Organic fertilizers, their types and characteristics. Organic fertilizers, their types and characteristics

Organics for all our cultivated plants is the main and most the best nutrition. What types of organic fertilizers are, all their characteristics are very useful to know for flower growers, summer residents and gardeners.

With the development of the chemical industry, many fertilizers, minerals, and growth stimulants have become available to us. But still, the majority prefer organic, most likely that it is more accessible and does not accumulate in the plants that we eat.

At correct use organic fertilizers can provide plants with all the necessary trace elements, because they also contain nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Only due to its natural origin, organic matter does not harm the soil, the microorganisms in it, and makes it possible for plants to develop well at all stages of the growing season.

Organic fertilizers, their types and characteristics

There are actually more types of organic fertilizers than those that we most often use. These are all fertilizers that are somehow created by nature, only a person has to participate a little in the preparation of some.

• Compost
• Humus
• Manure
• bird droppings
• sawdust, tree bark
• Bone flour
• wood ash
• green manure crops
• Complex organic fertilizers
• Organic household waste
• Straw

Now let's take a closer look at each species in order to bring more benefits to plants when used.

Compost

There are several types of compost, depending on the content:

1. Peat-dung
2. Sheet
3. Herbal
4. Made

Compost is made by mixing ingredients, grass, manure, peat, waste, without the ingress of infected plants or harmful substances, such as household chemicals.

To obtain this valuable type of organic matter, compost pits and boxes are used. They just make heaps where components are put in layers, it can be food leftovers, paper, cardboard, weeds from the garden, leaves that have fallen in autumn, animal manure and bird droppings.

The selected components are laid in layers, moistened in case of drought, so that the composting process takes place. To "ennoble" sometimes add wood ash, superphosphate, potash fertilizers, to speed up the process, some spill components with Baikal-EM.

1. For the manufacture of herbal compost, two parts of weeds, branches, remains of tops, fallen leaves are taken, one part of garden soil is poured and one part of the total mass of manure is added. Everything is rammed into a pit or a box, to go through the process you need to spill everything with water, you can cover it with a film on top and leave it for a year. An excellent fertilizer is ready for the next season.
2. Manure compost is made respectively from manure, garden soil and peat. Manure is taken five times more than the rest of the components. Everything fits in a hole or just a bunch. It is necessary to spill everything with water and from time to time lift the layers with a pitchfork, move the layers. Such compost will be ready in six months.
3. Prefabricated compost may consist of food waste, grass, leaves, manure, with the obligatory addition of earth. No rubbish is allowed, such as plastic bags, glass. You can fold cardboard or paper, it will quickly rot.

Compost pits for the winter require shelter from frost, in the beginning it can be spruce branches, and then snow. Compost is usually added for digging in spring or autumn. You can also use it as mulch, at the same time there is additional top dressing.

The compost is ready for use when all components are well rotted, there are no large inclusions, the substance becomes uniform, crumbly. It is applied from five to ten kg per square meter.

Humus

This is valuable fertilizer It is obtained by rotting plants with the addition of decomposition products of the vital activity of animals and microorganisms. Humus from manure can also be obtained independently by folding it in a dense layer and covering it from air access. All plants love humus, it allows you to quickly build up green mass, so it is recommended to use it when growing seedlings.

Humus is applied in spring under plants or in autumn to prepare the beds for a new crop. When planting garden trees and shrubs, it is applied directly to the hole and mixed with the ground.

Peat

It is used more often for loosening the soil. Peat is the decomposed particles of swamp plants, moss, it is rich in nitrogen, conducts moisture well and retains heat. There are several types:

• Lowland, most nutritious. He contains a large number of nitrogen, as well as phosphorus and potassium.
• Transitional, middle between lowland and upland. It serves mainly as an additive for making compost. It can also be improved by adding wood ash, chicken droppings or manure.
• High-moor peat contains not completely decomposed fragments of vegetation. It is used as a mulch, as insulation for houses, or as a covering material.

Peat is brought in for digging, depending on the needs, in an amount of 4 to 8 kg per square area, or mixed with humus, compost, garden soil for growing seedlings. For some types of seedlings or rooting cuttings, peat can be used in pure form.

Manure

The most common type of organic fertilizer, especially for those who breed farm animals. The most common are cow and horse dung.

Cow is one of the most sought after gardeners. It is easier to acquire in large quantities. It has a good effect on plant growth, when it is applied, the yield increases markedly. When rotting, it gives off a lot of heat. Therefore, it is brought into greenhouses, as a natural heating, or arranged warm beds for planting heat-loving plants in open ground.

which is becoming increasingly rare. It has a long-term effect, and application to the soil enriches it for several years. Rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. It is brought in in the fall for digging or in liquid form, like cow, it is diluted 1 to 10 and used as top dressing.

Sheep manure is much drier and contains less nitrogen. Therefore, it is often filled with water and applied in liquid form. It is not as common as cow. Goat dung is also used, which is similar in composition to sheep dung.

Rabbit manure is also quite rare, but those who keep rabbits are happy to use it for fertilizer, scattering it over the site in the fall or laying it in warm beds.

There is also bedding manure when it is mixed with straw that was used as winter bedding for animals.

Manure is added to compost heaps to accelerate fermentation and enrich the compost structure. There are downsides to using it fresh, content of weed seeds and helminths. Therefore, they bring dried, last year's manure. The application rate for digging is from 5 to 10 kg, depending on the soil.

Bird (chicken) droppings

Not only litter is used poultry, but also wild, for example, pigeons. But when using it, there is a high probability of bringing any infection to the site.

Bird droppings are a source of nitrogen. In terms of the amount of phosphorus and potassium, it is in no way inferior to mineral fertilizers. It is used both to increase fertility and to create looseness of the soil.

In dry form, it is applied in autumn for digging. In fresh, it must be dissolved in water, 1 to 15 or 20, and applied directly under the plants as a top dressing.

Lay in compost, you can along with cow or any other manure. It, like cow dung, has good heat transfer during decay, so it can also be used as biofuel.

