How to avoid fertilizer antagonism? Master these methods
During fertilization, antagonism often occurs, commonly known as elements fighting each other. It is quite common in major production areas. This is a chemical reaction caused by improper fertilization, forming insoluble substances, which makes crops unable to absorb them. So what should we do to avoid element antagonism? Let's take a look together.
I. Causes of element antagonism
1. Excessive fertilization
When fertilizing, excessive application is very likely to cause antagonism. For example, the common one-sided application of potassium fertilizer will cause concentration obstacles, increase the probability of crops being infected by pests and diseases, and cause antagonism with elements such as calcium, magnesium and boron in the soil and plants. In more serious cases, other problems will also appear, and even severe yield reduction. For another example, one-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer can also cause potassium deficiency; one-sided application of phosphate fertilizer will inhibit the crop's absorption of nitrogen, causing nitrogen deficiency. Therefore, before fertilizing, you should have a full understanding of the nutrients the crop needs to maintain, so as to avoid this situation.
2. Simultaneous fertilization
Simultaneous fertilization can also cause antagonism. For example, phosphate fertilizer and zinc fertilizer cannot be applied at the same time, because the two will produce an element reaction, form insoluble precipitation, and reduce the utilization rate of the elements.
3. Soil pH
Soil pH may also bring about this. Acidic soil has an antagonistic effect on the absorption of cations, while alkaline soil also has an antagonistic effect on the absorption of anions.
II. How to avoid antagonism
1. Understand the nature of fertilizers
Before fertilizing to supplement elements, you must have a clear understanding of the elements required by the crop, and then understand whether antagonism will occur between them, and whether it is caused by one-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer or simultaneous fertilization. All of these must be understood clearly. This helps us fertilize correctly.
2. Farmyard manure must be fully decomposed
Farmyard manure must be fully decomposed before application. This can not only supplement sufficient elements, but also increase the content of soil organic matter and effectively improve soil structure. If it is undecomposed farmyard manure, then after application it will continue to ferment and decompose, causing root burn, and it will also carry pathogens and insect eggs.
3. Use organic fertilizer
The nutrients in organic fertilizer are relatively comprehensive. It not only contains the major, medium and trace elements needed for plant growth, but is also rich in organic nutrients. After application, it can effectively improve soil properties and biological characteristics, enhance the soil's water and fertilizer retention, and create suitable soil for crop growth and development. In addition, the reasonable combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer allows them to complement and promote each other, which is conducive to crop absorption, improves fertilizer utilization rate, and buffers or reduces antagonism between nutrients.
4. Fertilize according to soil properties
On plots lacking potassium, nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer should be reasonably combined, but potassium fertilizer cannot be used too much at one time, because potassium ions also produce antagonism with the similar absorption of calcium, magnesium and ammonium.
The above is an introduction to how to avoid antagonism between fertilizers. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.