Dolomite flour and ash. What is better to add to the soil – lime or dolomite flour?

Today, summer residents have a large selection of fertilizers that are rich in microelements and make it easier to fight weeds and pests. Dolomite flour is in deserved demand as an effective limestone agent for reducing soil acidity in gardens, which is often applied in the fall. Economical consumption, low price, environmental friendliness are the main advantages due to which the use of dolomite flour is very popular among gardeners and gardeners.

What is dolomite flour

Dolomite or dolomite bait is a fertilizer in powder form made from dolomite, a carbonate class mineral. A product of natural origin saturates the soil with useful substances and microelements, normalizing its acidity, improving the structure of the fertile soil layer. The mineral has a light shiny color from white to gray, rarely reddish in color. Fertilizer is obtained by crushing dolomite rock into small fractions.

Compound

Mineral formula: CaCO3 MgCO3. This excellent fertilizer is rich in magnesium and calcium and does not require additional additives; it is used in its natural form after grinding to a powder state. The active composition of dolomite flour is, first of all, calcium: a component that is necessary to replenish the soil in case of increased acidity of the soil and deterioration of its quality. The carbonate form of calcium and magnesium prevents their accumulation in fruits and vegetables in excess.

What is it for?

Adding a mineral allows you to maintain required level hydrogen and calcium in the soil. Deoxidation of the soil with dolomite flour is the main task of its use, but in addition to neutralizing acidity, the soil with fertilizer receives useful substances for plants, weeds are reduced in the area, beneficial microorganisms (worms) are activated. Magnesium has a positive effect on the course of photosynthesis, and calcium-rich soils promote rapid growth and good development of above-ground parts and roots of plants.

Using dolomite flour in the garden

The fertilizer is useful for vegetable crops (yields of potatoes, beets, onions, tomatoes, carrots), herbaceous plants(buckwheat, clover), fruits and berries (plum, cherry). Good result is achieved both by adding flour throughout the entire site and into beds in greenhouses and greenhouses on sandy loam soils and with low level magnesium When the soil is neutrally acidic, dolomite fertilizer is not recommended to be used, as the natural soil balance will be disrupted.

As a result chemical properties dolomites:

• are improving biological properties soil;
• the content of useful microelements, macroelements, and minerals increases;
• the effect of other fertilizers increases;
• productivity increases;
• the quality of products improves;
• radionuclides are removed.

Dolomite flour or lime, which is better?

To deoxidize the soil, lime fertilizers are often used, which are considered stronger for normalizing the level of soil acidity due to the form of calcium hydroxide, which enhances the possibility of neutralization. However, limestone flour has its disadvantages. Immediately after its application, the necessary substances phosphorus and nitrogen are not absorbed, so the soil needs a break for planting. Lime flour is added in the off-season to ensure a good time interval before planting. Dolomite, which also contains magnesium, can be used to fertilize the soil at any time.

Instructions for using dolomite flour

Before you start using fertilizer, you need to know exactly the soil acidity of the soil, otherwise you can harm the plants, even destroy them. Instructions on how to apply dolomite fertilizer per one hundred square meters of area, depending on acidity, provide the following dose of lime fertilizer:

• for acidic soils with a pH less than 4.5, 500-600 g will be required;
• for moderately acidic soils with pH from 4.5 to 5.2 - about 450-500 g;
• for slightly acidic soil with a pH from 5.2 to 5.7 – 350-450 g.

For stone fruits fruit trees Every year after harvesting, mineral fertilizers from dolomite are applied - 1 kg or 2 kg per tree. 0.5 - 1 kg of the substance is applied under the currant bush. Under vegetable crops application is carried out before planting vegetables, and for potatoes and tomatoes - in advance. Dolomite is not used for sorrel, gooseberries, and blueberries.

When to sprinkle

Dolomite fertilizers are used at any time. Before you start using them, it is better to clarify when to pour dolomite flour in the garden. In the area where it is planned to grow vegetables, flour is scattered in the spring in advance, 2 weeks before planting. In addition to improving the structure of the soil, dolomite sanitizes it and prevents the occurrence of plant diseases. This sanitary function is relevant in the spring, especially for greenhouse crops. In autumn, fertilizing is used for processing fruit and berry trees and bushes.

