Fertilizers supplement the nutrients already present in your soil and form a complete menu for your plants. Excess fertilizer can damage the roots, and additional fertilizer can reach its local flow, which contributes to water pollution problems. Here we will try to answer the popular question: “How does fertilizer affect plants?” The definition of fertilizer is any substance such as liquid manure or a mixture of nitrates used to make the lawn or garden soil more fertile.
Fertilizer could be necessary and useful, but you must avoid the behavior of apply the fertilizer in excessive amounts. Excess amounts can harm the plants more than little amounts by affecting the number of flowers or even kill the plant.
Ideally, no fertilizer should be added before a soil test can confirm which elements are missing and which elements may already be present in excessive amounts. Abundant fertilization can often lead to an accumulation of excess phosphorus. Soil testing can be done through a university expansion service or commercial laboratories. Common home test kits may not be of good value.
Table of Content
What is 20-10-10 fertilizers?
Compound fertilizers PK 20: 10: 10 contain 20 % nitrogen (N), 10 % phosphorus (P2O5) and 10 % potassium macronutrients (K2O). NPK fertilizer 20:10: 10 is important for the early growth of plants.
This fertilizer is strictly controlled against several predefined parameters. Many experts recommend a balanced fertilizer with the three main ingredients, similar to 20-10-10. These figures refer to the three most common trace elements that all plants need. The formula in this order is NITROGEN-PHOSPHOR-POTASH and is sometimes called N-P-K using chemical abbreviations.
What is 20-10-10 fertilizer used for?
Mixed fertilizers are sometimes more expensive than a physical combination or a combination of the main sources of nutrients because they require additional treatment. Nitrogen is needed to be carefully reapplied and managed in the growing season of a plant. It could be to provide enough nitrogen before planting to meet all needs (compound fertilizers only) without overusing some of the other nutrients. It may be advisable to use a mixed fertilizer at the start of the growing season, then apply a nitrogen fertilizer only if necessary.
Mixed fertilizers are generally produced at the regional level to meet local harvesting needs. Many chemical and physical properties can be adapted to these requirements.
Applying 20-10-10 fertilizer
Various methods of applying fertilizer are listed here, including direct manual application, diffusion application, dilution application, and the use of mechanical equipment to apply the fertilizer to the culture bed. The method used depends on the amount of fertilizer to be applied, the size of the area to which it is to be applied, and the size of the plants to be supplied with fertilizer.
- Application before planting on a small area can be made by spreading fertilizer over the entire area and working it in the soil.
- The broadcast application in front of the plant is suitable for larger areas after application until the soil contains fertilizer and the possibility of drainage in the rain is reduced.
- To avoid poisoning plants, especially at the young age, try diluting the fertilizer in a bucket with water. Use this solution to water your plants. This method also helps the plant to absorb it more easily. After watering the plant with fertilizer, water it again, this time with normal water. This watering facilitates removal of any fertilizer that might have fallen on the stems and leaves. Unwanted fertilizer on the leaves can cause damage like corrosion.
- Direct application involves pouring fertilizers next to the required plants individually or in the rows. The fertilizer is first poured into a clean, dry bucket, then along the line and the fertilizer falling next to the plants. Do not drop fertilizer directly on the plants as chemicals can burn them. Use a small amount, about a tablespoon for small plants.
- Direct application to row crops can be carried out with a cultivator equipped with a side dressing device. This device consists of a hopper with a wheel to drive a distribution mechanism and slides to guide the fertilizer in line.
Roles of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in a plant
Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen is the most necessary mineral. Nitrogen is not only responsible for improving the dark green color of the grass, but nitrogen is also an essential part of the proteins and enzymes that provide the robust growth and density of shoots necessary to compete with the bad ones. It is generally essential for plant growth and is part of every living cell. It plays an important role in plants and is necessary for the synthesis of chlorophyll. Plants absorb most of their nitrogen, such as ammonium ions (NH4 +) or nitrates (NO3-). Some direct methods of absorbing can take place through leaves.
