Content
Anyone who is interested in growing tomatoes on their land would like to get a good harvest of tomatoes, regardless of the soil and climatic conditions that characterize their plots. But tomatoes are a rather capricious crop, and without good nutrition you can’t count on being able to grow a decent harvest. There are fertilizers that are, for good reason, very popular both among large farmers and among ordinary summer residents. When used correctly, they can make tomatoes produce a good harvest even on the poorest and most depleted soils. One of the most famous such complex fertilizers is azofoska.
Composition and main characteristics
Azofoska is a typical representative of multicomponent mineral fertilizers. It contains all three main macroelements that plants need for normal life - potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Moreover, all elements are in a form that is as easily absorbed by plants as possible.
This microelement is necessary for plants in small quantities, but is very important for the normal course of photosynthesis and for the formation of useful organic compounds in tomato fruits.
The fertilizer is available in the form of non-hygroscopic granules of white or light pink color. Their size usually does not exceed 5 mm.
Azofoska is a truly universal fertilizer - it can be used on all types of soils, in any climatic conditions and for all representatives of the plant world.
Azofoska has a low density and, as a result, has good diffusion, that is, when applied to the soil, it does not accumulate in one place, but quickly spreads throughout the entire thickness of the soil.
Despite the fact that azofoska always contains three main elements, their quantitative ratio may vary and depends on the brand of fertilizer.
Types of azofoska and their properties
The most common ratios of the main nutrients in the following: Azofoske.
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This equal ratio of nutrients is classic for use when growing tomatoes, especially in the first period of plant development.
This type of azofoska is often added to the ground when preparing beds for planting tomatoes. The application rate is on average 1-2 tablespoons per square meter. meter of land. The same brand of azofoska is most often added to the holes when planting tomato seedlings in the soil of greenhouses or beds. About 0.5 teaspoon of fertilizer is consumed for each bush.
During the period of flowering and formation of ovaries, an aqueous solution of azofoska of this brand is used to feed tomatoes. Depending on the specific conditions of use, primarily the composition and richness of the soil, different dosages are used. On average, to obtain a ready-made solution for watering tomatoes, you need to dilute from 30 to 50 grams of the substance in 10 liters of water. But more accurate numbers are always indicated on the specific packaging, and they must be followed primarily when using this type of fertilizer.
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This fertilizer contains phosphorus in much smaller quantities compared to other elements. Accordingly, it is used specifically for soils that are rich in mobile phosphorus. Phosphorus is usually actively washed out of soils by rain or melt water, so its deficiency is observed in the climatic conditions of the middle zone. In the southern, drier regions, losses of phosphorus in soils are insignificant. Therefore, it is in these regions that the use of this brand of azofoska is most justified.
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This variety of azofoska contains a large amount of nitrogen compared to other elements. The fertilizer is specially intended for particularly neglected and poor soils that have lost the ability to self-heal and on which even herbs have difficulty growing, not to mention such a nutrition-demanding vegetable crop as tomatoes.
Thus, the composition is more suitable for industrial use.
Azofoska and others
This fertilizer has another official name - nitroammophoska. As a rule, these are different names for the same fertilizer. Only nitroammophoska never contains sulfur additives in its composition. There are no other differences.
There are other fertilizers that are so close to azophoska both in sound and composition that one cannot help but pay attention to them.
Ammofoska - this mineral fertilizer contains, in addition to the main three macroelements, magnesium and sulfur. It can also be used indoors.
Nitrophoska - very similar in composition to azofoska, but instead of sulfur, it is supplemented with magnesium. In addition, unlike azofoska, nitrogen in this fertilizer is contained exclusively in nitrate form, while azofoska contains two forms of nitrogen - nitrate and ammonium. The nitrate form is distinguished by the fact that it is quickly washed out of the soil, so the effect of the fertilizer on plants quickly disappears. But the ammonium form of nitrogen content increases the duration of the mineral fertilizer.
Nitroammophos – another name for nitrophosphate, it is fundamentally different from azophosphate in that it does not contain potassium. This fact somewhat limits the scope of its application.