How to deposit

To get the most out of using the product, you need to figure out how to add dolomite flour:

1. The product cannot be mixed with superphosphate and ammonia fertilizers or urea.
2. The flour should be distributed evenly over the area, mixed thoroughly with the soil and loosened by 10-15 cm, for trees and shrubs - along the edge of the circle near the trunk, deepening into the ground.
3. Dolomite is added to clay soils annually.
4. A dose of manure and compost should be applied not together with the fertilizer, but after it has been applied, and then dig everything up.
5. The increase in the efficiency of liming dolomite bait is influenced by the simultaneous use boric acid and copper fertilizers.
6. For flowers, dolomite fertilizer is applied to the hole.

Dolomite flour is the name given to crushed dolomite, a rock chemical formula which looks like CaMg(CO2). This effective remedy to reduce the level of soil acidity, the main advantages of which include, first of all, affordable price and environmental friendliness. It is precisely because of this that the fertilizer described in the article is very popular among owners of suburban areas.

Features and advantages over other means

The use of dolomite flour is a convenient way to reduce soil acidity. The substance is a crystalline mineral with a light color (gray or white, less often reddish) and a characteristic shine.

A feature that favorably distinguishes dolomite chips from other means of similar action is not only lower cost, but much lower consumption. Moreover, slaked lime, for example, which contains a hydroxo group and calcium ion, reduces the acidity of the soil too sharply, as a result of which plants, unable to get used to such conditions, begin to absorb phosphorus extremely slowly. That is why lime is applied exclusively in the fall after harvesting - in this case, the soil will still have enough time to find a chemical balance for the new gardening season.

Another powerful acid reducer is wood ash. The concentration of calcium salts in it - the main active ingredient - ranges from 30-60%, but the difficulty is that it is not possible to determine the exact composition. The concentration of calcium salts depends, first of all, on the rock from which the ash was produced, on which parts of the plants were used (branches, trunk, etc.), as well as on the characteristics of the soil and climate conditions in the region. where did these trees grow? On your own, without resorting to chemical analysis, it is impossible to accurately determine the required amount of ash, which means people act at random. By the way, ash is usually used for seedlings and flowerpots, because it contains a lot of phosphorus and potassium.

Note! The volume of ash or lime should be approximately twice that of dolomite flour, assuming the same area.

How dolomite affects the soil

The described fertilizer, as noted above, contains a large percentage of calcium. If the soil is used for a long time fruit plants, then over time its chemical characteristics deteriorate, which means that the lost elements must be somehow replenished. The use of dolomite flour makes it possible to artificially maintain the required concentration of hydrogen and calcium ions.

Penetrating into the soil, this fertilizer not only normalizes its acidity, but also enriches it with microelements necessary for plants. But when and how should you apply fertilizer? One of the differences between the mineral is its versatility: not only can the plot be fertilized almost all year round, but flour also increases the yield of all crops: vegetables, fruits and grains. Finally, the effectiveness of the fertilizer is equally high in the garden, in the greenhouse and even in the house (if we are talking about indoor plants).

But the product is especially effective on:

• sandy loam soil;
• soil with a low concentration of magnesium.

As for soil with a neutral pH level, it is better not to use flour here, as this can disrupt the natural chemical balance.

Fertilizer applied to the soil has the following effects:

• improves its biological characteristics;
• improves plant photosynthesis;
• increases the concentration of various minerals and trace elements that plants need;
• helps produce environmentally friendly products;
• increases the effectiveness of other agents applied to the soil;
• improves productivity;
• improves the quality of crop nutrition;
• finally, due to the presence of calcium in its composition, flour activates the development of both above-ground and underground parts (rhizomes).

Note! Besides all this, dolomite flour is excellent remedy from harmful insects, while being absolutely non-toxic. Small particles of the product act as an irritating abrasive that destroys the chitinous shells of insects.