When breeding, the litter should be used immediately, as nitrogen evaporates very quickly. You can apply it fresh between the rows of beds, but never fertilize with fresh plant droppings, it causes burns. Available at gardening stores bird droppings in granules, they are scattered dry for embedding in the soil or diluted with water.

Sawdust

To improve the fertility and friability of the soil, the remnants of the woodworking industry are used. Bark and large tree fragments can be composted. The bark is also used as mulch. But more often sawdust is used. They are brought moistened, with the addition of mineral fertilizers (urea), to greenhouses, to open beds.

Sawdust is used as a substance for rooting cuttings of some horticultural crops. It is good to make them for growing seedlings. Sawdust also produces high-quality mulch.

Silt (sapropel)

Bottom sediments from freshwater reservoirs are rarely used by our gardeners, although sapropel is a very valuable natural fertilizer. It contains a large amount of nitrogen, lime, phosphorus, potassium. Bottom silt is rich in vitamins and biologically active substances, which have a very good effect on plant growth.

This type of fertilizer is obtained in the shallows, when chopping lakes and rivers. It is used as an additive for compost or applied in its pure form, more often on acidic and heavy soils.

Bone flour

The most valuable source of calcium and phosphorus. Its application accelerates the growth of plants by almost two times. It is used in its pure form and applied as a solution for plants. The solution is made in a ratio of 1 to 20, this water mixture is infused for a week, then it is diluted again 1 to 10 before application.

Bone meal can be added to enrich the compost, it is applied to heavy soils, giving them friability.

wood ash

It is more often used to deoxidize the soil, because it is alkaline. It contains many useful trace elements, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, boron, depending on what was burned to obtain it. There is no nitrogen in it, but this can be easily fixed by adding nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

During application, ash can be mixed with humus, compost, superphosphate, but this should be done immediately before application. Do not mix it with fresh manure, as all of its useful properties for plants will disappear.

Ash must be applied carefully so as not to burn the plants. Can do ash solution for watering or sprinkling it when planting, for example, strawberries are very fond of such top dressing.

Ashes save seedlings from the black leg, simply scattering it over the surface of the soil. A solution of ash with laundry soap will save you from many pests.

green manure plants

Green manure crops, those plants that gain a large amount of green mass in a short time, are sown on any soil. They enrich the soil worse than manure, in addition, make it loose, drown out the weeds.

As siderates use:

• Lupine
• Sunflower
• Clover
• Oil radish
• Legumes

Depending on the plant, they will supply the soil with potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen. Green manure is sown immediately after harvest or in the spring, before sowing vegetables. The green mass is mowed and embedded in the soil or leaves before winter. The main thing is not to let the seeds of green manure plants ripen.

Organic household waste

For fertilizer, food, paper, cardboard, bases of chemical inclusions can be used. Before use, the waste must undergo decay, for this, manure or bird droppings are added to them.

Straw

Dry stems of cereals and legumes are a source of many micro and macro elements useful for plants. Straw is more often used as an additive to compost, which is enriched with fluorine, magnesium, cobalt, phosphorus and many other compounds. This type of organic matter is also used as mulch.

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Organic matter is the basis of agriculture. The reason for the popularity is the maximum safety for the soil, plants and humans. Another positive factor is availability, most types of organic fertilizers can be obtained within one plot or bought at a low price from neighbors. Mineral, chemical fertilizers require a careful approach, they can harm the environment and human health, and organic varieties are free from this drawback.

Organic fertilizers - what is it?

First you need to find out what it is, only after that you can pick up a good fertilizer for the site. organic fertilizers- these are top dressings that contain nutrients for plants in the form of compounds of the organic type.

The most common representatives of organics are:

• manure of various animals;
• peat;
• compost heaps;
• green mass of plants;
• straw;
• factory fertilizers with a complex composition;
• household waste.

What organic fertilizers are the best option for our gardens and orchards - no doubt

If everything is clear with the definition, then it is worth considering what such a fertilizer can bring to the soil:

• a lot of phosphorus;
• nitrogen;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• molybdenum, etc.

Apart from mineral composition, organic matter is present in the fertilizer, its type depends on the raw materials used and the origin of the material.

Organic fertilizers include plant and animal materials. During decomposition, minerals are released, and upper layer soil is fed with carbon dioxide, which is necessary for a high-quality photosynthesis reaction. The influence of organic fertilizers for the garden extends to water supply, enrichment of the soil with oxygen and improvement of microflora for the normal development of beneficial bacteria. Various microorganisms are important for the life of the rhizome, they are especially effective in influencing vegetables and providing them with nutrients.

A small digression. In crossword puzzles, the question is often found: organic fertilizer for 7 letters, there are several answers: green manure, compost, mineral.

Biological fertilizers can be even more effective if they are prepared as fine granules; special units have been developed for this.

When organic fertilizers are applied to the soil, its structure improves significantly

Types of organic fertilizers

Today, there are various types of organic fertilizers, each type has its own properties that can be used to improve soil fertility.

Types of organics and their characteristics:

• manure is the most common fertilizer, which is based on many useful substances. It should be applied at an average concentration of about 5 kg per 1 m2. Methods of application: in the fall before plowing (more often), in the spring before digging (less often), in the holes during planting (extremely rare). Manure reduces the acidity of the soil, creating a neutral pH, increases friability, stimulates the high-quality transportation of useful components, improves the ingress of air and water, and saturates the soil. Approximate composition potassium 60%, phosphorus 40% and nitrogen 25%;
• humus is a top dressing based on rotted manure, foliage and other organic matter. The benefit of humus is a large amount of nitrogen. The friability and lightness of the soil improves its fertile qualities and helps to better transport minerals to the rhizome, although the humus contains a low amount of these substances. Ash, silt, clay or sand is used to increase the level of minerals. Can be used on all crops, but tomatoes, carrots and onions respond best;
• peat is divided into 2 types: lowland and highland. In horse riding high level acidity, low mineral content, especially severe potassium deficiency. Most often, peat is part of the compost, but before cooking it is dried and ventilated. Lowland varieties are excellent for fertilization, they have low acidity and an abundance of nitrogen with ash. Most often used as mulch or as part of compost;

Each of the organic fertilizers is enriched with a completely different composition.

