How to use ammonia for watering onions

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In pursuit of a good harvest, gardeners use a variety of fertilizers. The immediate leader among all of them is ammonia for onions. It contributes to the enrichment of plants with nitrogen and aids in pest control. It is important to learn how to properly prepare solutions and watering, otherwise ammonia can harm the crop.

Ammonia for onions

When it comes to fertilizing a crop, most often it is not ammonia itself (a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen) that is meant, but its combination with water. Ammonia water for onions and ammonium nitrate are popular among gardeners. Both of these compounds contain a large amount of nitrogen, which has a beneficial effect on the development and growth of plants, and fertilizes them. At the same time, it is important to observe safety precautions, because ammonia itself is a poisonous substance that can poison both the soil for growing onions and its owner. If we talk about ammonium nitrate, then a dangerous factor is fast and easy flammability. It is worth dwelling in more detail on the advantages and disadvantages of both types of fertilizers.

Pros and cons of ammonia water for onions

The positive qualities of ammonia water include the fact that it:

• perfectly absorbed into the ground and does not wash out as quickly as solid fertilizers with nitrogen content;
• less increases the acid level of the soil in comparison with other nitrogen-containing fertilizers, due to the fact that the ammonia concentration is lower in the ammonia water;
• effective in the fight against onion flies and other pests that affect onions.

Like any other fertilizer, ammonia water for onions also has a number of its disadvantages, including:

• the need to prepare a solution, because even in ammonia water the concentration of ammonia is too high;
• the need for premature fertilization of the soil (for spring planting, autumn, etc.) or watering in a too diluted version.

Knowing the positive and negative aspects of using such a fertilizer, you should decide for yourself whether to use ammonia water for watering onions. Of course, the results of such care are pleasing: high crop yield and protection from pests, but at the same time, such care requires a lot of time and the utmost attention of the owner.

If you incorrectly calculate the proportions of ammonia, you can harm the plant. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the soil, poisoned by the wrong fertilization method, may become unsuitable for growing vegetables the next year.

Pros and cons of ammonium nitrate for onions

In addition to ammonia water, the soil can be treated with ammonium nitrate. The main advantages of this type of fertilizer:

• fast assimilation by plants;
• low cost per area (because ammonium nitrate is used only in small quantities and with a long interval);
• effectiveness in the fight against pests and active nutrition of plants with nitrogen.

And again about the disadvantages:

• the need for strict adherence to storage rules in order to avoid fire (saltpeter is used in the production of gunpowder and can ignite spontaneously at temperatures above 30 ° C);
• there is a high probability for an inexperienced gardener to buy an unsuitable, porous saltpeter, which is applicable only in the arms business.

Another subtlety: you cannot postpone the processing process: the earlier you start, the better the harvest will be. In the processing of onions, an important aspect is that it is necessary to stop the introduction of ammonia water after the first decade, so that all growth does not go into feathers.

If the purpose of growing is feathers, you can continue watering with ammonia water throughout the entire growing period. If the purpose of growing is to obtain seeds, then watering can be carried out every 3-4 days, while not forgetting about the correct proportions of the solution.

The benefits of watering the crop with ammonia

It is not ammonia that is useful for plants, but the nitrogen it contains. During the ripening of the fruit, nitrogen moves to the area of ​​formation of new cells, that is, all other parts of the plant are depleted in nitrogen. Feeding them at times like these is an important part of gardening. In addition, watering onions with an ammonia solution has a beneficial effect not only on the bulbs themselves, but also on the soil. Signs that the plant lacks nitrogenous fertilizers are as follows:

• sluggish leaves;
• the color of the leaves is dull light green, yellowish;
• the fruits fall, and the protein content in the seeds is negligible;
• the plant is delayed in development.

In addition to onions or garlic, you can water any other garden crop with ammonia, but first you need to study additional literature in order to know what proportions you need to make. We remember that improper use of such fertilizer may not benefit the crop, but harm.

Ammonia water is used as an irrigation agent for tomato seedlings, it is also used as a remedy for pests when growing cabbage, bell peppers and squash. For a climbing culture, a number of preliminary manipulations are required to avoid getting the solution on the leafy part and on the ovary.

Processing of onions and garlic with ammonia: proportions

Recall that we are talking about two main types of nitrogen-containing fertilizers: ammonia water and ammonium nitrate. Although they are similar to each other, there are significant differences in the methods of their introduction and preparation of solutions, so you need to master the basics of using each of these types of fertilizers.