Video - Soil deoxidation using dolomite flour

Methods for determining acidity

In order to determine the required amount of fertilizer, you must first find out what the mechanical composition of the soil is (for example, clay or sandy) and its acidity level. Typically, one-time tests or other tests are used for this. special devices(for example, soil analyzer KS-300V), which are sold in all gardening stores.

Acidity is expressed in pH, it is designated by numbers from 0 to 14 and can be:

• weak (more than 7);
• neutral (pH equals 7);
• high (less than 7).

By the way, you can determine the acidity of the soil using improvised means.

Determining soil acidity using improvised means

Method number 1. You need to pour a small amount of table vinegar onto a handful of soil.

If the result is a violent reaction with the formation of foam, then the earth is either neutral or non-acidic.

The absence of a reaction (the vinegar is simply absorbed into the soil) indicates that the acidity is increased.

Method No. 2. Place a lump of earth into a glass of grape juice.

If the color of the contents changes and bubbles form on the surface, then the soil is either neutral or slightly acidic.

Method No. 3. Weeds will not grow in soil that is not suitable for their acidity level. That is why they can be used as a kind of indicators indicating the pH level.

Coltsfoot, clover and wheatgrass grow in weakly acidic soil.

On soil with neutral acidity - nettle, quinoa.

If the acidity is high, then plantain and woodlice will grow on the site.

Note! The effectiveness of the fertilizer will increase noticeably if boric acid is added along with it in combination with copper sulfate.

Another useful video material that can help in determining the properties of the soil before the deoxidation procedure.

Video - Folk methods for determining pH levels

How to use dolomite flour in the garden

The specific proportions of the mineral depend on the acidity level. So, approximately 0.6 kg/m2 should be added to acidic soil, if it is slightly acidic, then no more than 0.35 kg/m2, and if neutral, then a maximum of 0.5 kg/m2. If the soil on the site is sandy, then the amount of flour should be reduced by one and a half times, and if it is clayey, it should be increased by about 15%.

Note! The effectiveness of fertilizer can be increased by distributing it as evenly as possible. If you scatter the flour correctly, then the benefits from it will last for about eight to ten years.

Do not forget that plants react differently to the application of the product. In this regard, cultures can be divided into several groups.

Table. Groups of plants according to sensitivity to acidity

When to fertilize?

As noted above, the fertilizer described can be used regardless of the time of year, since it does not in any way affect the composition of the soil or the intensity of absorption of other useful substances. But in most cases, flour is scattered before using other fertilizers, since it does not interact organically with all of them.

If vegetables are grown on the site, dolomite flour is scattered in the spring, two to three weeks before planting. This product not only nourishes, but also sanitizes the soil, which is especially important, for example, for potatoes, which are susceptible to various diseases, whose development dolomite can stop. In addition, it is important for potatoes that the fertilizer fights pests. As for fertilizing crops closed type, then adding the mineral in the greenhouse will prevent the spread of fungi.

In autumn, it is recommended to fertilize the soil under fruit bushes and trees. Here, for each tree you need to apply about 2 kg of fertilizer (along the edge, with a slight depth), and for shrubs - from 0.5 kg to 1 kg (it all depends on the size) according to a similar scheme.

1. Dolomite should not be mixed with superphosphate, urea or ammonium nitrate, otherwise a dangerous reaction may begin.
2. Clay soil should be fertilized annually.
3. Gooseberries or sorrel cannot be fertilized with flour.

   
   

4. The fertilizer should be distributed as evenly as possible, thoroughly mixing with the soil and loosening it to a depth of about 15 cm (with the exception of shrubs and trees).
5. In spring, vegetables can be periodically watered with dolomite “milk” (mineral diluted with water).
6. Manure is also good for the soil, but mixing it with flour is prohibited. First you need to spread fertilizer, then manure, and only after that the area can be dug up.

   

7. The harvest of turnips and cabbage will improve if flour is added directly at the time of planting.
8. Plums and cherries need to be fertilized every year after harvesting the fruits (the dosage is described above). This way the fruits will be large and juicy.

