Lime or dolomite flour. Dolomite flour harm and benefit and harm. Precautions for use and helpful tips
The quality of the soil greatly affects the yield. Of course, there are cultures (and there are many of them) that prefer an acidic environment. However, the vast majority of modern agricultural varieties and hybrids are designed for growing in soil with low acidity.
The use of dolomite flour in the garden helps to bring the acid-base balance of the soil back to normal. The use of this natural mineral, among other things, also improves the structure of the soil, creating more perfect conditions for growing fruit crops.
And at the same time, the use of dolomite flour in the garden must be accurately dosed. Perhaps this is only after measuring the level of acidity. To determine the actual pH of the soil, the usual experiment with litmus paper is suitable.
- For strongly acidic soils, the pH of which is less than 4.5 units, 600 g of flour per 1 m 2 will be required;
- For medium acidic soils with a pH of 4.5-5.2, 450 g of deoxidizer per 1 m 2 is required;
- For slightly acidic soils, with a pH level of 5.2 - 5.6, only 350 g per square meter will be enough.
The structure of the soil also matters when choosing a dosage. For heavy, compacted soil, the dosage can be increased by a quarter of the indicated amount. And light soils need to reduce the volume of dolomite flour by half.
Rules for the autumn application of dolomite flour to the soil
Liming the earth in autumn is more justified due to the fact that dolomite flour does not act immediately, but only after it has penetrated into the deep layers of garden soil. Melting snow contributes more to this process.
Dolomite flour should be distributed evenly over the site. Then you need to carefully dig the garden. Or cover the flour with earth so that the top layer of soil is at least 10 cm. Mixing dolomite flour with other fertilizers is not worth it. Especially dangerous is the combination with urea, superphosphate or ammonium nitrate.
Such an operation can be carried out no more than 1 time in 5-7 years. The maximum effect from the use of dolomite flour is achieved 2-3 years after its introduction into the soil. It is permissible to add a small amount of boric acid to the dolomite flour powder (7-8 g per 1 kg of flour). This microfertilizer promotes the formation of more ovaries and reduces the likelihood of diseases in root crops.
The introduction of dolomite flour under the bushes of cherries and plums positively affects the yield. It is permissible to add up to 2 kg of flour to the soil under the trees. Currant bushes also respond well to the deoxidizer. For them, about 500 g of fertilizer is enough per bush, scattered in the fall once every 2 years.
Rules for the spring use of dolomite in the garden
Many gardeners know how to use dolomite flour in the garden to grow flowers. , and violets are more susceptible to the effects of dolomite than others.
To improve the soil for flowers - you need to add a small amount of dolomite flour directly to the hole before planting flower bushes. In the spring, flour is also introduced for planting turnips and. This technique allows you to get more large fruits as soon as possible.
The use of dolomite milk has also received good reviews. Regular watering of beds with a weak solution of dolomite mixed with water, when watering in spring period and at the beginning of summer promotes more active vegetation of plants.
Dolomite flour is applied in the spring for digging and, if used as autumn fertilizer garden of phosphate rock. This method of fertilizing the soil is especially effective in those areas that have not been used for a vegetable garden for several years.
VIDEO: features of the introduction of dolomite flour
Well, in the end, we invite you to watch a video that tells and shows some of the principles of using dolomite flour in the garden:
Almost every grower knows about the existence of limestone flour (dolomite flour). The phrase dolomite flour is constantly heard by all gardeners and gardeners. However, despite the wide popularity of this substance, few people know how it should be used correctly and for what purposes. Let's look at what dolomite flour is made of and what it is.
Dolomite (limestone) flour: general characteristics
Many beginner growers are concerned about the question of what dolomite flour is and when it needs to be applied to achieve maximum results. Dolomite flour has been used in horticulture and crop production for a very long time. It is a coarse grinding substance obtained by crushing and grinding carbonate minerals, most of which are dolomites. Dolomite flour has a simple composition, chemical formula dolomite CaMg(CO2). Its main active ingredient is calcium.
