Slow release fertilizer
Slow-release fertilizers refer to fertilizers that wrap or adsorb fertilizer nutrients on the carrier by chemical or physical methods, so that nutrients are slowly released in the soil. Slow controlled release fertilizer has the advantages of high nutrient utilization rate, lasting fertilizer effect, reducing fertilization times and reducing environmental pollution. The common slow release fertilizers are urea formaldehyde fertilizer, polyamino acid fertilizer, coated fertilizer and so on.
2. Water-soluble fertilizer
Water-soluble fertilizers are fertilizers that can be completely dissolved in water. Water-soluble fertilizer has the advantages of high nutrient content, easy absorption and utilization, and convenient fertilization. Water-soluble fertilizers can be applied through drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and other ways to achieve integrated management of water and fertilizer. Common water-soluble fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, trace element fertilizer and so on.
3. Amino acid fertilizer
Amino acid fertilizer is a fertilizer with amino acid as its main component. Amino acids are the basic components of protein in plants and play an important role in plant growth and development. Amino acid fertilizer has the advantages of promoting plant growth, increasing stress resistance and improving product quality. Common amino acid fertilizers include amino acid foliar fertilizer, amino acid flushing fertilizer and so on.
Other Fertilizer Resources
In addition to the above fertilizers, there are several other fertilizer resources that can be used to fertilize plants.
1. Industrial waste
Some industrial waste can be treated and used as fertilizer. Such as fly ash, steel slag, phosphogypsum, etc., these wastes contain a certain amount of plant nutrients, which can be used as an auxiliary fertilizer. However, it is necessary to carry out harmless treatment before use to avoid pollution to soil and plants.
2. Domestic garbage
After sorting and composting, domestic waste can be used as organic fertilizer. However, domestic waste contains more harmful substances and pathogens, which need to be strictly harmless treatment and disinfection to ensure the safety and effectiveness of fertilizers.
3. Green waste
Green waste refers to garden trims, crop stalks and other plant waste. After crushing, composting and fermentation, these wastes can be used as organic fertilizers. Green waste fertilizer is not only rich in a variety of nutrients needed by plants, but also has the effect of improving soil structure and improving soil fertility.
Conclusion
Fertilization is an indispensable part of agricultural production. Reasonable selection of fertilizer types, scientific fertilization methods and skills and strengthening field management can provide sufficient nutrient support for plants and promote their healthy growth and high yield and quality. It is hoped that this paper can provide a practical fertilization guide for the majority of growers and help the sustainable development of agricultural production.
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