• Poultry droppings are distinguished by a high concentration of nutrients in an easily digestible form. It can be used for all plants, but must be diluted beforehand, because there is a risk of burns. Fresh contains: calcium 24%, nitrogen 16%, phosphorus 15%, potassium 8.5%, manganese 7.4%, nitrogen 4.5%. For preparation, it must be mixed with water in the appropriate proportion (it differs depending on the purpose and method of use);
• plant compost is a commonly available method of fertilization. At each site, a lot of plant waste accumulates during the season, which are piled up for rotting. The basis is: tops, plants, fallen leaves, food waste and ash. Initially, a straw base is prepared, on which raw materials are laid in layers, and between it is soil or peat, all layers are moistened. You can improve the quality with the addition of superphosphate or manure slurry.

Types of fertilizers and their basic characteristics allow you to choose the most cost-effective solution for each farm.

Rules for the use of organic fertilizers

The introduction of organic fertilizers into the soil can be carried out in various ways, there are 4 main methods:

• presowing. Can be used both in autumn and spring. Sometimes application is required at the beginning of winter. The method is quite simple, you need to scatter organic matter around the site, and after the procedure, plowing or digging is carried out. Convenient and universal way- this is to equip warm beds with manure in the spring to get a speedy harvest, and to scatter humus by spring;

Organic fertilizers have a positive effect on the physical and chemical properties of the fertile layer of the earth

• post-sowing. This method includes all fertilizers that are added after the third leaf is thrown out. The feeding method is further divided into:
  • root. It implies soil treatment in the root circle of the plant. It is required to pre-prepare the liquid mixture;
  • foliar. This includes soaking the seeds before planting and processing the green mass with a sprayer.
• fergitation. Fertilizer is applied to the water used for irrigation;
• hydroponics. The soil is not used for growing plants at all, and growth is carried out due to "landing" in the liquid. The complexity of the technique and the high risks of crop loss do not allow it to be used often. An additional disadvantage is the deterioration of the taste of the crop.

The application of organic fertilizers to the soil allows you to get the best results only with the correct determination of the needs of the soil and the appropriate selection of fertilizer.

There are 2 main soil parameters that should be considered when planting and top dressing:

• composition - can only be accurately determined in the laboratory, but you can approximately understand the condition of the soil using old methods:
  • a hole is made with a shovel. It is important to pay attention to the digging process, if it goes easily, then there is a lot of sand in the soil;
  • a handful of soil is taken into the hand, it is necessary to squeeze it quite strongly. While maintaining the shape, one can conclude that the soil is clay, and if the water oozes through the fingers, it is sandy.
• acidity. best indicator at the level of 6.5–7, you need to adjust the acidity to obtain such a mark. You can determine using a special indicator strip or simply by the color of the soil.

Despite the positive useful features organic fertilizers, non-compliance with the rules and regulations for their application can lead to damage to the soil and plants

Organics for sandy soils

Organic and mineral fertilizers will help to make a fertile site from any soil. To improve the properties of sandy soil, it is worth adding a riding type of peat. Its main task is the ability to accumulate water, which is then taken up by the roots of plants.

An alternative and free option is compost, which will require vegetation, which is usually abundant on the site. After using compost, the soil becomes more structured and viscous, which helps to accumulate useful elements.

The key task when working with sandy soils is to improve their structure. The ideal situation is to retain moisture for as long as possible. Other important feature such soil is a lack of nutrients, it is worth adding manure, compost and fertilizers to the soil to improve the composition.

Why fertilize black soil?

The land is already fertile and arable, but still needs fertilizer. The reason for the need to carry out top dressing is the gradual depletion of the beneficial components of the soil. Considering that large areas are often planted, attention should be paid to liquid organic fertilizers, which are easy to apply and can be prepared in various quantities.

For the fastest processing, liquid manure spreaders are often used. This method is called intrasoil, since the liquid is not introduced into the upper layer, but ~ 20 cm deeper. Machines for applying liquid organic fertilizers allow you to feed the soil with useful microelements, this increases the quality and quantity of the future crop.

For each type of plant, fertilizing with organic fertilizers has its own individual characteristics.

There are other manure spreaders that work with substances in solid form, such as manure, manure or compost. When the car moves, the fertilizer is spread over the entire area and subsequent plowing.

An important condition for ensuring fertility is the rest of the field, which must be arranged once every 5 years.

What organic fertilizers are suitable for alumina?

For clay soil types, manure is best suited, it should be scattered before autumn digging. You can simply work the soil before winter and leave until spring, but the disadvantage of the method is the loss of 50% of all nitrogen. During spring plowing, fresh manure is rarely used, there is a risk of damage to the vegetation.

Clay type of soil is great for growing tomatoes, they grow without much difficulty and give a good harvest.

To ensure their productivity, two rules must be followed:

• a crust quickly appears on top of the soil, which cracks over time. Moisture evaporates from the resulting holes, and the roots may lack it. The task of the gardener is to prevent the appearance of a crust;
• moderate watering, you should not overdo it, as plants can rot with excess moisture.

Manure is a fertilizer made from the excrement of agricultural animals, which contains hay or straw.

How to prepare and apply organic fertilizers with your own hands?

chicken manure

More often, manure is used in the form of liquid organic fertilizer. For the preparation of top dressing, 3 main methods have been developed.

Production of organic :

• fermentation. Previously, only large poultry owners used the method, but now the method is available to everyone, since substances are commercially available to speed up the fermentation process. The idea is quite simple: a tray is installed under the cage, on which excrement will accumulate. In the faeces, it is sometimes necessary to add sawdust, only they are moistened in the preparation. At the cleaning stage, everything is mixed up and put into one pile. When reaching 1–1.5 m in height, add a UV or EM accelerator;
• infusion. Differs in high concentration of nitrogen and simplicity of production. For cooking, you need to take rotted manure and pour water. The mixture is left for 2-3 days with occasional stirring. Fluid is expected light color. If the shade is darker, the solution is additionally mixed with water before use;
• soaking. This method of producing organic fertilizer helps to eliminate excess acidity. Excrement is poured with liquid and insisted for 2 days. After settling, the water is drained, and fresh litter is added. This procedure is carried out 2-3 times. The substance is used by instillation into the grooves between rows or plants.