   
   

9. When growing black currants, flour should be scattered every two years (0.5-1 kg per bush, depending on size).

   
   

As a result, we note that dolomite flour acts gradually, so you should not expect an immediate positive effect. Greatest benefit observed two to three years after applying fertilizers - the yield increases by 10-15%.

In order to receive good harvest and healthy plants, it is necessary to feed them and also monitor the acidity of the soil. If the soil is alkaline, then it will not have problems with acidity, otherwise its level should be maintained by adding lime or dolomite flour.

What properties does dolomite flour have?

A mineral substance called dolomite is reduced to a powder state by crushing it to form dolomite flour. This product is inexpensive and of high quality; it is used to neutralize the acidity of the soil and enrich it with useful elements.

Dolomite flour is rich in potassium and magnesium, these substances allow plants to fully develop. In addition to the fact that dolomite flour creates a suitable and favorable composition for plants, it has other beneficial properties.

1. Dolomite flour can improve the consistency of the soil.
2. This product creates a favorable environment in the soil for the development of various microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on it.
3. The constant use of dolomite flour nourishes the top layer of soil with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. It also increases the usefulness of the mineral fertilizers used.
4. The use of dolomite flour cleanses plant fruits of radionuclides, and they become environmentally friendly.
5. The soil is saturated with a useful element, magnesium, without it the process of photosynthesis does not occur, and the effectiveness of organic fertilizers increases.
6. This product can destroy pests without causing harm to plants and their fruits.

How is dolomite flour used?

Dolomite flour is actively used in vegetable gardening, horticulture and floriculture. It can be added to open area or to the greenhouse. This product is used for sandy or sandy loam soils that lack magnesium. Before adding dolomite to the soil, it is necessary to determine its acidity; litmus paper is used for this.

If the acidity level is high, this product should not be used. And if this indicator is below 4.5, then use about 600 grams of dolomite flour per square meter. With an average acidity value of 4.5 to 5.2, add 500 grams per square meter. If the soil acidity exceeds 5.2, then add 400 grams of dolomite flour.

It is imperative that the correct dosages be observed, otherwise the structure of the soil may deteriorate. The application of dolomite flour can be combined with organic fertilizers.

Lime milk can be made from dolomite flour; it is better absorbed by plants than the pure composition. For example, with such fertilizer, beets produce a rich harvest and healthy tops.

Liming is also performed using dolomite flour. garden plants, that is, trees and shrubs, do this every two years. This product helps actively fight pests.

Dolomite flour cannot be used in conjunction with mineral fertilizers, superphosphate, urea or saltpeter.

What properties does lime have?

Lime is produced by burning carbonate rock. The material is divided into three types, but the most common is slaked lime, which is obtained by adding water. So that the product does not lose useful properties When extinguishing it, use cold water.

Lime is rich in calcium, it is this element that promotes development and vital activity various plants. Thanks to this fertilizer, the plants become stronger and are not subject to various diseases which occur due to a lack of calcium.

After liming, nodule bacteria actively multiply in the soil, which help retain nitrogen in the soil after loosening. As a result, nitrogen is actively supplied to the roots, and the plant fully develops, receiving useful elements. The movement of carbohydrates through plant tissues improves. Thanks to calcium, the elements dissolve well in an aqueous environment. When adding lime to compost pit, beneficial bacteria are created that are capable of releasing and mineralizing nitrogen from organic matter. Calcium promotes the rapid decomposition of organic elements and the creation of humus, maintaining neutral acidity in the soil.

Lime prevents the release of toxic substances from heavy metals, makes the soil structure ideal, it takes on the appearance of lumps and not flowability.

How is lime used?

Lime is used to normalize soil acidity; liming is carried out once every five years. With active soil exploitation, such work is carried out once every three years. First, you need to pay attention to the soil itself; if horsetail, wormwood or moss are actively spreading on it, then the soil needs to be treated with lime.

