For quick and proper development, garden and horticultural crops require various kinds of micro and macro elements. In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, plants must receive from the soil and magnesium. It is impossible to achieve a good yield without the use of fertilizers containing this substance. Most often, its lack of soil is compensated by the introduction of fertilizers such as magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).
Role in plant formation
With a lack of magnesium in the soil of garden, garden and crops, the formation of chlorophyll slows down. That is, without this macroelement in plant tissues, the processes of photosynthesis simply stop. In addition, magnesium:
- stimulates the absorption of phosphorus by plants;
- activates more than 300 enzymes in tissue tissues.
With a sufficient amount of magnesium in the soil, plants accumulate the proteins they need much faster. And therefore, they begin to actively divide cells. Also, this macrocell stimulates the formation of pectin substances in tissues and improves the palatability of fruits.
What is MgSO4?
It is possible to replenish the reserves of this substance in the soil using various fertilizers (ammoshenite, vermiculite, dunite flour, etc.). However, the most common top dressing of this group is still magnesium sulfate, the price of which is very low. This substance is a pure white, water-soluble crystals with a specific taste. In another way, magnesium sulfate is also called bitter salt. In addition to agriculture, it is used in medicine, food and heavy industry.
Magnesium sulfate is obtained by the interaction of the following substances:
- sulfuric acid ;
- magnesium oxide, carbonate and hydroxide.
Sometimes it is also isolated from sea water or from the minerals of kieserite or epsomite.
Use as fertilizer
Magnesium sulfate is a fast-acting fertilizer, and therefore it is mainly used in intensive farming for growing grain and other major crops. In most cases, it is recommended to use it on neutral and slightly acidic soils. It is on such soils that plants most often experience a lack of magnesium.
In addition, MgSO4 is used:
- in greenhouses ;
- in open-field vegetable growing;
- in intense meadows.
You can use this fertilizer for both root and leaf dressings.
Use for vegetables
In gardens and orchards, magnesium sulfate 7-water (MgSO4 x 7H2O) is usually used as top dressing. Garden plants such as potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes react most acutely to the shortage of this macroelement. For fertilizing vegetable crops, this fertilizer is best used in the spring at the same time as nitrogen and phosphorus products. When preparing the soil in April, you should make:
- for seedlings of tomatoes and cucumbers - 7-10 g / m 2 fertilizer;
- for other crops - 12-15 g / m 2 .
Magnesium sulfate for pelargoniums, marigolds, daisies and other decorative herbaceous garden crops is used in the same amount as for vegetable.
With a lack of this macrocell in the soil, top dressing should also be done throughout the season. Usually, soil under plants is fertilized with MgSO4 x 7H2O once every three weeks. For root top dressing, magnesium sulfate is diluted at the rate of 25 g per 10 l of water, and for leaf - 15 g per 10 l. The flow rate of the solution for vegetable and flower crops should be approximately 1-1.5 liters per square meter.
Application for garden shrubs
Under raspberries, currants, gooseberries, spray roses, mock lilies, lilacs, etc., magnesium sulfate is also desirable for the first time in spring. At the same time, about 30 g of the agent should be used per square meter of the trunk circle. During the season, foliar top dressing is usually carried out for shrubs. Spray the plants with a solution of 15 g of magnesium sulfate and 10 l of water. The flow of funds should be 1.5-2 l / m 2 .
Magnesium sulfate: application for fruit trees
Apple trees, plums, pears and apricots are fertilized with magnesium sulfate in April in the amount of 30-35 g per square meter of the trunk circle. During the season, low fruit trees, like shrubs, are fed by spraying the crown. Old apple trees and pears are more convenient, of course, to fertilize under the root. In the first case, top dressing is applied at the rate of 2-3 liters per tree, in the second - 5-10 liters. Actually, the solution itself is prepared in a proportion of 15-25 g of the product per 10 liters of water.
Supportive Feeding
The looser the soil on the site and the lower its pH, the lower the amount of magnesium it contains. Thus, primarily sandy and sandy loamy sod-podzolic soils are poor in this macroelement . Owners of sites with such land should definitely use magnesium sulfate in the fall as an additional top dressing. At this time of year, fertilizer is applied for digging at the rate of 50-100 g per square meter.
In order to know exactly what exactly the amount of magnesium sulfate is needed in this particular area, you can order a soil composition test in a specialized laboratory.
How to determine the lack of magnesium in the soil
Laboratory studies help to accurately determine the right amount of fertilizer, including such as magnesium sulfate. However, they are expensive these days. Therefore, many summer residents prefer to determine the lack of a substance in the soil according to the state of the crops themselves.
The lack of magnesium during the cultivation of garden and garden plants is manifested primarily in the negative changes in the state of leaf blades. To add MgSO4 to the soil is necessary if:
- the tissues on the edges and near the veins of the leaves of the cultures acquired a yellow, red or purple color;
- the plates wrinkle strongly and become domed due to the bending of the tips upward.
It often happens that some leaves on plants even die off due to a lack of MgSO4. Signs of magnesium starvation appear in garden and horticultural crops always begin from below. The topmost leaves change their color last. In cabbage, a lack of magnesium causes marbling of tissues.
In addition to negative changes in the condition of the leaves, the lack of this substance in the soil can lead to poor development of the fruit and, as a result, to a decrease in yield.
How much is magnesium sulfate
This top dressing gained its widespread use not only because of the effectiveness and speed of action. The very low cost also explains the popularity of fertilizers such as magnesium sulfate. The price of the MgSO4 x 7H2O variant ranges from only 100-120 rubles. per standard package (1 kg). Ordinary magnesium sulfate costs 40-50 rubles / kg, depending on the manufacturer and supplier.