Cow dung is one of the best known and most used organic fertilizers.

cow dung

Fertilizer is effective and can be used for most plants, but to achieve a positive result, you need to follow some rules. Fresh mullein can only be used to create warm beds. Most often, rotted manure is used.

Making organic fertilizer from cow dung is quite simple:

1. Straw is lined at the bottom.
2. Excrement is placed on top.
3. As the heap grows, lamination is carried out, organic matter, peat or soil is laid between the layers.
4. After reaching a height of about 1.5 m, the pile is covered with oilcloth.
5. For complete rotting, you need to periodically water the pile, you can remove the film during the rain.
6. The decomposition period is from 6 to 12 months.

Now you can simply scatter the mullein around the garden from a ratio of 4–5 kg per 1 m2. An alternative use case is a solution, it is prepared based on a ratio of 1 to 10. For infusion, you need to wait 1 day, then add ash. The mixture is used for foliar feeding. After the procedure, you need to abundantly fill the area.

Horse dung

Most often used as a humus. At proper storage horse manure will contain many useful substances, the amount is 2-3 times more than in its raw form. Fertilizer can be applied in an amount of up to 5 buckets under a tree and up to 3 under a bush. You can simply cover the ground with a thickness of 10 cm.

Horse manure is a valuable highly concentrated organic fertilizer

An infusion of manure and nettle proved to be very effective. For cooking you need:

1. Fill a container with nettles with water.
2. Infuse the mixture for 3 days.
3. Horse manure is added to the liquid, the proportion is 1 to 10.
4. Leave the mixture for another 2 days.

After preparation, you can spray or water the plants.

Organic fertilizers of vegetable origin

Organics are used to give high-quality physical parameters to the soil, it becomes loose and fluffy.

In order to improve soil properties, several basic fertilizers of a purely vegetable nature are often used:

• peat. You can add only lowland type, which provides high fertile qualities. Most often used as part of compost;
• to alkalize the soil, it is recommended to add lime or ash, it can be mixed with peat. When preparing a complex composition, it is necessary to mix 1 ton of peat with 30–50 kg of lime and 50–75 kg of ash. The composition is composted, this allows you to convert nitrogen into an easily accessible form. The process takes from 6 months to 1 year or more;

• phosphorus flour is added to the compost to increase the amount of phosphorus. In 1 ton of the mixture, from 10 to 20 kg of flour is added;
• sludge has a rich nitrogen composition. It is used in its natural form or after drying. In the first case, about 30 kg are added per 10 m2, and in the second - 10 kg. To improve the quality of the fertilizer, you can add 500 g of superphosphate and 400 g of potassium chloride type;
• compost. All plant waste is suitable for cooking (except for resistant weeds and diseased plants). For cooking, you need to dig a hole and cover the bottom layer with peat, about 10–15 cm. Compost 15–30 cm thick is laid in the base. All layers are watered and shifted with manure, droppings or earth. Every 1-2 months, the pile is poured, and it is also recommended to dig it up to get air access to all layers. After cooking, a homogeneous mass should be obtained, which crumbles and has a dark shade.

Organic matter is the key to good plant growth and rich soil; not a single successful gardener can do without it today. It is only important to follow the rules of preparation, otherwise you can not multiply the harvest, but ruin it.

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Organic fertilizers have been known since the earliest periods in the history of agriculture.

Three thousand years ago, Chinese and Japanese farmers used organic fertilizers. In the countries of Western and Eastern Europe in the XIV-XV centuries AD, they began to use manure.

In the modern world, 3 billion tons of various organic fertilizers are used annually.

Types of organic fertilizers

Organic fertilizers - fertilizer organic substances of animal, vegetable, plant-animal and industrial and domestic origin of varying degrees of decomposition. Organic fertilizers contain a large amount of moisture and a wide range of different nutrients, some in small amounts, so they are classified as full fertilizer. Organic fertilizers, as a rule, are not very transportable, they are applied locally or close to production and are called local fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers include manure (litter, non-litter, slurry), peat, bird droppings, sapropel, composts, household waste, industrial waste (lignin), residues Wastewater, green manure, etc.

Manure has a complex multilateral effect on the soil and is a source of ash and. Manure in any form replenishes the stock of mobile nutrients in the soil, improves the circulation of various nutrients in the "soil - plant" system.

Bird droppings - fast-acting organic. Distinguish:

• bedding litter formed when poultry is kept on a deep non-replaceable litter;
• bedless litter, formed during the cage keeping of poultry;
• dry litter- free-flowing fertilizer substance, is formed in the process of thermal drying of bedless liquid manure.

Chemical composition litter depends on the type of bird, type of feeding and keeping of the bird.

Bird droppings are used as seeding (see). Effective and different cultures. It is recommended to use bird droppings when growing plants indoors.

In the year of application from the litter, on average, up to 50%, 20% and 70% are assimilated. The degree of use of nutrients depends on the doses, the granulometric composition of the soil and the biological characteristics of plants.

In crop production, peat is used in the preparation of peat pots and cubes, as a substrate for greenhouses and as a mulching material.

Sapropel - organic fertilizer, bottom sediments of freshwater reservoirs. natural color- from pink to dark brown. In the air, the natural color disappears. The chemical composition of a substance varies even within the same reservoir. Sapropel is used for various types soil as a base and fertilizer.

Hydrolysis (technical) lignin

Hydrolysis lignin is the main waste of the hydrolysis industry. It contains few nutrients, has an acidic reaction and is very poor in microflora, has a high moisture capacity and absorption capacity. When it is composted with other organic fertilizers (bedless manure, liquid bird droppings, slurry), fertilizers enriched with basic nutrients with good physical and mechanical properties and high biological activity are obtained. Nitrogen losses are minimal in this case.

Wood bark and sawdust

tree bark and sawdust as organic fertilizer can be used after composting with manure, slurry and other nitrogen-containing substances (a photo). Such composts must meet the following requirements: the content of organic matter on a dry basis is not less than 80% with a moisture content of not more than 60%, the proportion of humic substances in 10-15% of the total amount of organic matter, pH is not less than 5.5, the ratio C: N - no more than 30, the percentage of content on dry weight - 3.0, - 0.1, - 0.1.