The main cause of soil acidification is the displacement of calcium from the soil by hydrogen ions. To improve the quality of the soil and stabilize the pH, the balance of hydrogen and calcium ions is recommended to be maintained artificially using dolomite flour or other means.
Properties of dolomite flour: what is the use in the garden
Dolomite flour is most often used in crop production. Due to the fact that it contains a large amount of calcium and magnesium, dolomite limestone flour is used to improve the composition of the soil and its deoxidation.
However, dolomite flour is used not only to bring the soil indicators to the optimal parameters for growing plants, its introduction provides the grower whole line important advantages:
- improvement of soil structure;
- saturation upper layers soils with easily digestible forms of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus;
- promoting the development of beneficial soil bacteria;
- increase in the content of magnesium and calcium in the soil;
- acceleration of removal of radionuclides from plants;
- improved assimilation useful substances plants;
- activation of photosynthesis processes.
Dolomite flour: how to apply lime fertilizer
To get the maximum result from the introduction of dolomite flour, you need to know how to apply it correctly. Before using dolomite flour in spring or autumn, you must first measure the acidity of the soil, since the amount of fertilizer application depends on this parameter.
Important! When using dolomite flour to deoxidize the soil, try to strictly observe the dosage, since its excessive application can significantly change the parameters of the soil and make it unsuitable for growing plants.
The introduction of dolomite flour will allow you to quickly optimize the main soil biological processes, which positively affects the development of plants. Dolomite flour is actually safe, but in order to achieve the maximum result from the application, you should carefully read the instructions for its use.
Application of dolomite flour is best done in the fall, but in case of emergency, it can also be used in spring and summer.
Did you know? Finely ground dolomite flour can be used to spray plants as an effective pest control agent, as it has a destructive effect on their chitinous shell.
When applying the drug, it should be distributed as evenly as possible over the entire surface of the site to a depth of no more than 15 centimeters. If it is not possible to introduce the drug into the soil, then you can scatter it on the surface of the beds. However, in this case, the effect of its use will become noticeable no earlier than after 12 months.
Dolomite flour is an absolutely safe substance for humans, birds and animals, and therefore even if it is scattered over the pasture, it will not cause any harm to the health of the herd.
Important! Remember: dolomite flour is not recommended to be applied to the soil along with ammonium nitrate, urea and superphosphates.
Terms of making dolomite flour
Limestone flour is used every three or four years, the frequency of application depends on the pH level of the soil. For example, to improve the characteristics of heavy clay soils, the introduction of dolomite flour should be carried out annually.
If dolomite flour is used to improve the quality of soils near trees, 1 to 2 kilograms of the product is poured under each tree every two years after harvest. If bushes are fed, then lime flour will need to be poured under each plant from 0.5 to 1 kilogram.
Did you know? Under plants that prefer acidic soils, such as sorrel or gooseberry, it is not recommended to apply dolomite flour, as this will affect the rate of their development and productivity.
Dolomite flour should also be applied before planting greenhouse or indoor plants, after adding it is thoroughly mixed with the substrate. Its introduction has a positive effect on the development of orchids, violets and hyacinths. The systematic introduction of dolomite flour into the soil can increase the yield of horticultural crops from 4 to 12 percent.
How to use dolomite flour correctly: consumption rates
Dolomite flour can be used at any time of the year, it is safe, and besides, it does not interfere with the absorption of other plants. nutrients. However, most often the application is carried out in the spring a few weeks before the start of planting in the ground. When using dolomite flour, it is not recommended to apply it simultaneously with other fertilizers, since it does not organically interact with all of their types.
And now let's look at how to deoxidize the soil with dolomite flour correctly:
class="table-bordered">
Other soil deoxidizers: how else can you lime the soil
After harvesting, gardeners put a lot of effort into getting good results for the next year. special attention require perennials, which delight plant growers with their fruits for more than one year. Good fertile plot with an optimal pH level is a rarity, and therefore the timely application of fertilizers and a decrease in acidity is the key to obtaining excellent annual yields.
