Content
Peppers, like other garden crops, require access to nutrients to maintain their development. The need of plants for nitrogen, which contributes to the formation of green mass of the plant, is extremely important. Helps compensate for the deficiency of this element feeding peppers urea. Treatment is carried out at each stage of development of peppers and is supplemented with other types of fertilizing.
Signs of nitrogen deficiency
To function properly, peppers need a nitrogen supply. This component is contained in the soil, however, its quantity is not always enough for the development of plants.
Nitrogen deficiency can be present in any type of soil. Its deficiency is noticeable in the spring, when at low temperatures the formation of nitrates is still slowed down.
Nitrogen deficiency in peppers is detected by certain signs:
- slow growth;
- small leaves with a pale color;
- thin stems;
- yellowing of foliage at the veins;
- small fruits;
- premature leaf fall;
- curved shape of the fruit.
If such symptoms appear, pepper processing substances containing nitrogen.In this case, the established proportions must be observed to avoid oversaturation.
Excess nitrogen can be determined by a number of manifestations:
- slow growth of peppers;
- dark green leaf color;
- thick stems;
- small number of ovaries and fruits;
- susceptibility of plants to diseases;
- long period of fruit ripening.
With an excess supply of nitrogen, all the energy of the peppers goes into the formation of stems and foliage. This affects the appearance of ovaries and fruiting.
Properties of urea
The main source of nitrogen for peppers is urea. Its composition includes up to 46% of this element. Urea is produced in the form of white granules, highly soluble in water.
When using urea, soil oxidation occurs. However, this process is not as pronounced as when using ammonium nitrate and other substances. Therefore, urea is more preferable when caring for peppers. This applies to both watering the soil and spraying plants.
The substance does not lose its properties on any type of soil. Once in moist soil, the joint is strengthened and less susceptible to leaching. Fertilizer is sprinkled with soil to avoid nitrogen loss.
Under the influence of bacteria present in the soil, urea is converted into ammonium carbonate in a few days. This substance decomposes quickly in air. The transition process is quite slow, so the peppers have enough time to become saturated with nitrogen.
How to use urea
Urea is used both as the main type of fertilizer for peppers and as a top dressing. Watering is done in small doses.When mixing the solution, it is important to maintain the proportions of the constituent substances to avoid oversaturation of the soil with nitrogen.
Excess urea in close proximity to planted seeds negatively affects their germination. This effect can be neutralized by creating a layer of soil or using fertilizers and potassium.
Cloudy weather is best for processing. This is especially true for spraying peppers. Otherwise, the plants will get seriously burned under the sun's rays.
The substance is mixed with other minerals if it is necessary to obtain fertilizer for the soil. Adding components is possible only in dry form. If superphosphate is added to urea, its acidity must be neutralized. Chalk or dolomite will cope with this task.
After watering, you need to analyze the condition of the peppers. Taking this into account, the proportions of the constituent components are adjusted.
When working with urea and other mineral fertilizers, a number of rules must be followed:
- To prepare the solution, separate dishes are required, which are not used anywhere in the future;
- the substance is stored in vacuum packaging;
- if the fertilizer has been stored for too long, then pass it through a sieve before processing the peppers;
- substances are placed in the soil in such a way as to avoid contact with roots and other parts of plants;
- if there is a lack of nitrogen, applying fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium will be ineffective, so all components are used in combination;
- if organic fertilizing is additionally used, the content of mineral fertilizers is reduced by a third.
Stages of fertilizing with urea
Urea treatment is carried out at all stages of pepper development. Nitrogen saturation is especially important during the growth of seedlings. Subsequently, its intake decreases, and other nutrients are added - potassium, phosphorus, calcium.
Soil preparation
Peppers prefer light, loose soil with a porous structure. This type of soil provides access to moisture and air. For the development of plants, the content of microelements (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, iron) and beneficial microflora in the soil is important.
Peppers grow well in neutral soil because it reduces the likelihood of developing blackleg and other diseases.
For pepper seedlings soil is taken, consisting in equal parts of peat, earth, sand, humus. Before planting, you can add a glass of ash to the soil.
To increase the fertility of loamy soil, sawdust and manure are added to it. For 1 sq. m of soil, one bucket of sawdust and manure is sufficient. Add one bucket of sand and sawdust to clay soil. The addition of humus and turf soil helps improve the properties of peat soil.
Additionally, before planting plants in the soil, you need to add a complex of substances:
- superphosphate – 1 tbsp. l.;
- wood ash – 1 cup;
- Potassium sulfate - 1 tbsp. l.;
- urea – 1 tsp.
This complex nutrition will provide the peppers with the necessary substances. After adding the mixture, the soil is dug up to create beds up to 30 cm high. After leveling the surface of the beds, they are watered with mullein solution (500 ml of fertilizer is diluted in 10 liters of water).
To keep nitrogen in the soil, it is buried deeper.Some fertilizers can be applied in the autumn, however, urea is added in the spring, closer to planting time.
Processing of seedlings
First, peppers are grown in small containers, after which the seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse or in an open space. Seeds must be planted 90 days before moving the plants to a permanent location. Usually this is mid-February - early March.