The main liming work must be carried out in autumn period, and in the spring you can only carry out partial processing, adding a small amount of product. IN spring period You need to maintain a gap of about seven days before planting seedlings or seeds.

When using only mineral fertilizers, soil liming processes need to be increased more frequently. And the use of natural fertilizers helps to independently maintain a normal acidity level, so the use of lime will be unnecessary.

Tree trunks are also whitened with lime, this helps prevent the appearance of pests. The product is effective and inexpensive, it is done in the spring and autumn.

Dolomite flour or lime, which is better?

Compared to lime, dolomite flour contains eight percent more calcium. Thanks to this element, the root system of plants is well formed and developed, and the soil structure improves. Dolomite also contains 40 percent magnesium, which promotes photosynthesis in plants, while lime does not contain this element.

If there is a lack of magnesium in the soil, the shoots develop poorly, the leaves may wither and fall off, and the plant itself may be susceptible to various diseases that are difficult to combat.

To normalize acidity, slaked lime is used, that is, fluff, its cost is lower than dolomite flour. Using lime is the most powerful way to restore soil acidity. Calcium, which is part of its composition, is in the form of hydroxide, and in dolomite it comes as carbonate. That is, lime has an active effect on soil acidity than dolomite by one and a half times.

Lime helps restore soil acidity faster, but it also has its downsides. Immediately after its application, it is quite difficult for the plant to absorb such necessary elements, like nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, lime is applied in advance before planting so that the soil can rest. Lime is usually used in the fall to keep the soil loose throughout the winter.

Dolomite differs from lime in that it can be used at any time, so it is actively used to normalize soil acidity.

When is it necessary to use lime and dolomite flour?

You can fertilize the area with dolomite flour in any season; this product does not affect negative influence on plants, and allows them to favorably absorb other nutrients from the soil. But this product must be applied before other fertilizers, since it is not compatible with all types of fertilizers.

If fertilizer will be applied to the area where vegetables are planted, in the spring, flour must be scattered over the entire surface two weeks before planting. Dolomite flour can improve the structure of the soil, fertilize it, and prevent the development of diseases. Using this product, you can actively combat pests that attack potatoes and other crops, for example, the mole cricket or the Colorado potato beetle. In the spring, such fertilizer is especially important, since it acts as a mineral fertilizer for plants and kills fungal diseases. In the autumn, dolomite flour can be used to treat and feed plants in the garden, that is, trees and shrubs. For one tree you will need 2 kilograms of dolomite flour, and for a bush - up to 1 kilogram, it is buried in the soil under the plant.

Lime is also used to normalize soil acidity. But this should only be done on soil with high acidity. If the soil is not acidic, then liming is not performed. I treat the soil with lime when preparing the planned plot or garden. If it is planned to plant strawberries on the site, then liming is carried out two years before the work. You can also add lime after the plants have become stronger, that is, two months after they are planted. Liming the garden can be done in any season. The product is applied in autumn and spring while digging up the soil.

Lime must be thoroughly mixed with the earth, so it is used in powder form. The use of quicklime is prohibited, as it comes in lumps and can oversaturate the soil. It can be extinguished with water per 100 kilograms of material, 4 buckets of liquid, only after that lime is used as fertilizer.

Lime is poured evenly over the entire soil, and the correct dosage must be observed. If the soil is loamy and clayey in nature, then by 10 square meters Apply up to 14 kilograms of this product; this fertilizer lasts for 15 years. And for sandy and sandy loam soils, add up to 1.5 kilograms for the same area, this is enough for two years. If the dosage is not observed or exceeded, the soil may become oversaturated and become harmful to plants.

How to determine soil acidity?

Before applying fertilizers in the form of dolomite flour or lime, it is necessary to determine the acidity of the soil in the area so as not to oversaturate the soil. This is done in several ways, using weeds, vinegar, grape juice or special devices.

Weeds will not grow on soil that does not meet normal acidity. They can serve as a certain indicator of soil acidity. In an area with weak acidity, chamomile, dandelions, wheatgrass and clover actively grow. Plantain, buttercup or chickweed grow well on soil that is too acidic, and nettle or quinoa grows well on soil with a neutral index.