Did you know? Acidic soils are characterized by a high content of salts of heavy metals, such as aluminum or manganese, which slow down the development of most horticultural crops.
With high acidity of soils, they are deoxidized using dolomite flour, fluff lime or wood ash.
Fluffy lime is a white powder that dissolves easily in water. When mixed with water, the grower receives slaked lime. This substance is very often used in the production of lime fertilizers and is one of the important components in the manufacture of bleach.
Fluffy lime is used in cases where it is necessary to get rid of horticultural diseases and pests. And now let's consider what is better - dolomite flour or lime.
Fluffy lime to deoxidize the soil will require virtually the same amount as dolomite flour. But the main disadvantage of fluff lime is that it can only be used once every 6 or 8 years, as it provokes the occurrence of specific processes in the soil that can adversely affect its quality. And besides, lime does not have such a positive effect on the soil as dolomite flour.
wood ash
Many growers use wood ash not only as an excellent fertilizer, but also as an excellent soil deoxidizer. It loosens the soil and improves its moisture and air permeability. The use of wood ash is advisable on all types of acidic soils.
Dolomite flour It is a kind of powder fertilizer. Widely used in all agricultural industries, poultry and horticulture. The task of this additive is to stabilize the acidity of the soil, to enrich the fertile ball of the upper layers.
Composition of dolomite flour
Dolomite fertilizer have been used since very ancient times. Our ancestors noticed that plants, where dolomite is present in the rock, actively grew and bore fruit.
And all why? The mineral has such useful components as calcium and magnesium. These trace elements contributed to the active vegetation of plants and a plentiful harvest.
Dolomite flour is a derivative of the mineral dolomite, belongs to the class of carbonates (CaCO3*MgCO3). The interruption of the rock can be different: from large grains to fine flour, almost powder.
Dolomite is directly enriched with calcium and magnesium, getting into the soil, these materials contribute to the activation of beneficial microorganisms. In addition, fertilizer inhibits the growth of weeds.
By appearance resembles glassy grains, has a metallic sheen. The color can be the most diverse: white, grayish, pale red or brown.
Main advantage dolomite limestone flour in that it is 100% produced by nature, and it does not need to be supplemented. Fertilizer is put on the same level with effective - environmental additives in interaction with nature and man.
The moderate content of calcium and magnesium in dolomite makes it possible not to accumulate in fertile soil. The carbonate form dissolves perfectly and evenly spreads in all soil layers.
Properties of dolomite flour
The unique content of Ca and Mg in the fertilizer stabilizes the acid level in the soil. This concept is called deoxidation with dolomite flour". More in simple words we can say that in the soil such conditions are established that are necessary for improved vegetation of plants.
Dolomite flour is endowed with the following advantages:
* Enriches and improves soil quality indicators;
* Creates special conditions in the layers for the development of microorganisms (beneficial);
* Systematic application dolomite flour in the garden promotes saturation and attraction of soil into the surface ball important elements: potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen;
* During the addition of other mineral fertilizers, it activates their effect and effectiveness;
* Improves growth cultivated plants, contributes to a significant harvest;
* Protects and releases plants from free radicals;
* Detrimental effect exclusively on harmful insects, destroying the chitinous layer of their cover; absolutely safe for other living beings. Calcium helps crops to actively grow and develop fully. Magnesium helps crops produce photosynthesis.
The use of dolomite flour
How to use dolomite flour? The scope of application is very diverse, this fertilizer is applied only once every 3-4 years. It is important to know that dolomite is not applied to those soils where the pH is neutral.
Suitable for open ground, greenhouses, greenhouses. Best Performance acidity neutralization with dolomite shows sandy and sandy loamy soils.