The ratio of compostable materials and manure is 1: 1, 2: 1 or 3: 2. Phosphorite flour, potassium chloride can be added to the composition of the compost.

Household waste (urban waste)

Household waste - human waste. On average, one inhabitant of Russia accounts for 0.15-0.25 tons of solid household waste per year.

The main share of urban solid waste is paper and organic components. The composition of the garbage varies with the seasons. Biological waste is characterized by a high degree of biological contamination, can be epidemiologically dangerous and require disinfection.

Municipal solid waste (urban waste) is comparable to bedding manure in terms of nutrient content and fertilizing qualities. The rate of mineralization of household waste depends on the presence of food waste in it. With a large amount of them, the garbage decomposes quickly and it can be used as fertilizer, bypassing composting. With the predominance of non-food waste (paper, rags, etc.), it decomposes slowly and is used after composting.

City waste contains on average, based on dry weight, 0.6-0.7%, - 0.5-0.6%, - 0.6-0.8%.

City waste is used as pre-sowing fertilizer, under the main tillage, in protected greenhouses.

Sewage sludge (SWS)

Wastewater sludge accumulates in major cities at treatment facilities in the amount of 1.5 to 1% of the volume of all treated water (a photo) . Humidity of WWS is high - 92-95%. Before being used as a fertilizer, WWS is subjected to various processing methods, namely:

Along with nutrients, WWS may contain heavy metals, petroleum products, detergents. It is necessary to constantly monitor the composition of WWS, since their use sharply increases the risk of contamination of agricultural products and the environment with hazardous substances. Ceteris paribus, it is safer to use WWS on heavy soils with more humus than on light and low humus soils.

OSV is recommended for fertilizing parks, forest nurseries, lawns, bast crops. For other cultures, WWS is used only with the permission of the sanitary and epidemiological stations under the control of the agrochemical service. WWS is not used for vegetable crops.

Composts

Compost (from the Latin comppositus - “composite”) is an organic fertilizer. It is a decomposed mixture of manure with peat, earth, plant residues, phosphate rock, formed under the influence of the activity of microorganisms.

High-quality compost is a homogeneous, dark, crumbly mass with a moisture content of not more than 75%, with a reaction close to neutral, and nutrients in a form easily accessible to plants. (a photo)

For the preparation of composts, various combinations of organic substances are used (manure, bird droppings, sewage sludge, industrial and domestic waste containing organic matter). Mineral components can be added to the compost mixture: phosphate rock, potash fertilizers etc.

Composts have good physical and mechanical properties. They are free-flowing, well transportable, do not stick to the working bodies of agricultural machines and implements.

Composting requires a positive ambient temperature. Optimal conditions humidity and a high degree of aeration at the beginning of the process. To accelerate the decomposition of organic matter and reduce the loss of ammonia nitrogen and increase the concentration of nutrients, phosphate rock is added to the compost, and in the case hyperacidity- lime.

Properly prepared composts in terms of fertilizer properties are not inferior to manure.

Depending on the components, composts are divided into:

• peat-dung;
• peat litters;
• peat-liquid;
• peat-fecal;
• manure lignin;
• composts from household waste and prefabricated.

Vermicompost (biohumus)

Vermicompost (biohumus) is a product of processing manure and various organic wastes by the red Californian worm Eusenia foetieda (a photo) .

Vermicompost contains macro- and microelements, is biologically active, contains hormones that regulate plant growth (auxin, gibberellin), important enzymes: catalase, phosphatase, etc. During processing, the number of viruses and salmonella decreases. The red California worm can withstand temperatures from 4 to 28 ºC. The preferred acidity of the habitat is 6.5-7.5. The lifespan of a worm is 800-900 days. They reproduce by cocoons, on average, 3.5 individuals hatch from each cocoon.

A normal individual gives up to 200 offspring per year. Worms feed on all organic matter, 20% consisting of cellulose. Some organic substances need preliminary preparation. So, cattle manure must first go through a fermentation process for 6-7 months to achieve the desired pH level, for pigs it takes 10-12 months. At least 25% of sawdust (by weight) is added to bedless manure. Annually, the number of worms can increase by 4-10 times.

The product produced by worms is a balanced granular organic fertilizer containing (by absolutely dry matter) 30% humus, 0.8-3.0% nitrogen, 0.8-5% phosphorus, 1.2% potassium, 2-5% calcium.

Werlicompost is used as the main and fertilizer. It is recommended as highly effective for closed ground.

Green fertilizers (green manure)

Green fertilizers are fresh plant mass plowed into the soil to enrich it with organic matter and improve the nutrition of subsequent crops. Plants grown for green fertilizers are green manure, the method of soil enrichment with them is green manure.

Leguminous plants (lupine, seradella, sweet clover, vetch, chin, asiragao, etc.) are usually used as green manures, a little less often mixtures of legumes with cereals (vetch-oat mixture) or intermediate legumes(mustard, colza, rapeseed, etc.).

The ability of legumes to symbiotic nitrogen fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, which contributes to the additional enrichment of soils with nitrogen, makes them valuable siderates.

Green fertilizers have the same many-sided positive effect on soil fertility as well-prepared bedding manure.

1 ton of raw mass contains different amounts of nutrients. Nutrient content data different types green manure and mixed manure are presented in the table "Average data on the content of nutrients in 1 ton of fresh weight bean green manure and 1 ton of densely stored mixed manure.

A good harvest is harvested on fertile soil. Enrichment with useful trace elements is considered an effective way to improve the structure of the soil. This is achieved with the help of organic fertilizers. Their types and characteristics allow you to choose suitable option for every culture and land.

Description of organics

Organic fertilizers include decay products of animals and plants. or household goods influenced by natural factors. Organics appear without human intervention. They consist of a large amount of moisture and nutrients, therefore they are called complete fertilizers.