Using vinegar, you can easily, simply and quickly determine the acidity of the soil. Apply a few drops of table vinegar to the soil, if it swells and bubbles appear, then the soil is neutral or acidic.

Also, acidity can be checked using grape juice; soil is placed in it, and if it changes color and bubbles appear on the surface, then the soil is neutral.

The most reliable determination of soil acidity is the use of special instruments, such as a pH meter or litmus paper. This allows you to determine the acidity of the soil as accurately as possible.

The difference in the use of dolomite flour from lime

Dolomite flour is not capable of harming plants or burning their leaves, so it can be used not only for vegetable plants, but also to fertilize lawns. It can be used in any season. It is better to apply lime in the autumn so that the soil can rest, since after such fertilization it is necessary to wait until planting.

Dolomite flour and lime cannot be combined with mineral fertilizers such as saltpeter, superphosphate or urea. To reduce or normalize acidity, lime is very rarely used, since it has a harsher effect, this can lead to oversaturation of the soil and burns of plants.

Liming the soil increases efficiency organic fertilizer, it begins to decompose faster and nourish the plants. Lime can be combined with manure for fertilizer, while the amount of organic fertilizer is reduced. But before using such fertilizers, it is necessary to determine the acidity of the soil on the site.

If your plantings are lacking something and fertilization is not helping, it may be that the soil acidity level is not suitable for them. In soil that is too acidic, plant root systems cannot absorb nutrients, so fertilizer is not beneficial.

Then they turn to such a measure as deoxidation; This is done by adding dolomite flour to the soil. This substance is ground rock, which contains substances useful for planting - potassium and magnesium. It is cheap (about a hundred rubles for a five-kilogram bag) and environmentally friendly.

Other useful properties

In addition to the deoxidation of the soil, a lot speaks for the use of fertilizer, since it:

• Increases the effectiveness of other fertilizers applied together with it (which ones, see the chapter “What fertilizers is dolomite flour compatible with”);
• improves the quality of plant nutrition by the root system;
• helps the process of photosynthesis in green parts;
• activates development and growth;
• activates the activity of microorganisms;
• destroys insects while being harmless to other living beings. Dolomite flour “dissolves” the chitinous coverings of pests - for example, the Colorado potato beetle.

How to determine acidity

You can understand that the soil needs deoxidation without resorting to the help of special devices (although these are also available to the owner of the site). There are three main ways.

Firstly, you need to observe which plantings are comfortable to exist in this area. If buttercups and plantain grow in a “violent color” on the ground, as well as, possibly, wheatgrass, coltsfoot and chamomile, this is a sign of increased acidity. Plum, cherry and apricot develop poorly on such soils.

Secondly, you can pour a little vinegar on a handful of “experimental” soil - if a reaction occurs and foam appears, the soil also has increased acidity.

Thirdly, a good natural indicator is grape juice. A handful of sour earth, placed in a glass of juice, causes the liquid to change color.

Which plants need deoxidized soil and which do not?

All plantings can be divided into 4 groups according to their need for acidic or alkaline soil.

Beetroot and alfalfa grow well only on neutral and alkaline soils, as do stone fruit trees.

They prefer neutral soils onions, lettuce, legumes and agricultural crops (barley and wheat). If the acidity is slightly increased, you can do nothing with the soil, but strong acidity must be neutralized.

The following plants grow equally well in acidic and alkaline soils: tomatoes, radishes, and other crops not mentioned in the previous paragraph. Such plants respond well to liming powder.

Only flax and potatoes require liming in highly acidified environments; It is recommended to fertilize the soil for potatoes with the mineral in combination with substances of the potassium group, otherwise scab will appear on the tubers.

Analogs

The use of analogues makes sense only if they are on hand, since their spectrum of action is different in the overall complex, although they are good for deoxidation only.