Phosphorus (P)
Your soil can, of course, contain sufficient amounts of these elements. A soil test is necessary to determine the nutrients your soil needs. It is essential that just the necessary nutrients are used, as phosphorus in excessive amounts can enter surface waters and eventually lead to eutrophication.
Obey state and local laws. Some places have prohibited the use of phosphorus on turf unless soil tests have shown, and other places have seasonal restrictions on the use of fertilizers. However, if the soil test shows that you need phosphorus or potassium, it is essential to use them. Phosphorus, which tends to stay in the soil, is necessary to support root growth and improve implantation rates. Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil in the form of primary (H2PO4- ) and secondary (HPO42-) orthophosphates.
Potassium (K)
Potassium (K) is one of the essential nutrients and is absorbed by plants in considerable quantities. Potassium is important for photosynthesis, protein synthesis, and many other functions in plants. Like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), it is classified as a macronutrient. Plants take K in its ionic form (K +).
When to use the fertilizer in your garden
If you are using soil tests to correct a nutrient deficiency in the soil, it is best to fertilize well before planting so that you can work the fertilizer deep into the soil.
Otherwise, fertilize during the spring or before you plant in the case of vegetables and annual flowers or when the perennials start to grow. Many gardeners currently use a general-purpose fertilizer (either a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer with a slightly higher nitrogen content). Add fertilizers for annuals and vegetables several inches deep into the soil. For perennials, apply light fertilizer to the soil around the plants.
Plants need more nutrients when they grow faster. This occurs earlier in salad and other spring vegetable plantations. Corn and pumpkin grow quickly in midsummer. Potatoes and Tomatoes need higher fertilizer containing (N) during the off-season because plants provide us with nutrients.
A long-term crop like corn requires gardeners to apply a small amount of input fertilizer at planting, followed by larger amounts in early summer just before the rapid growth phase. If organic fertilizers are used for long-term crops, a single application is usually sufficient since these fertilizers release their nutrients throughout the season.
For perennials, the time depends on the growth cycle of the plant. For example, blueberries benefit when the fertilizer is applied earlier in the season when the buds break, while strawberries benefit more in June if they are fertilized after harvest. Shrubs, ornamental trees, and perennials should usually be fertilized when it is at the start of their growing season.
Also Helpful Articles
13-13-13 Fertilizer: What Does It Mean and How to Use It Properly
Best Organic Fertilizer for Fruit Trees
Best Liquid Fertilizer for Flowers
Best Organic Fertilizer For Strawberries
20-20-20 Fertilizer: What It Is, and The Right and Wrong Way to Use It
Soil test
Before deciding which fertilizer to use, a soil test shows how much of each of the three elements are already in your soil. Next, you need to know how much of each item your crop needs. For instance, lush foliage will require a lot of nitrogen. When growing fruits, less nitrogen is needed because nitrogen diverts plant resources from the foliage and stops producing fruit. If your soil test indicates that your soil is well balanced for the crop you are growing and you just want to increase overall fertility, it will be 20-10-10.
Final thoughts
Fertilizers can help improve the quality and health of the various types of plants on your farm. Increased energy can make plants more immune to attack by pathogens and insects. Many factors regulate the fertilization schedule of plants in the landscape-the reaction of the fertilizer in the soil changes with the plant and the environment. The ventilation, richness of the soil, drainage, airflow, and exposure to the sun, the temperature of the place and the proximity of walls, buildings, and streets are just some of the many factors that determine the growth of plants. Therefore, fertilizer isn’t the only thing that affects plant growth.
It is vital to thoroughly water the plants under running watering before application a liquid fertilizer is essential to avoid scorching the roots on dry soil. Also, make sure that the fertilizer is diluted according to the instructions; otherwise, you could burn the leaves. If you have an irrigation system, you can use an injector to direct the fertilizer through the system.
For liquid sprays, it is best to apply them early in the morning or early in the evening on dry days when the leaves have time of absorbing the material. Days with extremely high temperatures should be avoided because leaves are exposed to burns.