The value of such top dressing is in the safety of use for plants and the content of a high percentage useful elements in the right proportions for proper nutrition. In the process of decay of the waste products of organisms, many microelements are released: calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, silicon, potassium, phosphorus. In addition, carbon dioxide enters the soil, which is necessary for photosynthesis.

Varieties of top dressing

Organic fertilizers for plants increase the fertility of the soil, so they are constantly used in agriculture and agronomy. Release biological dressings develops in different countries and directions, but there are types of organic fertilizers suitable for any plants.

Manure as a nutrient

Among organics, it is considered a favorite and consists of animal excrement. The fertilizer contains particles of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, straw and hay. Constantly feed the plants with cow dung. It is able to increase the air permeability and moisture of the soil, improve the structure of the earth. Cow fertilizer works beneficially from 3 to 7 years but subject to compliance. On the square meter contribute up to 3-4 kg and not every year. Otherwise, the soil accumulates nitrogen, which is excreted during constant watering in the form of nitrates. Fertilizer is applied fresh, liquid, rotted or in the form of slurry.

Horse manure is much more nutritious than cow manure and contains a higher percentage of calcium and nitrogen, so it is added in less quantity. This type of manure is used to grow pumpkins, potatoes, zucchini and cucumbers. Due to the heat dissipation, horse excrement is suitable for fertilizing in greenhouses.

It's risky to fertilize land plot pig manure, since the level of nitrogen is high - about 8 g. In case of improper feeding of the soil, there is a risk of destroying the plants. To prevent the situation, manure is diluted in a large amount of water. When fresh, this fertilizer is full of harmful microorganisms and weed seeds, which adds to the problems.

Chicken and rabbit manure

Chicken feces are rich in calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. fresh fertilizer mixed with compost or diluted with liquid so as not to scorch the roots of plants. With intensive use of the soil, this type of manure is valid for 3 years and is suitable for almost all crops. The fertilizer is not toxic, but the use in excess of the norm leads to the unsuitability of the soil for planting for a year.

Compost and manure

An alternative to manure is compost fertilizer with calcium, potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Compost is organic waste that has decayed over a long period of time. The composition of the compost includes peat, manure, leaves, human feces, plants, egg shells and other waste products.

It belongs to universal fertilizers., since it is used to feed any crops. It needs moisture and heat to ripen, so a pile of waste is covered with a black tarpaulin. Not fully ripened compost actively saturates the plants for 2-3 months and is used when digging fruit bushes and vegetable beds.

When the remains rot for longer than 2 years, humus is obtained. It is a loose black substance with the smell of earth. Such a fertilizer is useful for feeding any crop. Experts believe that humus treated with earthworms and Californian worms belongs to more valuable organic fertilizers.

Such raw materials are called biohumus. Together with trace elements, it is rich in humic acids and ensures soil fertility. Biohumus is sold dry or as a liquid concentrate.

Peat and sapropel

Peat is used to feed indoor flowers and increase yields.. It is obtained by pressing for a long time the remains of animals and plants. Peatlands naturally form in swamps where high humidity and not enough oxygen. The fossil is valued for the presence of calcium, manganese, fluorine, silicon, iron, nitrogen and aluminum. Despite the humus content, it is not recommended to enrich the soil with peat alone. The nutritional value of raw materials is poor, so it will be possible to increase the yield in combination with other fertilizers.

Sapropel - silt at the bottom of rivers and lakes with a large amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is suitable for improving sandy soil as it retains moisture. For this reason, it must be used carefully on a loamy surface. Such material must be dried so as not to harm the plants. The quality of feeding directly depends on the state of the reservoir. Silt is mined in places with clean water with a weak current.

wood and ash

The tree bark is part of the humus. The raw materials are crushed and placed in a manure pit. Mineral fertilizers are poured on top and moistened. The mixture is left for 6 months and stirred occasionally.

The sawdust serves as mulch to protect plants from temperature extremes and weeds for up to 3 years. After that, they begin to nourish the plant with useful substances. Simply mixing with the soil will give a negative result. In agriculture, they are added to compost or mixed with manure. Fresh sawdust reduces the acidity of the soil, and rotten sawdust increases it to such a level that only wormwood grows on the ground. They rot in 10 years and gradually draw nitrogen out of the soil.

Vegetable and wood ash consists of phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, manganese. It does not spoil plants, therefore it is suitable for any crops. The only caveat is that it must be added with caution to soil with a high alkali content. The powder works well in combination with nitrogen fertilizers. Since such top dressing does not contain chlorine, it is applied under raspberries, strawberries, zucchini cucumbers, potatoes.

Phosphorus organics

A popular organic fertilizer with phosphorus is bone meal. It is a product of processing the bones of cattle and fish. Feeding from animal bones is rich in calcium and phosphorus, therefore, positively affects the growth and productivity of plants. Fish meal contains nitrogen and more phosphorus than cattle bones. On alkaline soils, it is combined with oxidizing agents, but improper use is fraught with negative consequences.

siderates and nettles

Before planting and after harvesting, plants that are nutritious for the soil are sown. These include sunflower, lupine, mustard, legumes, clover, oats and other crops with green leaves. This is effective way to preserve the fertility of sandy and humus-poor lands, but is applied on any soil. After harvesting from the main crop site, the selected grass is sown and mowed when buds appear. The mass is mixed with soil, compost is made or given as animal feed. Siderates help rid the land of diseases such as late blight and root rot.

Nettle is suitable for small areas. It is cut off, folded into a container and filled with water. This fertilizer is prepared within 3-5 days with occasional stirring.

To speed up the process, add yeast, sourdough or bread, and eliminate bad smell valerian root helps. Liquid fertilizer is dissolved with water in a ratio of 1:10.

human excrement

The type of feeding among the classification is practically not popular. Feces are mixed with sawdust, peat or other organic residues and left to rot for about 3 months. According to the content of useful trace elements, it resembles horse manure, but nitrogen evaporates intensively. In its pure form, they are not used, because they harbor harmful bacteria. After composting, excrement is placed in stacks for disinfection for 18 months. The urine is used immediately and is not diluted when feeding the trees. For other plants, it is recommended to stir with water in a ratio of 1:4.

