Every gardener knows that growing a rich and healthy crop without the use of numerous drugs is almost impossible. The blame for the disease and harmful insects that threaten plants at almost any stage of growth. Today, the shelves of hardware stores and markets are littered with a wide assortment of various drugs that help in the fight against diseases and pests. But how to choose a drug that combines high quality and reasonable price? Today we will tell you about one such affordable tool that has been tested for years. It will be about the use of iron sulfate for the preventive treatment and treatment of plants.
Composition and properties
The formula of iron sulfate is nothing but iron sulfate. It is also called iron sulfate. The process of obtaining this salt consists in the interaction of sulfuric acid with ferrous iron. At room temperature, this substance looks like medium-sized crystals of turquoise or green. The content of active substances in these crystals is about 53 percent. Most often it can be found in the form of packages weighing 200 or 250 grams. Iron sulfate is an effective antiseptic fungicidal agent that helps to cope with various diseases of a fungal nature. And also this drug is an excellent source of iron that can be used as fertilizer. Recognizing the lack of iron in a plant is quite simple - by prematurely dying and yellowing shoots.
It is imperative to distinguish between copper sulfate and iron sulfate. Iron sulfate is not involved in the preparation of Bordeaux liquid, and they are also unacceptable to spray tomatoes and potatoes.
Indications for use
The most active periods of development of various diseases are considered spring and autumn. Iron sulfate is one of the best solutions in the fight against developing diseases, which will not hit your budget hard. But it is worth remembering a rather high level of acidity of this drug, which causes chemical burns on young leaves.
Iron sulfate in gardening is used for such purposes:
- Preventive treatment of the walls of basements intended for storage of crops.
- Healing wounds and processing shoots after pruning.
- Spraying fruit and berry crops from the development of moss, lichen.
- Preventive and therapeutic spraying of grapes.
- The fight against harmful insects.
- The fight against powdery mildew, anthracnose and rot.
Iron sulfate is used not only for processing plants, but also with the goal of eliminating the unpleasant odor in garden and country toilets located on the street. To do this, prepare a solution of 10 liters of water and 500 grams of iron sulfate, which process the toilet and the surrounding area.
Features of use
When processing young seedlings, it should be understood that their bark is thinner than in adults. Therefore, they need to be processed only once - in the spring. Older trees and shrubs are treated twice - in autumn and spring.
An important feature of the use of iron sulfate is its combination with other garden preparations. For example, iron sulfate must not be mixed with organic phosphorus containing insecticides. Fufanon and other products of this kind dissolve in an alkaline environment, and therefore, the high acidity of vitriol will be detrimental to them. Another prohibited combination is considered to be a mixture of iron sulfate and lime.
Fungal Disease Control
The main reason for the development of fungal diseases in both autumn and spring is considered to be the remains of old leaves and fallen branches on the soil surface around trees. Therefore, during spring cultivation, not only the tree itself should be sprayed, but also the area around it. But in the fall, a much more effective method of struggle will be the collection and burning of fallen leaves and branches. After this, the near-trunk territory is dug up and the tree is sprayed with iron sulfate. If the plant is affected by fungal infections, it should be treated with a solution of iron sulfate prepared in the calculation of not more than 30 grams of iron sulfate per 10 liters of water. Spraying with such a composition is performed twice or thrice, with a break of 7-8 days between each treatment.
Spraying against chlorosis and lichens
With insufficient plant fertilizer or iron deficiency, it can be exposed to chlorosis. To combat this ailment, you should use a solution in the following concentration: dissolve 50 grams of iron sulphate in 10 liters of water, mix thoroughly until the crystals are completely dissolved and begin to spray the plant. This treatment is carried out every 3-5 days until their healthy appearance returns to the leaves, with a clean surface and a green tint. For preventive spraying, the concentration of the solution must be reduced at least five times.
Very often, old trees are affected by mosses and lichens. Ferrous sulfate will also help get rid of these diseases. To do this, dilute 300 grams of iron sulphate in 10 liters of water - this dosage is suitable for spraying fruit trees. Pome trees are treated with a more concentrated product - 500 grams of the drug per 10 liters of water.
Berry crop disinfection and spraying
A weak solution of iron sulfate (100 grams per 10 liters of water) can handle various injuries, wounds and cuts of shoots after trimming. This drug is able to disinfect damaged areas of the plant, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
To protect berry crops, such as raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries and currants, a 3% solution of the drug is enough. To prepare it, dilute 300 grams of iron sulfate in 10 liters of water and spray them with plants before the start of the vegetative period.
Iron sulfate and grapes
Iron sulfate is used to protect grapes, but taking into account a certain feature - it slows down the process of budding of kidneys for 7-8 days. But this feature can be turned into an advantage. The delayed development of the kidneys after treatment with iron sulfate in a solution concentration of 3-4% helps the culture survive the spring frosts and temperature changes. Therefore, it is optimal to carry out processing one week after removing the winter shelter.
Recommended concentrations of iron sulfate solution for grapes:
- spring treatment after removal of the shelter - from 0.5 to 1%;
- the destruction of pests (mildew, oidium, grape pillow) - 4-5%;
- treatment against moss and lichen - from 3 to 5%;
- the fight against chlorosis - 0.05%;
- processing in the fall, before shelter for winter time - from 3 to 5%.
Interesting recipe
If a fungal disease affects the plant during the period of active growth of greenery, then using a pure solution of vitriol will not work. But there is a recipe for an effective substance that will not only cure your plant, but also will not cause damage to it with its effect.
To prepare such a solution you will need: 10 liters of water, 50 grams of vitriol, 30 grams of urea and 20 grams of lime (always slaked). Such a composition in diluted form must be stored for no more than a day. Trees of apple, plum and cherry should be sprayed at the stage of bud budding, strawberries and strawberries - in the process of development of young herbs, and tomatoes and potatoes are sprayed with this solution in the phase of active vegetation.
The advantage of this mixture is its lower acidity, which does not burn the plant. Minimal toxicity along with enriched mineral and organic compounds allows you to enhance the action of the components in combination with each other. A better adhesion to the surface of the plant provides longer protection against harmful influences. After spraying with this composition, the plant allows you to get a rich and healthy crop.
Precautionary measures
Iron sulfate is a rather dangerous chemical substance, therefore, when working with it, it is important to follow certain precautions to avoid harm to both humans and plants.
The basic rule of use of the drug is compliance with the concentrations used. The high content of iron sulfate in the solution is permissible to use only in the autumn, after the leaves fall, or before the start of the vegetative period. If there is an urgent need for treatment with the drug during the period of active vegetation, then it is worth reducing the concentration of iron sulfate to 1%.
Dilution of the drug should be carried out in containers made of glass or plastic only. Be sure to wear gloves to avoid contact of iron sulfate with skin and mucous membranes. In general, the toxicity and danger of copper sulfate is much higher than iron sulfate, but this does not preclude the observance of all precautions.
Finally
Today we introduced you to such a simple, inexpensive and incredibly effective multifunctional product like iron sulfate. Observe precautions when working with this chemical and you will surely get a healthy and plentiful crop, which even the most severe diseases and pests can not damage.