Approximate application rates for dolomite flour:
* for acidic soils (pH up to 4.5) apply 500-600 g per sq. m;
* for medium acidic soils (pH- 4.5-5.2) apply 450-500 g a sq. m;
* for slightly acidic soils (pH - 5.2-5.6) apply 350-450 g per sq. m.
The most convenient time for fertilizing is autumn. During the period of winter and spring, dolomite will be able to improve the acid level of the soil. It is important to equally spray the flour over the entire surface.
Excellent results gives the combination "dolomite flour + blue vitriol + boric acid". If you make this triad, then the acidity will be normal for 8 years.
Application dolomite flour in spring beneficial effect on vegetable crops(tomatoes, cabbage, eggplant, potatoes, bell pepper). Legumes, cucumbers, squash and greens are excellent for this mineral fertilizer.
Immediately after harvest, dolomite powder should be applied (August/September approx.). For fruit trees and bushes, the optimal time for fertilizing is September / October.
But these plants do not like dolomite flour: sorrel, cranberries, blueberries, gooseberries, they need too acidic soil. Some tips for using dolomite flour:
* Determine the exact indicators of soil acidity; if the pH value is greater than 6, then liming is not required;
* It is important to adhere to the exact dosage;
Structural composition soil plays a special role when making dolomite powder. For example, for lightweight soils, it is added one and a half times less than the norm. For heavy soils with clay or clay with earth, the indicator is increased by 10-15% more than the norm.
Where to buy dolomite flour? It can be purchased at the hozrynke, in the thematic department of any market or on the Internet. Packaging is different, depending on the target direction (bags, packages, by weight). bagdolomite flour enough to cultivate a hundred square meters of land (ideally one).
It is worth noting that top dressing is not only expedient to use, but also quite inexpensive. It is not necessary to make every year, it is enough to fertilize once every 5-6 years. Price of dolomite flour weighing 50 kg fluctuates in the range of 200 rubles.
There are no strict prohibitions on the time of introducing dolomite powder, the only thing that must be followed is a clear dosage. Know how much to apply in the garden, lawn, greenhouse, open soil.
If there are plans to introduce other mineral supplements, then dolomite flour must be applied after them. For beds for vegetables, dolomite is sprayed a week before planting seedlings.
What happens in the ground? Are destroyed harmful insects, their larvae; the growth of weeds is inhibited; diseases of the fungal segment do not spread.
In the role of top dressing mines, dolomite flour is especially needed in greenhouses. In addition to improving acidity, it inhibits the development of pathogenic bacteria and prevents the development of fungal infections. Fertilization is very important in the spring. The farmer does not have to worry about a full and healthy crop.
Whatever safe fertilizer is before buy dolomite flour, you will need to read the instructions. Soil liming is often attributed to dolomite.
Yes, calcium-bearing fertilizers do just that. But as far as dolomite flour is concerned, this is a bit different. Everything will depend on the plants that are planned to be grown.
Elemental compounds affect culture in different ways. An excess of Ca is always more detrimental than a deficiency. Calcium tends to accumulate and burden the plant.
Florists especially appreciate dolomite powder. Many houseplants do not respond well to acidic soil. If you immediately buy a universal soil and plant a plant, the pH will be stable.
Over time, the acidity will increase and it is necessary to normalize it. During this period, dolomite is added, the plant is practically transformed and actively developing. Dolomite powder is loved by wildly flowering indoor and greenhouse plants.
Receive high yields and chic flowering plants The right soil helps. To do this, you need to determine its composition. In this article we will tell you how you can do it yourself in a country house or in an apartment and change the structure of the soil.
Dolomite flour
A mineral with a crystalline structure is called dolomite. It has a glassy luster and can have a different color: brown, reddish, white, gray.
If this mineral is ground, then flour will be obtained, which contains calcium and magnesium.
Pros and cons for plants
When making flour into the ground, the plant has advantages:
- Gets food.
- It develops better.
- Helps the plant to fight pests.
- Harvest quality.
- The shelf life of fruits is increased.
- Radionuclides are neutralized.
- Participates in plant photosynthesis.
