During the cultivation of carrots, there are many problems that can be avoided by proper plant care techniques. In addition to basic organic and mineral fertilizers, carrots are fertilized with ammonia. It must be carried out with skill, so that the procedure benefits the vegetable.
Ammonia as a fertilizer
The use of ammonia is important for plants because:
- it has a lot of nitrogen for the brightness of greenery, the vegetation of a vegetable crop;
- protects against pests such as bears, aphids, ants;
- saturates the soil with an important trace element;
- prevents acidification of the soil;
- eliminates the pale shade of carrot tops.
Nitrogen is needed by plants in the garden and garden to begin to develop and grow. The element is especially important for seedlings, which will grow stronger with it. Ammonia solution is absorbed faster by vegetable tissues than other nitrogen compounds. The main thing here is not to overdo it with fertilizer, otherwise you can achieve the opposite effect.
Preparation of the mixture
Prepare an ammonia solution for feeding using 50 milliliters of alcohol and 4 liters of water. A weak concentration of fertilizer is diluted in a different proportion: only 20 milliliters of ammonia per bucket of water. You can make the nutrient solution as saturated as possible with 10 milliliters of ammonia per 1 liter of water.
Small shoots that have just appeared should be treated with a weak solution. With a lack of nitrogen, it is necessary to water the mixture carefully, trying not to get on tender leaves. It is necessary to prepare the infusion carefully, in compliance with the rules, so as not to burn yourself. Hands are covered with gloves, and a special mask should be put on the face.
Superphosphate and potassium
The best top dressing for adult plants, when the formation of root crops begins, are phosphates, potassium salts and nitrogenous compounds. Ammonia is mixed with other mineral fertilizers in a bucket of water. It is enough to take 15 grams of ammonia, 20 – superphosphate, and potassium salt – 10. The second time they take 10 grams more mineral fertilizers.
Manure
Useful combination of manure with ammonia. Fertilizer is prepared from 1 part of manure with ammonia and 4 parts of manure. Before fertilizing, it is worth holding the top dressing for 2-3 days so that the organic matter is well saturated with mineral elements. Organics are diluted in water in a ratio of 1: 5.
When to apply
A nitrogen compound is used during the period of growth of carrot seedlings. In this case, it is better to water the seedlings under the root with a solution. So faster the plant will receive nitrogen along with other compounds. Under each plant, a little nutrient mixture is watered so that it does not fall on the leaves. The spraying method is not used, as the nitrogen will quickly evaporate.
You can use foliar top dressing when the plant begins to form fruits. Carrots should be watered in the evening or early morning. In the sun, ammonia evaporates faster. Choose a day with calm weather.
Safety measures
Not everyone tolerates the pronounced smell of ammonia. It hits the nose hard, it can make your head spin. Volatile substances can get inside even when inhaled, therefore, before using such a fertilizer, it is necessary to cover the skin and mucous membranes with special masks and gloves. Preparation of the mixture requires a rubberized apron or work coat. It is better to prepare the fertilizer outdoors. Indoors, ammonia fumes can cause damage to flooring if drops fall on the floor.
In greenhouses, top dressing is not used.
If, after working with an ammonia solution, the gardener feels unwell, then it is necessary:
- drink a liter of warm water;
- take 5-7 activated charcoal tablets;
- call an ambulance.
A person with poisoning should be laid on a couch. The reaction of the body to the substance can be in the form of vomiting, nausea, dizziness, chills. If alcohol gets on the skin, wash the damaged area under running water.
Consequences of improper watering
Improper use of ammonia solution as a fertilizer is dangerous for carrots. If watered with a mixture of high concentration, then the seedlings may die due to the burn of the stems and roots.
The sun’s rays lead to the evaporation of ammonia from the solution, which leads to the appearance of spots on the tops of carrots. No results will be obtained in strengthening a vegetable crop if it is sprayed during the wind. Vapors of ammonia will fly to other plants for which such top dressing may be contraindicated.
For prevention
Summer residents have identified the beneficial properties of ammonia, so ammonia can be used for the preventive treatment of carrot beds. Carry out the treatment as an aqueous solution of alcohol, also using it together with organic materials.
just ammonia
The treatment with a liquid prepared from a bucket of water and a tablespoon of ammonia will protect against pests. Many insects, garden pests, as well as pathogenic fungi are afraid of an unpleasant odor.
with peat
As a source of organic matter, peat is used to feed many vegetable crops. Together with ammonia, it will allow carrots to develop properly, strengthen its immunity. Layers of peat are stacked in a container or on a fenced off area. Mix ammonia, phosphate flour and apply top dressing after some time.
With manure
Carrot beds are constantly fertilized with manure. And together with ammonia, you can ensure that fungi or pest larvae will not be brought in with manure. Prepare top dressing in advance by putting manure in containers, adding a little water and alcohol.
With sawdust
Sawdust by itself is not a fertilizer. It is better to mix them with peat, ammonia or manure and ammonia. Together, the substances will strengthen the plants, protect against pests, infections. GFinished composts serve to loosen the soil in the garden with carrots, which will allow the root crop to take in abundance of nutrition. It is worth using composts of sawdust, manure, ammonia as mulch.
To increase green mass
Pale and weak carrot seedlings will not turn into green fluffy bushes if you do not feed them with nitrogen compounds. But not all fertilizers with nitrogen are well absorbed by plants. Ammonia compounds are taken up by carrot root cells. After such top dressing, the tops of carrots quickly grow. Then the root crops will begin to develop correctly, they will be juicy and sweet.
With nitrogen starvation
A lack of nitrogen is dangerous for carrots, as well as for other plants. You can see its lack by:
- active reproduction of pathogenic fungi;
- weak shoots of carrots;
- pallor of tops;
- slow down plant growth.
As soon as signs of nitrogen starvation appear, the beds are watered with a solution of ammonia. You can not use ammonia solutions in large quantities when the tops grow luxuriantly, and the root crop is thin and pale. For a while, it is better to abandon the nitrogenous compound.
From pests
You can also fight insects that parasitize on carrots with ammonia. It helps in detecting:
- aphids;
- ants;
- bears;
- long-legged;
- carrot fly.
A solution is prepared from aphids as follows: they take warm water in an amount of 2 liters, add a few drops of alcohol and shavings of laundry soap. The liquid is infused for half an hour. Then carry out the processing of beds with plants. Ants carry many diseases, so you need to get rid of pests. Before processing, remove the top layer of soil in the garden. Ant larvae can hide there. After watering, insects go to another place.
To destroy the bear, you will need a solution of 10 liters, into which 15 milligrams of alcohol is poured. Bugs on carrot crops are rare. But if weevils appear, then you need to drive them out by spraying with a solution concentration of 30 milligrams per 5 liters of water. The pungent smell of ammonia will scare away onion and carrot flies. A weak solution is sprayed not only with carrots, but also with neighboring onion beds. Processing is carried out on a calm, quiet day, when the sun is hidden behind clouds or has already begun to set.