Nutrients are added to the soil in the following ways:

1. Before planting the main crop.
2. After planting.
3. Fergitation.
4. Hydroponics.

Before planting, the soil is enriched in spring, autumn or winter. In the summer, manure is accumulated in order to create warm beds for cucumbers in the spring. In winter, they are removed and the manure heaps are scattered around the plot for feeding. In the spring, before planting vegetables, ash is scattered.

Fertilizer is called post-sowing when it is applied to the soil after the appearance of the third leaflet on the stem. Such top dressing is divided into types:

1. Root - the area around the roots is fed with liquid chicken manure or slurry.
2. Seed treatment after stratification.
3. Fergitation when fertilized at the same time as watering.
4. Hydroponics - growing crops in aquatic environment, without land.

Which fertilizers are suitable for top dressing depends on the level of acidity and the composition of the soil. For sandy areas, peat will be a fertilizer option, as it accumulates moisture. To improve the properties of such soil, compost is suitable, since it contributes to the viscosity of the soil surface.

Soil with large quantity sand is poor in useful trace elements and does not hold back moisture, so bird droppings, manure and compost are suitable for it.

Houseplants grow better and bloom better after top dressing. Roses love alumina with an admixture of dry, rotted humus. Land with clay does not allow dry organic fertilizers to be normally distributed over the surface, therefore liquid top dressing is used: liquid manure, litter or ash with water. In industry, analogues are made with similar qualities:

1. "Gumi" is of natural origin and rich in humic acids.
2. "Baikal" contains lactic acid bacteria and helps to convert organic matter into compost.
3. "Bio Master" is considered universal fertilizer with a base of relic sapropel.

Chernozem after intensive use loses nutrients. In order to restore its fertile properties, it is enriched with droppings, compost or manure. Every 5 years, it is better to let the site with black soil rest and not plant plants. Manure is considered a means for feeding clay soil. It is scattered in autumn or winter throughout the garden, and in spring it mixes with the ground when plowing.

The advantage of organic fertilizers is their naturalness compared to mineral fertilizers. The trace elements they contain are in a very organic form and are completely absorbed by plants. Perhaps, when using only organic matter, the crop will not be as rich as if mineral fertilizers were used, but their quality will be much higher.

What are organic fertilizers? These can be decomposition products of both animal and plant origin. Many of them are not easily transportable and are suitable only for areas that are in relative proximity. Most contain a large amount of moisture in their composition, but they all hold records for the content of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Organic fertilizers: their types and characteristics

The most common types of organic fertilizers:

• humus;
• bird droppings;
• sawdust;
• peat;
• compost;
• manure cow, horse, etc.;
• bone flour;
• silt from reservoirs;
• household waste;
• straw;
• green manure crops;
• wood ash.

Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Perhaps this the most popular and widespread organic fertilizer in agriculture. It is animal excrement mixed with straw or hay. Manure is rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. The most popular manure is cow manure due to its availability and price, but the manure of other animals - sheep and horses - is not always available.

Fresh cow dung can be used only after standing for three months. Apply it diluted with water. Thanks to manure, the soil can be saturated with microelements so that within three years no other organic fertilizers are required. In addition, the thermal properties and air permeability of the soil are noticeably improved.

There are several types of cow dung:

• rotted - used for mulching the soil or added directly when planting seedlings directly into the pits;
• slurry - the liquid part of manure containing a large amount of nitrogen. It should be used after diluting with water;
• mullein or liquid manure. The most effective, as it is extremely quickly absorbed and does not contain weed seeds;
• fresh manure. It is mainly used for compost or mullein preparation. If there is a need to bring it to the beds, you should wait about three months. Due to the possible content of bacteria, helminths and weed seeds in fresh manure, it is not recommended to use it immediately.

Horse manure is effective, but unfortunately rarely used.. After its application, increased plant growth and high yields are noticed. This fertilizer acts on the soil for quite a long time - up to five years. Exists in the following types: liquid, in the form of granules, fresh and rotted. There is also horse manure.

Compost

There are several types. Depending on the source of origin, there are: leaf, herbal, prefabricated and peat-dung compost. It is made by mixing leaves, grass, manure, non-chemical waste. Everything is mixed in specially dug compost pits. Waste is stacked in layers, thin paper, bird droppings, any weeds from the site can be put in the form of a layer. After the waste has been laid, they are watered with water or the Baikal preparation.

If the goal is to make only grass compost, you will need leaves, thin branches and weeds that are placed at the bottom of the compost pit. The earth with manure will be poured on top. The entire composition is poured with water and covered with a film. In this form, the compost pit should be kept for a year, and fertilizer will be ready only for the next season.

Manure compost is made as follows: collect a mixture of manure, earth and peat. Naturally, manure should be the most. The mixture is placed in a pit and watered. Experienced gardeners it is advised to open the film that will cover the compost pit during the year and mix the layers with a pitchfork. In this way, the maturation of the fertilizer can be accelerated by six months. The compost laid down in the fall will be ready by spring.

You can make compost. In addition to manure, peat, foliage, weeds, branches, it also includes food waste. In no case should plastic products, bags or glass be added to the pit. Plain paper is acceptable.

Compost pits can be covered spruce branches . In winter, they are perfectly covered with snow. The readiness of compost can be determined by its appearance. It should be dark, well rotted, crumbly, without large parts.

It is added during the spring digging of the beds, and they can also mulch the soil very well. Usually contribute 8-10 kg of compost per square meter.

Peat

With the help of peat, the soil is usually loosened. Peat is small pieces of marsh moss and other plants. It perfectly maintains heat in the ground and promotes water permeability. In terms of quality, peat differs in low-lying, high-moor and transitional, of which the low-lying peat is the richest in nitrogen. It also contains a lot of phosphorus and potassium.

High-moor peat is not completely decomposed pieces of plants and moss, so it can only be used as mulch. transitional is intermediate option between high and low.

Peat is applied in the amount of 5-7 kilograms per square meter. Often it is used to make compost or simply mixed with other fertilizers.