- Improving root system due to calcium in the soil.
- Increases the efficiency of applied fertilizers.
- The plant receives molybdenum, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus.
- Affordable price.
Flaws:
- Not suitable for all plants.
- An overdose is dangerous.
Application
- Dolomite flour is used in construction, gardening, floriculture, glass and sugar industries, and metallurgy.
- The product acts as a natural mineral fertilizer that does not require various additives.
- Agriculture uses flour in various fields. Since when it is introduced, acidity is normalized and the composition of the soil is improved with nutrients.
- If the soil is neutral, then flour should not be added, in this situation, it is used as effective remedy in pest control.
- Dolomite flour has been widely used as a fertilizer due to affordable price and expiration date, which has no limit.
Lime
Pros and cons for plants
Pros:
- Lime in the soil is a great helper in the fight against diseases, as it contains calcium, which increases the immunity of plants.
- Lime soil is a stimulant for the development and functioning of nodule bacteria. They, in turn, trap nitrogen in the ground, which comes from environment during weeding. This means that the root system gets a normal amount of nitrogen and useful substances are transferred to the whole plant.
- Carbon is perfectly distributed in plant tissues. Since this is facilitated by calcium, which helps to dissolve the elements in the water structure.
- When are created compost pits beneficial bacteria are active. This is facilitated by the calcium content in the lime. Organisms contribute to the release of nitrogen from organic matter with its subsequent mineralization. The formation of humus is also carried out due to calcium. In this case, it acts as an accelerator of the decomposition process of organic elements.
- Maintains a neutral pH in the soil. Since the toxicity of heavy metals is interrupted by lime.
- Soil structure changes and becomes lumpy, its flowability disappears.
Flaws:
- The disadvantage for plants is quicklime which is harmful to microorganisms in the ground.
- If you send it to damp ground, the extinguishing process will begin, hence its consequences.
- Inadmissibility of overdose.
Application
Lime normalizes soil acidity. It should be applied once every 5 years. With active operation, the procedure is done more often, after three years. You can determine the frequency of lime application by analyzing the soil. In this case, you can use an indicator, a special device, or set its acidity using grape juice and vinegar essence.
Applying lime to the soil If the soil is covered with horsetail, wormwood or green moss– this is the signal to apply lime without any determination of acidity.
Autumn is a good time for this.
Partial processing is carried out in the spring. That is, during this period of time it is necessary to make a small amount of lime. The procedure is done 7 days before planting seeds or seedlings.
The frequency of application of lime is influenced by the applied fertilizers. Let's say we use only mineral fertilizers, then in this case liming will be more frequent.
Again, if the applied fertilizers are natural, then they themselves regulate the neutrality of the soil, without additional liming.
Lime is used to treat tree trunks which is pest control. Usually gardeners do this in autumn and spring.
What's better?
There is no single answer when choosing dolomite flour or lime. But if we talk about the composition of calcium in products, then it is 8% less in lime. But it is he who improves the structure of the soil and forms the root system.
Next element magnesium. Part lime He Excluded, A in dolomite flour, its content reaches up to 40%. The full passage of plant photosynthesis is due to the magnesium content in chlorophyll.
Magnesium deficiency affects:
- On the development and slowing down the growth of shoots.
- There is a chance of contracting brown spotting and chlorosis.
- On premature leaf fall.
Gardeners, for example, start from a crop that will grow on soil. In their opinion, if potatoes are planted, it is better to use dolomite flour. Since the nightshade family loves magnesium, which helps fight scab. The causative agent of this disease is a radiant fungus. A favorable environment for it is soil rich in calcium.
How to determine the acidity of the soil?
Dolomite flour, in addition to providing nutrients for plants, helps to change the acidity of the soil, bringing it into line with the needs of plants. In the past, lime meal was used for this purpose, but dolomite, unlike lime, contains much more nutrients and is often used as an addition to balanced fertilizers.
