Top dressing: description of technology, limitations

Foliar top dressing is the main way of delivering nutrients to plants. The introduction of mineral fertilizers and organic materials is done when preparing the soil for planting or directly under the root in the form of nutrient solutions.

But replenishing the need for plants in nutrients in this way is not always possible:

• The root system may not work well enough;
• Fertilizers due to heavy rains can be washed out of the soil.

In such cases, foliar dressing will be very necessary.

What is foliar top dressing?

All without exception, plants absorb nutrients not only by their roots, but also through the crown (leaves, stems and even a stem). If the solution is sprayed over the surface, then, as well as through the roots, it enters the power system.

Terms and technology of foliar top dressing

To foliar top dressing of plants was carried out successfully, it is recommended to observe certain conditions:

• Spray in cloudy weather (preferably at high humidity) or in the evening. It should be understood that the longer the composition is on the leaf surface, the more nutrients will fall in its intended use. In hot or sunny weather, the solution instantly dries, and besides, there is a danger of burns of the leaves, because the drops focus the rays of the sun as a lens.
• To carry out the application of the nutrient solution, it is necessary to use quality sprayers, since the smaller and thinner the spraying, the more intensive the absorption of nutrients from the solution.
• Spray the solution so that it evenly covers the leaves on both sides. The lower part of the sheet absorbs even more intensively than the upper one.
• For spraying, it is better to use soft water (rain is good). Or you can give water just to stay, so that plants absorb the solution better.
• Fertilizers that are used for fertilizing should be well soluble in water. Today in specialized stores there is a fairly large selection of such tools.

Doses of fertilizers

For quality spraying it is necessary to choose the right dose of fertilizer, which dissolves. Be sure to focus on the instructions.

It is better to make the solution less concentrated so as not to harm the plant. Excess concentration can cause burns.

Extra foliar dressing acts quickly enough. But it should be understood that one-time holding it will not be enough. In order to get a good result, at least 2-3 activities are needed within a month. And for your care plants will respond with a magnificent view, abundant flowering and the formation of many fruits.

Do not wait for the lack of nutrients to appear on plants. Carry out fertilizing regularly.

When top dressing is extremely necessary?

There are situations when one can not do without foliar feeding. When the disease of the plant and the poor work of its roots, pouring under it nutrient solutions is useless. This can even aggravate this situation. It is foliar top dressing that can save the situation, since its main advantage is the rate of assimilation of fertilizers by seedlings.

When cooling or drought, the metabolism of plants is significantly slowed, so to maintain them, you should also carry out the mentioned procedure.

And further. On saline and cold soils, the root system of plants works badly enough, so under such conditions, carrying out foliar top dressing is very important.

Spraying plants with nutrient solutions always gives excellent results. The magnificent development of the plant and a significant increase in yield will pay off with all the effort and expense.

Spraying solutions

• Liquid mineral fertilizer with microelements "Uniflor bud" diluted with water at the rate of: 4 tsp. For 10 liters of water. Composition of spraying plants (it is best to do it in the evening or in cloudy, but not rainy weather).
• Make foliar top dressing from the ash: 2 cups of ash pour hot water, boil for 15 minutes. Insist solution and then strain. This infusion spray plants.
• Extra-root fertilizing of seedlings and adult plants can be produced by infusion of superphosphate. Double superphosphate pour hot water (100 grams per 1 liter). Insist the solution within 3-4 hours, strain and dilute in 10 liters of water. Before sprinkling add 20 g of potassium nitrate to it. Leaves should be sprayed until completely wetted.

Foliar fertilization with urea

Today, our chemical industry produces many different nitrogen fertilizers. The most common of these are ammonium nitrate (34% nitrogen) and ammonium sulfate (21% nitrogen). But for foliar feeding, it is more expedient to use synthetic urea (46% nitrogen). Its advantage over other nitrogen fertilizers is that it contains much more basic active substance. Urea is fuller and much faster penetrates through the bark of branches and leaves into plant tissue. Also on the plant, it acts not only as a source of nitrogen, but also as a means that exerts a great influence on the metabolism, development and growth of the kidneys and shoots.

Foliar top dressing of strawberry

Strawberry is the most delicious and favorite berry, but it can not be called unpretentious. Culture requires proper care and considerable costs. For a better harvest, you need to timely and properly feed the bushes. The first year fertilization is not required, since during the planting of seedlings the fertilizing of the plant has already been done. It's enough just to mulch the soil.

The introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers is necessary for 2 and 4 years. For this, the spring top dressing of the strawberry is carried out. As fertilizers 1 st. L. Ammonium sulfate and 0.5 liters of mullein. All this is dissolved in 10 liters of water. Under each bush it is necessary to add 1 liter of the obtained solution.

The second feeding is performed before mass flowering. To this end, 10 liters of water are diluted with nitrophos (2 tablespoons) and potassium sulfate (1 tsp). Under each bush, 500 grams of solution should be added.

The foliar top dressing of strawberries is made in 3 stages:

1. Sprinkling on young leaves.
2. In the flowering period.
3. During the ovary of berries.

Carry out bait by wetting the leaves of strawberries, through which are digested from fertilizers useful substances. Solutions can be sprayed with a hand spray or simply poured from the top. They should be washed on both sides, until they are completely wet.

The foliar top dressing of the strawberry helps to increase the yield, the quality of berries significantly improves, in which there is more sugar and vitamin C.