Azophos - but this fertilizer is so similar in sound to azofoska that it is very easy to confuse them. However, this should not be done, since these are two completely different drugs.
The nitrogen in it is in ammonium form and is absorbed quickly and completely.But it should be borne in mind that the drug is toxic to living organisms, so when working with it you must follow basic safety rules: use a protective mask, goggles and gloves.
How to use azofoska
Most often, when using mineral fertilizers, questions arise as to whether it is harmful for eating grown fruits. Nitrates, of course, will not bring anything good to either people or animals. But the fact is that these are ordinary natural compounds, which are also found in large quantities in organic fertilizers, manure or bird droppings. And they are not able to be completely absorbed by the roots, but pass into the fruits only when the recommended doses of use are exceeded. Therefore, in the case of mineral fertilizers, it is especially important to strictly follow all manufacturer’s instructions for using chemicals.
In addition, there are certain rules, the observance of which guarantees one hundred percent absorption of nutrients, without the accumulation of harmful elements.
- Azophoska should not be applied to unheated soil, since in cold soil the diffusion of substances will occur very slowly and all nutrients, instead of diverging, will accumulate in one place. This will lead to excessive concentration and accumulation of nitrates. In the conditions of the middle zone, it is not recommended to introduce azofoska into the ground before the beginning of mid-May. And in the fall, it is accordingly undesirable to do this later than September. Thus, the first half of summer is the ideal time to use azofoska as a fertilizer for tomatoes.
- To prevent the accumulation of nitrates in the soil, it is recommended to alternate the use of mineral and organic fertilizers. Azofoska cannot be used for more than two years in a row in one place. In the third year, it is better to use organic matter to feed tomatoes. Moreover, it is advisable to use not manure, but “green fertilizer,” that is, an infusion of herbs using vermicompost or vermicompost.
- It is not recommended to use azofoska as a fertilizer for tomatoes during the period of fruit ripening, since its use at this time can contribute to the deposition of nitrates in the edible part of the plant.
Advantages and disadvantages of azofoska
Azofoska has been on the market for about 40 years and is very popular among vegetable growers. The following advantages contribute to this:
- It is a complex mineral fertilizer and satisfies almost all the basic nutritional needs of tomatoes;
- Tomatoes become more resistant to adverse environmental factors, grow and bear fruit better, and their shelf life increases;
- Nutrients remain in the ground for a long time and are not washed away by rain;
- The granules are non-hygroscopic and do not stick together even during long-term storage;
- A fairly highly concentrated fertilizer, the active ingredients can account for up to 50% of the total mass;
- Soluble in water;
- One granule contains all three nutrients;
- Capable of increasing tomato yield by 40%;
- A very economical fertilizer to use - at a low cost, application doses average about 35 grams per square meter. meter;
- It is convenient to use, as it can be applied either dry or diluted in water.
Azofoska also has some disadvantages that must be taken into account when using it for tomatoes.
- Fertilizer of inorganic origin;
- May provoke the formation of nitrates in the soil;
- Under improper storage conditions, it can release toxic substances and even explode;
- Short shelf life.
Storage conditions and rules
Sometimes you have to buy fertilizers in larger quantities than you need for immediate use.
If the bag is carefully closed, the fertilizer can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 1.5 years.
Azofoska is not a toxic or flammable substance, but there are some peculiarities associated with its storage. So, in a fire it is unlikely to ignite, but when the temperature reaches +200°C it is capable of releasing toxic gaseous substances that are dangerous to humans.
In addition, its dust can explode if it reaches significant concentrations during storage. Of course, this fact poses a great danger for large farms where such substances can be stored in significant quantities. To prevent this, in rooms where a large accumulation of dust from azofoska is possible, humidify the air with a spray bottle and collect it in one container. In the future, the collected dust can be diluted with water and also used as fertilizer.
Conclusion
In some situations, the use of mineral fertilizers is necessary to obtain a full harvest of tomatoes. In this case, using azofoska would be a good choice. If you strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions and rules of use, then tomatoes will delight you not only with a good harvest, but also with their taste and safety.