Let's start with ammonia water. It is prepared by mixing ammonia with water. It can only be applied deeper than 10 cm, because, being on the surface, toxic ammonia vapors can easily interact not only with the garden, but also with a person, causing significant harm to him.

The preparation of the watering solution says: you need to take 2 tbsp for a ten-liter bucket of water. l. ammonia (concentration - 10%). If you take a large concentration of ammonia, then watering the soil with such a solution will be harmful, not useful.

Application in practice: watering onions with ammonia must be done in the following quantities: 1 bucket with the resulting solution should fall on 2 m beds. After completing the application of nitrogen-containing fertilizer, you can water the garden again with ordinary clean water: this way the soil will better absorb ammonia, as a result of which the plants will receive more nutrients.

Next on our list is ammonium nitrate. It should be applied in the fall if planting is planned for the spring, or in the spring if the planting of winter varieties is planned. Watering onions with ammonium nitrate is not only useful, but also beneficial, because 1 sq. m of the garden requires only 15 g.

Application in practice: it is required to carry out a full fertilization of the soil in the fall, before the onset of cold weather (not suitable for winter crops), and in the spring - only to feed the soil with saltpeter before planting.To do this, you need to make grooves of 3 cm on the prepared beds and apply fertilizer there, and after 15-20 you can pour water so that the interaction of the earth with saltpeter increases and the absorption is better.

Ammonia for onions as a remedy against pests

Watering onions with saltpeter or ammonia water helps not only improve the quality of the crop, but also scare off various pests like onion flies. This can be done using the ammonia water we are already familiar with.

1. Preparation: 3 tbsp. l. dilute traditional ammonia in a ten-liter bucket of water. It is important to remember that the liquid should not be cold, but warm, otherwise ammonia will not dissolve well.
2. Application in practice: spray the onion with the resulting solution. One such bucket should be enough for 3-5 m of beds.

It all depends on how tightly the onion is planted. You can also water the soil with this solution, and then loosen it thoroughly, but do not fill it with water. The processing of onions with an ammonia solution should take place in the evening, when the sun is no longer so active and all the liquid that falls on the shoots remains on them and is gradually absorbed, and does not instantly evaporate.

Any onion fertilization with nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be carried out no more than once every 10 days. More often, cultivation can lead to peroxidation of the soil, and in onions - to the development of the feather, and not the bulbs themselves.

Precautions for handling ammonia

Every person from the school chemistry course knows that ammonia is not a good joke. But this substance is useful if you skillfully use it and do not forget about compliance with safety standards and rules. We want to remind you of them:

• interact (prepare solutions and feed) with ammonia only while wearing rubber gloves, a special breathing mask and long-sleeved clothing (shirt or jacket, pants);
• do not allow the substance to come into contact with the skin, eyes or respiratory tract, and in case of contact, immediately rinse the mucous membranes or skin;
• if a person has hypervascular dystonia, work with pharmaceutical preparations and ammonia solution is contraindicated for him: this is fraught with consequences, including the onset of a hypertensive crisis;
• it is not recommended to mix ammonia with other active substances, for example, with chlorine bleach: as a result, oxidation and poisoning of the soil will be mutilated and instead of a good harvest, the gardener will receive unsuitable soil and spoiled onions;
• it is necessary to store ammonia (a solution with ammonia water) in closed rooms, into which children or animals cannot get, since the vapors of this substance cause poisoning of the body, asthma attacks, vomiting and heart failure.

By following these simple safety rules, the chance that something will go wrong is minimal. The main thing is to remember the proportions and carry out the procedure slowly, at the right time of day, according to the rules, and not allowing children to do this.

Do not forget that in the first days after applying this method of fertilization, it is not recommended to weed and water the crop. The plant these days is extremely vulnerable and should not be disturbed until the fertilizer is absorbed into the soil.

Conclusion

Substances that are used for treating onions with ammonia are ammonia water and ammonium nitrate. The first can also be used to combat various kinds of pests, and it will be useful to fertilize the beds with saltpeter before planting onions directly.

Using such methods of applying nitrogen-containing fertilizers, it will be useful to get acquainted with other types.

In specialized stores, ready-made fertilizers containing nitrogen are sold, but the price of one such jar sometimes exceeds the cost of ammonia, which must be diluted to process the entire site. If the choice is still made in the direction of ammonia solutions, then the first rule is to observe fire safety, because ammonia (especially saltpeter) is used in arms and industry.

After reading all this information, even a beginner will simply fertilize their beds with ammonia. After that, it remains to reap the fruits of labor and prepare for storing onions and garlic for the winter. We wish you a good day and a rich harvest!