The first and most famous analogue is lime powder, which was used to reduce acidity before the introduction of dolomite into the market. Limestone fertilizer acts in a similar way, the only drawback is that for the first time after application it will interfere useful substances and minerals (especially phosphorus and nitrogen) are absorbed by plantings, so it is usually applied “before winter,” between the beds. While dolomite powder can be used when the need arises.

Wood ash neutralizes acidity as successfully as dolomite, but the consumption is many times higher, and treatment of plantings with ash, as a result, is more expensive.

The next few chapters will tell you how to use the so-called dolomite flour fertilizer.

Instructions for using flour: how, when and how much

If the gardener has determined that a given area requires deoxidation, you can use the following instructions as a basis and make further calculations from these numbers.

Dolomite application proportions

All values ​​are given in calculation of fertilizer per 1 hundred square meters.

Up to 50 kg of dolomite flour is added to soil with high acidity (if you use measuring instruments, the figure will be useful - the pH value of such soils will be 4.5 or less).

Moderately acidic soil (with a pH value of up to 5.2) requires dolomite fertilization in an amount of 45 kg.

In slightly acidic soil (its pH is a maximum of 5.7 units) add no more than 40, and often 35 kg of powder.

It is necessary to take into account that for heavy clay and loamy soils these figures are divided by a factor of 1.5, and for light soils they take 15% more dolomite.

Dolomite application time

The mineral can be applied at any time of the year as needed. If a gardener or gardener uses other fertilizers (see below for compatibility with them), then the use of this substance will have to be regulated.

Stone fruit trees are fertilized annually in the fall - after the crop is fully harvested: about 2 kg per tree is required.

Cabbage and turnips in the garden also require annual fertilization with dolomite: in the amount of 0.5 kg per 1 sq. m it is applied immediately before planting.

Black currants, like cherries and plums, are fertilized in the fall after harvesting the fruits - but for currants the frequency of treatment will be less: only once every two years.

Fertilizing soil in greenhouses

Is it possible to apply dolomite flour as a fertilizer to deoxidize the soil in closed soils? Yes. This application has a so-called sanitizing effect on the soil, that is, it destroys insects harmful to plants and activates the vital activity of worms (which increase the overall fertility of the soil).

The substance is applied as a top dressing to the greenhouse soil in the spring: it helps to disinfect the soil, as this substance prevents the development of fungal and mold diseases in plantings. It was noted that greenhouse plants planted on soil treated with such flour not only develop better, but also produce fruits with better preservation.

Powder is added in quantities of 200 grams per 1 square meter. m, while the soil is not dug up, since high humidity environment even without this contributes to good absorption of the mineral.

Dolomite flour and compost/vermicompost

The mineral is good not only as a top dressing: it is used abundantly to fertilize compost and especially vermicompost (biologically active compost). Worms in the latter die if they are in an environment with high acidity; if you deoxidize the compost, bringing it to a normal pH value, they will feel comfortable, multiply quickly and efficiently process organic matter.

Two application methods

Mitlider method - for open ground

1 kg of powder is mixed with 8 grams of boric acid powder, distributed over the surface to be treated and dug up. After 10 days, add all the remaining minerals necessary for this soil and dig again.

Makuni method - for greenhouses and indoor plants

2 kg of fertile soil are mixed with 30 grams of flour, add 4 liters of peat, 1 liter of river sand, two glasses of coal or ash, 30 grams double superphosphate. This mixture will be the basis for soil for indoor and greenhouse plantings; at the same time, it is necessary to add a substrate to it specifically for those plantings for which the soil is being prepared.

What fertilizers is it compatible with?

It is preferable to use dolomite powder simultaneously with copper sulfate - these substances complement each other, mutually reinforcing the effect. It is also good to use it with boric acid.

Dolomite flour is not compatible with most fertilizers; among them are manure, urea, nitro- and azophosphate, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. If any of these substances still needs to be added, you just need to wait at least ten days from the moment of fertilizing with dolomite: then there will be no harmful chemical reaction will not happen.

In clay and other heavy soils, dolomite should be added annually, and remember that such soils require an increase in the amount of flour. The full effect of flour in this area will end in eight years.

