In gardening, biohumus is often used to improve the quality of growth of cultivated plants. What it is? How and when is fertilizer applied to the soil and why is it done? Gardeners, who are always wary of innovations, all these questions arise, because everyone wants to get a healthy crop. Biohumus is a 100% organic fertilizer without chemical additives. He is absolutely safe. After adding biohumus to the ground, a positive effect can be observed for several years. Tests conducted in a number of countries, including the USA and Russia, showed that this organic fertilizer is 10-15 times more effective than all known mixtures.
Biohumus - what is it?
Recently, the problem of soil depletion has been actively discussed. It is necessary to increase the fertility of the land without using chemical elements. One of the most effective solutions to the problem lies in the cultivation of earthworms. Organic fertilizers obtained as a result of their activity in different countries are called differently, but more often they use two options - vermicompost and vermicompost. In fact, this is a substrate obtained in the process of processing organic waste by worms.
What is its value? Like any organic fertilizer, vermicompost significantly improves the structure of the soil and its physical properties. It is unique in its composition: the biohumus contains a high content of water-soluble forms of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
The role of earthworms in the creation of vermicompost
The main role in the creation of vermicompost is assigned to all known ordinary earthworms. Each student knows about their influence on soil quality. Earthworms feed on residues of organic matter, such as leaf litter. They swarm around the clock in the thickness of the earth, passing it through their intestines. At the same time, a large amount of mucus is secreted, which sticks together small soil particles that do not erode in water. So, vermicompost - what is it? What does earthworms have to do with it ? The most direct. Their secretions are called coprolites - this is a unique organic fertilizer.
The extent of the worms' work can be judged by some facts. In an optimal environment and with a small number, they are able to pass up to 50 tons of soil through their intestines in an area of 1 hectare. At the same time, earthworms lay about a kilometer of moves in the soil thickness of only 1 m 2 , thereby ensuring good aeration.
The content of nutrients in vermicompost
Dry vermicompost is a fertilizer that is 10 times more effective than most known organic mixtures. It is completely safe and harmless to soils, so it can be used as an independent soil. Productivity on such soils increases by 30% or more. The dry matter value of biohumus is as follows:
- humus - from 25 to 35%;
- phosphorus - up to 2%;
- nitrogen - up to 2%;
- magnesium - 0.5%;
- potassium - 1.2%;
- calcium - up to 3%;
- humic and fulvic acids.
In addition, it is important to note that vermicompost does not contain toxic substances, mineral fertilizers and peat.
What is biohumus used for?
Biohumus - what is it and how is it applied? These are the first questions that arise in the head of every gardener. The composition of this fertilizer is quite clear, but what is it used for? It exceeds the quality of composts and manure by 4-6 times. At the same time, biohumus is enriched with enzymes, soil antibiotics, vitamins, and growth hormones. Its duration is more than 5 years. Unlike the same manure, this fertilizer is not inert - the plants react to its components immediately, and the growing season in garden crops is reduced by 1-2 weeks.
Biohumus: application in the garden
Biohumus is used during digging soils. Up to approximately 300 ml of dry matter is added to each well. This is approximately 1.5 cups for each planted plant. After making it mix well with the soil. Especially effective is the use of vermicompost when planting potatoes.
When sowing vegetable seeds and garden flowers, you can use a slightly larger amount of fertilizer, approximately 400 ml. This will improve germination, seedlings will be stronger, more ovaries. As a result, a significant increase in yield. Biohumus is also used when planting fruit trees and bushes. About 3 l of fertilizer is added to the planting pits for apple, plum and pear. But for shrubs, such as raspberries, currants, gooseberries, 1.5 liters is quite enough. After the application of biohumus, it must be thoroughly mixed with the soil. Further, fertilizers are applied under the plant once every two weeks until the flowering period. Trees and shrubs are watered with liquid vermicompost in autumn to prepare for the winter period.
The use of water extract of vermicompost
In gardening, in addition to dry, liquid vermicompost is also used. This highly effective remedy is recommended to be used from early spring to the end of June, when the plant has not yet entered the fruiting phase. Some use the solution after harvesting. They are fed fruit trees and shrubs in the fall, when they are prepared for winter.
To prepare an aqueous solution of vermicompost, it is necessary to use 1 liter of concentrated substance per 10 liters of water. The infusion should stand in the heat for at least four hours, during which it is periodically stirred. Ready solution is watered with beds of seedlings. Consumption rates are as follows: no more than 10 liters per 1 m 2 . It is necessary to take into account the age and phase of plant growth. Top dressing in early spring, during the active growth of the culture, must be carried out once every 15 days. It is stopped during the ovary, after flowering.
Biohumus for indoor plants
Biohumus is also used to feed indoor plants. This fertilizer is recommended to be applied once every two to three months. Just 2 teaspoons is enough. For large pots mix 200 g per 1 kg of land, but not more.
In fact, for feeding indoor plants, it is better to use not a dry substance, but an aqueous solution, which is often called "vermicompost tea." It is prepared as follows. One glass of vermicompost is poured into a five-liter bucket of cool water. All mix well and let stand warm for one day. The resulting solution of “tea” will contain all the components of biohumus: phytohormones, vitamins, fulvates, humates, etc. This will positively affect the growth rate and duration of flowering of the plant. In addition to all of the above, an aqueous solution of vermicompost perfectly helps to increase the quality of seed germination.