To improve the germination of seeds, they are wrapped in a damp cloth and then left in a warm place for several days.
When the first shoots appear, they are treated with urea. This requires an aqueous solution containing urea and potassium permanganate. Use a spray bottle to spray the solution onto the leaves.
Melt or settled water is used to process peppers. Its temperature should not be too low, otherwise the peppers will begin to get sick and die.
The first feeding is carried out when the second leaf appears on the peppers. Additionally you can feed plants with superphosphate and potassium solution. After 2 weeks, a second treatment is performed, when the peppers produce a third leaf.
Periodically, the soil in the containers needs to be loosened. This will improve the soil’s ability to pass moisture and air, as well as absorb nitrogen from urea. The room with seedlings is periodically ventilated, but without creating drafts.
Procedures after disembarkation
After transferring the peppers to the greenhouse or soil, you need to provide them with constant feeding. Before flowering begins, the plant's need for nitrogen increases. If it is deficient, further plant growth is impossible.
Warm water is used to fertilize peppers with urea. To do this, containers with water are left in the sun so that they warm up well, or they are brought into a greenhouse.
The first fertilizing with urea is carried out 10 days after transplanting the plants to a permanent place. During this period, the seedlings will get stronger and adapt to new conditions.
All components are placed in water and mixed until completely dissolved. Each pepper bush requires up to 1 liter of water. When watering, you need to make sure that the solution does not get on the leaves.
The second feeding is carried out as the peppers grow until the inflorescences appear. During this period, plants require potassium, which promotes fruit set and ripening.
The second feeding is prepared from the following components:
- potassium salt – 1 tsp;
- urea – 1 tsp;
- superphosphate – 2 tbsp. l.;
- water – 10 l.
Feeding during flowering
During the flowering period, plants require less nitrogen. Therefore, urea is combined with other minerals. If you feed peppers exclusively with nitrogen, the plants will direct all their energy to the formation of foliage and stems.
During flowering, peppers can be fed with the following composition:
- urea – 20 g;
- superphosphate – 30 g;
- potassium chloride – 10 g;
- water – 10 l.
Another feeding option is a solution of the following substances:
- urea – 1 tsp;
- potassium sulfate – 1 tsp;
- superphosphate – 2 tbsp. l.;
- water – 10 l.
After dissolving the components, the composition is used for irrigation.Complex fertilizers are effective in cases where it is difficult to determine by external signs which elements the peppers lack.
You can purchase the components separately and then mix them into a solution. Another option is to purchase ready-made pepper fertilizer, where all the elements are already present in the required proportions.
Fertilizer for fruiting
Peppers need to be fed after the first harvest. For further formation of the ovary and development of fruits, plants require complex feeding:
- urea – 60 g;
- superphosphate – 60 g;
- potassium chloride – 20 g;
- water – 10 l.
During the fruiting period, fertilizing is effective, including mineral and organic components.
The following solutions are used to feed peppers:
- urea - 1 tbsp. l.;
- mullein – 1 l;
- chicken manure – 0.25 l.
The resulting solution is left for 5-7 days to allow it to brew. For 1 sq. m of beds with peppers requires 5 liters of this fertilizer. Fertilizing with organic substances is recommended if the plants were previously treated with mineral components.
If the growth of the peppers has slowed down, the flowers fall off and the fruits have a curved shape, then additional feeding is allowed. There should be at least a week between treatments.
Additionally, ash is added under the peppers in the amount of 1 cup per 1 square meter. m. The lack of complex fertilizer reduces the number of ovaries and leads to the fall of inflorescences.
Foliar feeding
A mandatory step in caring for peppers is foliar feeding. It is carried out by spraying the leaves of the plant with special solutions.
The absorption of nutrients through the leaves occurs much faster compared to applying fertilizer at the root. You can notice the results of the procedure within a few hours.
Spraying is especially effective when peppers are depressed and lack nitrogen and other beneficial substances.
For foliar treatment, less consumption of components is required than for irrigation. All microelements are absorbed by the leaves of peppers and do not go into the soil.
To spray peppers with urea, prepare a solution of a weaker concentration than for root feeding. The procedure is carried out in the evening or in the morning to prevent the plant leaves from burning under the sun's rays.
If you need to stimulate plant growth, then dilute 1 tsp per 10 liters of water. urea. For work, a spray bottle with a fine nozzle is used.
Conduct spraying with urea It is possible at the beginning of flowering of peppers and throughout the entire fruiting period. There should be up to 14 days between procedures.
Conclusion
Urea serves as the main fertilizer that supplies peppers with nitrogen. Treatment of plants is required at all stages of their life. When performing work, you must follow the established standards to avoid burns on plants and excess nitrogen. Urea is applied to the soil or added to liquid fertilizers.
Urea is highly soluble in water and quickly absorbed by plants. The substance is used in combination with other mineral and organic fertilizers. To get a good harvest, you need to carry out root feeding and spraying of peppers.Work must be carried out in cloudy weather and in the absence of hot sunlight.
