In the struggle for the harvest, gardeners use a variety of means to protect vegetables from pests. A good effect is given by ammonia from the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes, which repels insects and at the same time is a fertilizer. But before using the product, it is necessary to study the proportions of the solutions, the feeding rules, the timing of the composition introduction.
Description of the preparation
Many people know ammonia as a means of bringing a person to life. In addition, an aqueous solution of ammonia is used for disinfection, bleaching of fabrics, stain removal, and jewelry cleaning.
In everyday life, ammonia is often called ammonia or ammonia, although this is not entirely true. These are three different substances, and if alcohol is an aqueous solution of gaseous ammonia (usually 10%), then ammonia is a solid mineral. Pure ammonia is used in various industries, in medicine and in everyday life, alcohol is used.
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The substance has a specific odor, colorless, and is sold in pharmacies in dark bottles. It was the specific smell that caused the use of ammonium hydroxide in horticulture and horticulture. Pests are frightened off by a sharp “aroma”, which is why they try to leave the territory as soon as possible
On a note!
Ammonia is not an insecticide. It is a pest deterrent, not extermination.
Rules for the use of ammonia
The Colorado potato beetle is a malicious pest of plants in the nightshade family. Potatoes especially get from him, since with massive invasions of beetles, only veins remain from the green tops. The ammonia solution helps to get rid of insects, scare them away from potato plantings. Beetles rush to quickly leave the unpleasantly smelling areas, do not lay on the leaves of plants. Alcohol is used in different versions:
- watering rows of plants;
- sprayed bushes;
- make scarers.
With a large number of pests, an integrated approach is recommended, the use of several methods to obtain a result.
Besides protection, ammonia solution is used as fertilizer for potatoes. The preparation contains nitrogen necessary for the culture in the first half of the growing season. Also, the components of the composition contribute to the processes of photosynthesis, the formation of chlorophyll. Fertilizing potatoes with ammonia is especially important in cloudy weather, when there is no sun, and the culture does not have enough heat and light.
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But when preparing solutions, it is necessary to accurately observe dosages and proportions, otherwise you can overfeed the plants. An excess of nitrogen negatively affects the yield: the plants “fatten”, the green mass begins to form intensively, while the formation of tubers slows down, they become smaller, and lose their taste.
How to prepare a solution
With any method of using ammonia, you must first prepare a working solution. Even 10% ammonia is not used in its pure form, but must be diluted with water.
Proportions:
- for spraying bushes – 500 ml of pharmaceutical solution is added to a container of water (10 liters), gently stir;
- another option: add 10 ml of the product to a 50-liter bucket, then pour 300 grams of laundry soap shavings. Such a composition lingers longer on the leaves and stems of potatoes, therefore, the smell will not quickly disappear;
- for watering, the proportions are different: 20 tablespoons of alcohol are diluted in a 6-liter tank. The bushes are watered at the rate: 0,5 liters for an adult plant.
For the preparation of solutions, water heated in the sun is used.
When working with such a strong-smelling drug, certain rules should be observed:
- workers prepare on the street;
- choose clear days for treatments, without precipitation and winds;
- use respirators for spraying and watering;
- observe when mixing the dosage components without exceeding the amount of the drug;
- after work take a shower.
Ammonia solution, although not an insecticide, requires caution and accuracy when used. Ammonia vapors irritate the mucous membranes, respiratory tract, therefore, it is advisable for people with allergies not to work with such formulations.
Procedure time
Spraying, like watering, is recommended in the late afternoon. First, when spraying, the plants will not get burned; secondly, the compositions will not dry longer. They choose calm clear days, take into account the upcoming weather forecast. If rain is predicted, then it is better to postpone the treatment, since the result will be low. Raindrops will wash off the solution; additional processing will have to be carried out.
Water in the morning or also in the late afternoon, trying to get moisture into the ground, and not on the leaves of the tops. When watering, they observe the norm, take into account the moisture of the soil, the condition of the plants.
On a note!
Use ammonia after regular watering or after rain.
The intervals between treatments are 10-14 days. It is advisable to start spraying not from the moment the beetles appear, but earlier, while the pests are still attacking the site. Preventive treatments will help prevent insect infestation and protect the crop from pests.
Ammonia and other components
A good effect is obtained by processing potatoes with a composition in which ammonia, water and the familiar Coca-Cola are mixed in different proportions. The popular carbonated drink contains phosphoric acid – an acidity regulator. It is this component that repels pests, and when mixed with ammonia solution, it acts powerfully and quickly.
Basic rules:
- pure Cola cannot be used for treatments, since sweet drops attract other insects;
- the potatoes are sprayed until the budding phase so that the sweet composition does not stick together the flowers of the culture.
Proportions: 10 liters of Cola are diluted per 2,5 liters of water. Add 3-4 drops of ammonia, mix and spray the rows of potatoes.
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With severe lesions of the culture and a large number of beetles, the concentration of the carbonated drink is increased by adding a liter of pure water to Cola (5 liters). In this case, ammonia is not needed. Before preparing the solutions, open the bottle cap so that all the gas is released from the drink.
Reviews
Ivan, Krasnodar
With some distrust, he took the advice of a neighbor about ammonia against the Colorado potato beetle. Meanwhile, his site was clean, and mine was ruled by these damned beetles. I processed it twice and could not believe my eyes, all the pests were washed off the potatoes. Honestly, I was shocked, because I hadn’t processed anything before. And here – a simple remedy and such an effect. Now I will process every season.
Olga, Tula region
At the dacha, a Colorado potato beetle appeared on a potato. I noticed it not on all plantings, but on 5-6 bushes. I immediately made a solution of ammonia and sprayed the plants where the beetles and larvae were sitting, and also slightly processed those growing nearby in rows. I waited a couple of days, there were no more bugs. Two weeks later I sprayed it with ammonia again, just in case, but the pests did not appear until the end of the season. I will not use Inta-Vir anymore, I will try to get by with safe ammonia.
The Colorado potato beetle causes considerable harm to potato beds. But if you treat the plantings with a solution of ammonia in time, you can prevent the appearance of a pest and save the crop.