Dolomite is a mineral containing calcium and magnesium. Dolomite flour is produced by grinding dolomite to a powder consistency. Hence the name of the fertilizer. The best dolomite mixes contain 8 to 12 percent magnesium and 18 to 22 percent calcium. These elements contribute to soil deoxidation and provide valuable plant nutrients. Dolomite may contain sodium, but it should only be 0.2 percent or less. A large amount of sodium can change the salinity of the soil, which will negatively affect the plants.
Dolomite flour is used to increase the pH of the soil (decrease in acidity), in agriculture and gardening. Thanks to the neutralization of acidity, plants can easily absorb nutrients. Dolomite also improves soil texture and helps convert other nutrients into usable forms for the following vegetables to assimilate:
- peas;
- beans;
- corn;
- cabbage;
- salad;
- spinach.
Dolomite is the best to use to reduce the acidity of the soil. For example, heavy rains can lower the pH, so applying this fertilizer is important aspect garden or yard maintenance.
Most plants are best suited for an acidity value between 6.0 and 7.4. If soil registers with a pH of 5.9 or lower, dolomite can help raise the pH to make the soil more suitable for plants. Some plants prefer acidic soils, so you need to check the needs of specific plants before adding dolomite. Some plants, especially vegetables big amount seeds inside, such as tomatoes, need additional calcium when they grow, and dolomite - great way provide this nutrient.
When the pH is too low, the essential nutrients that most plants need are not available to the plants.
How and when to use
Instructions for use of dolomite flour says that it can be pour on the ground at any time of the year when there is no frost, but it is better to apply in spring or autumn. To do this, select a day when rain is not predicted.
To deoxidize the soil, it is necessary to correctly determine the rate of dolomite. For example, if the soil has a pH of 5.5 and you need to raise it closer to 6.5, add 5 kilograms of dolomite at 30 square meters space.
How much fertilizer to add depends on the pH level. If you don't have soil test results, it's usually safe to apply 250 ml (1 cup) for every 15 square meters of soil.
Before adding flour, you need to prepare the soil. Remove weeds and other unwanted vegetation, as well as rocks and fallen branches.
put on protective gloves , a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and a mask. Scatter the dolomite over the surface of the earth using a rake to ensure even distribution.
Use a shovel to spread the dolomite into the top 15 centimeters of soil. After application, wait at least two weeks before planting seeds or seedlings.
Things you will need:
- soil test results;
- rake;
- gloves;
- shirt, dressing gown and trousers;
- shovel.
The powdery and caustic nature of dolomite makes it a potential irritant to the skin and lungs. When laying the material, wear a mask, gloves, gown and trousers.
Know the soil needs of the plants you plan to grow on garden plot. Some plants, including azaleas and blueberries, prefer high acidity.
Dolomite works as an antacid, buffering the soil and raising its pH while providing magnesium and calcium.
How to use dolomite flour in the garden? It should only be used when you have a soil test showing a magnesium deficiency. The test is the main way to find out if you need this fertilizer. Adding fertilizers that are not based on pH results does not make any sense.
Flour is scattered over the area, usually intended for planting vegetables, after which the earth is intensively loosened with a rake and a shovel. Observing the norm, it is possible to carry out the application once every 1-2 months.
The use of dolomite during planting is usually the most effective way use of the product, although the dosage depends on the existing pH of the soil type and the desired pH level. Gardeners can also use this fertilizer to prevent disease by spreading a light dust around fruit tree annually in spring or autumn.
Gardeners often ask themselves the question - dolomite flour or lime, which is better? Moreover, lime is cheaper and is an alternative to dolomite, having the same properties to reduce acidity.
Yes, the effect of lime on acidity is stronger than that of dolomite, but lime after application to initial stage prevents the absorption of nutrients by plants, especially phosphorus and nitrogen. Therefore, after the introduction of lime, the soil should stand for some time under the "pairs", that is, remain unsown. Dolomite can be replaced with limestone flour, but it should only be used in the off-season.
Attention, only TODAY!