Light sandy and peaty soils require fertilization with flour every three years.

By diluting 200 grams of powder in a ten-liter bucket, gardeners get liquid fertilizer, which can be used to water plants in late spring and early summer.

To get the most out of using flour, it is mixed with top layer soil, digging and loosening it to about 15 cm in depth; scattered over the surface of the site, it will begin to be active in a year.

Gooseberries, sorrel and blueberries are never fertilized - the mineral has a negative effect on these plantings.

The powder will begin to bring the greatest benefit in the second or third year after the first application - you should remember this and not increase the dosage without special reasons.

Instead of a conclusion

The undoubted advantage of the mineral is its environmental friendliness; Since it is just a powder obtained from rock, it cannot be classified as a chemical. Despite the fact that it also plays the role of an insecticide and pesticide, destroying harmful insects, as well as mold and fungal diseases- analogue among natural ones, not chemical substances he just doesn't.

Dolomite flour, in addition to providing nutrients for plants, helps change the acidity of the soil, bringing it into line with the needs of the plants. Previously used for this purpose lime flour, 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 mixtures contain 8 to 12 percent magnesium and 18 to 22 percent calcium. These elements help deoxidize the soil and provide valuable nutrients for plants. Dolomite may contain sodium, but it should only be 0.2 percent or less. A large number of sodium can change the salinity of the soil, which will negatively affect plants.

Dolomite flour is used to increase soil pH (reduce acidity), in agriculture and gardening. By neutralizing acidity, plants can easily absorb nutrients. Dolomite also improves soil texture and helps convert other nutrients into convenient forms for absorption by the following vegetables:

• peas;
• beans;
• corn;
• cabbage;
• salad;
• spinach.

Dolomite is best to use to reduce soil acidity. For example, heavy rains can lower pH levels, so applying this fertilizer is important aspect maintenance of a garden or summer cottage.

Most plants do best with an pH value between 6.0 and 7.4. If the soil registers 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 with a lot of seeds inside like tomatoes, need extra calcium as they grow, and dolomite is a great way to provide this nutrient.

When pH levels are too low, essential nutrients that most plants need remain unavailable to the plant.

How and when to use

The instructions for using dolomite flour state that it can be sprinkle 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, choose a day when no rain is forecast.

To deoxidize the soil, it is necessary to correctly determine the dolomite rate. For example, if the soil has a pH of 5.5 and needs to be raised closer to 6.5, add 5 kilograms of dolomite per 30 square meters of space.

How much fertilizer you need to add depends on the pH level. If you don't have soil test results, it's usually safe to apply 250ml (1 cup) for every 15 square meters of area.

Before adding flour, you need to prepare the soil. Remove weeds and other unwanted vegetation, as well as rocks and fallen branches.

Wear protective gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and a mask. Scatter the dolomite over the surface of the ground using a rake to ensure even distribution.

Use a shovel to work the dolomite into the top 6 inches of soil. After application, wait at least two weeks before planting seeds or seedlings.

Things you will need:

• soil test results;
• rake;
• gloves;
• shirt, robe and trousers;
• shovel.

The powdery and caustic nature of dolomite flour makes it a potential skin and lung irritant. When laying material, wear a mask, gloves, gown and trousers.

Research the soil needs of the plants you plan to grow in garden plot. Some plants, including azaleas and blueberries, prefer high acidity.

Dolomite works as an antacid, buffering the soil and raising its pH level while providing magnesium and calcium.

How to use dolomite flour in the garden? It can only be used when you have a soil test showing 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 an area, usually intended for planting vegetables, after which the soil is intensively loosened with a rake and shovel. If you follow the norm, you can apply it 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 for disease prevention by sprinkling a light dust around the fruit tree annually in the spring or fall.

Gardeners often wonder: 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 adding initial stage interferes with the absorption of nutrients by plants, especially phosphorus and nitrogen. Therefore, after adding lime, the soil should remain fallow for some time, that is, remain unsown. Dolomite can be replaced with limestone flour, but it should only be used in the off-season.

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