Many fertilizers contain such an element as ash. This component is always available on the farm, which is extremely convenient.
However, not everyone knows that not every ash is suitable for useful purposes. Today I will tell you how to use ash correctly to achieve maximum effect.
For clarity, let's look at 3 of the most common myths.
Combination of ash and mineral fertilizers
I don’t know who comes up with recipes like these, but this one can definitely be questioned.
By combining these ingredients you are unlikely to achieve the desired results, and what's more, there is a high risk of harming the plants.
The fact is that by combining ash and mineral fertilizers, you cause a certain reaction that provokes the release of ammonia, and it, in turn, affects the composition of the soil and reduces the amount of nitrogen needed.
Remember that ash does not combine well with ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and ammophoska.
It is also important to remember that it should not be mixed with fertilizers containing phosphorus. Since ash itself contains this element in a large percentage, the plant can be affected by chlorosis. The combination of ash with superphosphate is completely destructive to the soil.
More the better
An even more stupid statement.
For some reason, many summer residents believe that if the soil needs ash so much, it can literally be fed with this fertilizer. This is fundamentally wrong. Even such a simple matter must be approached competently. Why is that? It's simple.
Ash helps to reduce the acidity level of the soil, and such conditions are not suitable for all plants.
Ash, for example, is not suitable for strawberries, viburnum, watermelon, sorrel, rhubarb, some varieties of flowers (roses, lilies, hydrangeas), because they suffer in alkaline soil. In other situations, it should be used wisely.
All the ash is the same
In fact, ash is not all the same. Ash that remains after burning wood, recycling garbage or coals from a barbecue is not suitable for use as a fertilizer.
Ash from burning wood can contain a lot of toxins that will not evaporate if, for example, you burned old painted boards.
Ash from garbage is also harmful and saturated with harmful components of chemical origin, which in principle cannot bring any benefit to either plants or soil.
As for coals, special means are usually used to light a fire, which also have a dangerous composition.
Do you think that if you use the ash obtained from burning old presses, nothing bad will happen? No!
Printing ink has no value in itself.
So what kind of ash should be used so as not to harm, but on the contrary, to benefit the residents of the site?
Dry branches and firewood are suitable for these purposes. Such ash will contain many vital microelements.
Previously we talked about how to increase strawberry yields .