Humus

Plants love this organic fertilizer. Get it by rotting various plants with animal waste products. Thanks to him, you can well increase the yield in the beds. Especially well proven humus during the germination of seedlings. If humus is used for beds, it is recommended to apply it in the fall during digging, and thus over the winter the soil will be well prepared for planting. If this fertilizer is used for shrubs or tree seedlings, apply humus directly into the pit and mix with the ground.

Sawdust

Use more for soil mulching. Sawdust well improves the moisture permeability of the earth, but it takes nitrogen from it. Therefore, before introducing sawdust into the soil, they are usually mixed with lime or other nitrogen fertilizers. Given their high acidity, it is best to wet the sawdust with urine or simply add it to the compost instead of using it separately.

bird droppings

As a fertilizer, it is best to take pigeon or chicken droppings. Goose and duck droppings are used much less often, since they are somewhat worse in quality. It is very important to properly store bird droppings, otherwise it will quickly lose the minerals that make up its composition, especially nitrogen. Do not use pure bird droppings, otherwise the roots of the plant will simply get burned. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Most often they feed flowers and shrubs. You can mix the manure with straw or sawdust for long-term storage.

tree bark

Mainly used for making compost. Before that, it should be crushed. Compost with bark is prepared throughout the year, occasionally it is moistened and mixed.

Used to reduce the acidity of the soil. It contains all the necessary trace elements for the normal development and fruiting of crops.

siderates

These are plants that are sown either before planting crops or after planting to restore the soil. It is especially effective to use this method to improve the soil on sandstones. Green manure plants: sunflower, mustard, legumes, oats, vetch and raspberry radish. However, other early-maturing plants will do. Thanks to this sowing, the condition of the soil improves. It is not only saturated with minerals: potassium, calcium and magnesium, but also freed from bacteria and root rot. For example, plants such as mustard and radish rid the soil of late blight and nematode.

At the same time, legumes are very rich in nitrogen, but poor in potassium and phosphorus.

Most great advantage this fertilizer before the rest of the organic matter - its rapid decomposition.

The method of action is as follows: the grown plants are simply plowed up along with the soil and remain there as humus until spring.

Il

Unfortunately, this fertilizer has not gained popularity, but in vain. Bottom silt contains a lot of valuable substances necessary for the full growth and development of plants. It is mainly mined in the shallows of reservoirs. Silt is used both in its pure form to improve acidic soil, and in composts.

Household waste

This refers to food waste and paper. Do not include glass, plastic, polyethylene and other chemical products in household waste. Before using household waste as organic fertilizer, it is important to subject it to the process of decay. To do this, use a compost pit with the addition of manure, where they must decompose and grind.

Straw

It is used in compost pits as an additive to the main fertilizer. The magnesium, fluorine, cobalt and phosphorus contained in the straw perfectly enriches the composition of any compost. Straw is also actively used for soil mulching.

Herbal infusions

Another category of safe and effective organic fertilizers. Herbal infusions are prepared from the following herbs: nettle, comfrey, yarrow, horsetail and chamomile.

Nettle infusion

This fertilizer is notable for the fact that in addition to the content of trace elements such as iron and nitrogen, nettle infusion perfectly tones the earth. It is prepared simply and very quickly, unlike other organic fertilizers. Nettles are harvested before seeds begin to form on them. The plant is used along with the roots. To prepare the infusion, use a container made of wood, glass or plastic; iron containers are not recommended.

As soon as the infusion has changed color from green to brown, then it is ready for use. Dilute it in a ratio of 1: 5 and water the plant under the root. You can also spray them, but then you should dilute already 1:10.

The only plants that do not tolerate this fertilizer are legumes, onions and garlic.

Comfrey infusion

An infusion similar to nettle is made from comfrey. The peculiarity of this weed is that it contains a lot of potassium, and this microelement, as you know, is very necessary for potatoes. In addition to the infusion, it is recommended to add chopped comfrey to the hole when planting the root crop.

Multi-herb infusion

For this infusion, the following herbs are used: chamomile, yarrow, horsetail and shepherd's purse. Each of these plants has its own benefits. So, horsetail contains silicon, shepherd's purse - nitrogen, chamomile - sulfur.

onion peel

I mean brown skin onion collected in winter. This old popular remedy will not only enrich the soil with microelements, but also protect the roots from some pests.

How fertilizers are applied

Despite their organic origin, these fertilizers may contain nitrates and some bacteria. In moderation, they will only benefit, in case of an overdose, the result will be different.

Usually organic matter is applied at the rate of four kilograms per square meter. If the soil is poor, clayey, the rate is increased. It is best to apply fertilizer during digging. Allowed during summer top dressing like bird droppings.

How often to feed the plants, the farmer decides.

You can determine the condition of the soil, how much it needs to be fed and mulched, in the following way. They squeeze a lump of earth, and when they straighten their palm, they look at the state of the lump. If it is dense, then the soil is clayey and requires loosening. And also the condition of the soil can be seen during the digging of the beds. good soil should not form lumps.

But the fact that the soil has increased acidity can be recognized by the whitish border along the edge of the beds.

And also top dressing will depend on the type of plants. For example, potatoes require organic fertilizer once during planting, and strawberries are fed by watering during their flowering period. Garlic is also fed when planting, and tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants can be fed all summer and spring.

How much fertilizer to apply

The amount of fertilizer applied is influenced by factors such as the age of the plant, the time of year, and the type of plant. As a rule, young plants are not fed at first. When planting, enough organic and other fertilizers were applied, this is considered quite enough.

Earth mixes sold in stores are designed for six months, provided the soil is good. If the soil is poor and clayey, they begin to feed after four months.

There are some rules for good feeding:

• act according to the principle - better little than a lot. It is desirable to underfeed plants than to overfeed;
• you can not fertilize with a dry substrate, otherwise the roots will simply burn;
• during top dressing, dilute the concentrate as much as possible. It is better that it be as less concentrated as possible. Otherwise, the plant will get burned;
• by the beginning of autumn, the plant should receive minimum feed, and in September they stop fertilizing the beds altogether;
• you can not fertilize a diseased plant and is in a dormant period.

Thus, each organic fertilizer has its own purpose. Often organic fertilizers are available and do not require any investment. Therefore, they are valuable both for the summer resident and for the experienced farmer.