Understanding Balanced Fertilization
Essential Nutrients for kitchen Garden Plants
These are nutrients that cannot be produced by the plants themselves, hence they are very vital in the development and the productivity of the plants in kitchen gardens. These nutrients which are acquired from the soil though fertilizer addition if needed has got special functions in physiological processes in plants. Nitrogen phosphorus and potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur are essential macronutrient elements that are necessary for proper plant growth while iron manganese, zinc, copper, boron and molybdenum are some of the micronutrients required by plants. Each of these nutrients serves specific functions: Nitrogen is used in development of foliage, strengthening of roots and other tissues, phosphorus in development of flowering, enhancing intake of water and resistance to diseases, calcium in firming of cell walls, magnesium that participates in a process of manufacturing chlorophyll, while sulfur that is used in formation of proteins. As with macronutrients, there are the micronutrients even though they are in smaller proportions and are as significant as the larger nutrients for the activation of enzymes and several metabolic procedures. Optimal proportions of these nutrients must be accomplished in the soil because a deficiency or an overload may stunt the growth process or, worse still, result into diseases. These nutrients are replenished by gardeners through organic manure or organic compost or inorganic fertilizers depending on the soil testing results and the requirements of the plants. Knowing the role of every basic nutrient to the gardener helps them to control the factors that affect growth, thus achieving the best yields throughout the year from their kitchen gardens.
Micronutrients
Micronutrient therefore concerned those nutrients trace elements which are necessary to perform several vital physiological activities at low concentration in the organisms. Some of these nutrients are vitamins and minerals, whereby each nutrient has a certain role that is crucial to the body’s operations. Vitamins are natural organic compounds used as co-factors or substrates mostly for enzymatic reactions that take place in the body. They are classified into two groups: fat soluble that is vitamins A, D, E and K and water soluble vitamins like vitamin C and the B vitamin group. While fat soluble vitamins are distributed in the body’s fatty tissues and liver, their counterparts, water soluble vitamins are only found in insignificant proportions in the body and are expelled through urine, thus the need to constantly replenish them. A nutrients are organic compounds that the body needs to perform various physiological functions such as building bones, transmitting nerve impulses and maintaining fluid levels in the body while minerals are inorganic elements needed in the body’s metabolism. They are essential in large amounts and include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride while the Trace minerals include iron, zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, manganese and fluoride that are required in small amounts but are very important in the body. Micronutrient is also acquired from the balanced diet such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain products lean meats and dairy products. Lack of micronutrients hinders the body’s functioning, immunosuppression, defective cognitive processes, and higher disease rates. On the other hand, it has been seen that excessive amounts of certain micronutrients, especially the fat soluble vitamins , are also dangerous and can lead to pathophysiologic consequences. Thus, consuming appropriate amounts of micronutrients is vital for the support of human health irrespective of age through the adherence to balanced diets.
Organic vs. Synthetic Fertilizers
The differences between the organic and synthetic fertilizers are expressed in the approach to improving the fertility of the soil and encouraging plant growth. Organic fertilizers are prepared from farmyard and landfill wastes like compost, animal manure, bone meal, and seaweed, and they release nutrient slowly. They help in creating good soils porosity and structure, support microbial life and adding organic residues to the soil; thus, they help in the improvement of the soils health in the long run. On this line, synthetic fertilizers are produced through chemical means to give predetermined nutrient content and form, such as ammonium nitrate, phosphate and potassium salts which are in available for plant uptake forms. They provide for instant nutrient supply and can be designed to provide exact requirement of the plant. Nevertheless, excessive use of synthetic fertilizers causes leaching and nutrient pollution of water; loss of soil structure and fertility; and reduced microbial numbers. Each has its strength and weakness, and the use depends on several factors like the nature of a soil, type of crop and other conditions of the environment. Organic farming prefer organic manure as they are environmental friendly and helps in building the fertility of the soil where as synthetic manure is preferred in conventional farming as they are quick responding and efficient. Unfortunately, finding a way of utilising them in as way that will help augment agricultural production as well as reducing the impacts on the natural environment still goes a very long way in defining modern agriculture.
Composting
Composting is a process of natural degradation of organic wastes in order to produce stable end product popular known as compost through the action of microorganisms. The process is as old as several centuries and still in practice across the world to optimize the use of ORM and enhance soil texture for boosting the sustainable production of crops. It is a process that starts with collecting of kitchen wastes including the vegetable peels, fruit cores, yard wastes including grass clipping and the leaves and any other biodegradable wastes such as coffee grounds, egg shells. These materials are blended in specific proportion depending on the contents of carbon and nitrogen, the browns and the greens which is important for the microbial population for decomposition. Depending on the type and age, compost pile or bin contains microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi as well as actinomycetes that decompose organic matter. Bacteria are involved in initial stages of decomposition digesting simple sugars and protein materials and fungi digest cellulose and lignin materials. Actinomycetes featured in degradation of harder plant materials and also assist in heating up the pile. These microorganisms require oxygen, moisture, and a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen (C:Optimizing the bacteria to waste solids N/P ratio is also important to enhance organism’s ability to decompose organic material. Hence, it is important to monitor and sustain these conditions as they account for the successful composting.
During the process of decomposition, microbes get active and due to their action the temperature inside the pile of compost rises and can reach a level between 110 F to 160 F (43 C to 71 C). This heat enhances the process of composting and eradicates various pathogens and weed seeds present in the compost and thus the compost released is safe and useful for the plants. The ways of turning or aerating the compost pile are as follows: One must make sure the compost pile is turned on regular bases, because this will enhance the decomposition of the pile and avoid the formation of unpleasant smell due to anaerobic conditions.
Foliar Feeding
Foliar feeding is the method used in farming and horticulture in which nutrients are administered on the foliage of the plant in solution or aerosol form. Succulent plants are unique because this method enables the nutrients to be absorbed in large quantities through the leaf surfaces and assimilated by the plant for its physiological processes. Foliar feeding however is most effective when the plants are in a state of deficiency and in stages of the plant growth cycles where high rates of nutrient uptake are expected. The nutrients that can be applied may be the macroelements for instance nitrogen, phospher, and potassium, and micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and manganese depending on the plants and the signs noticed. The usefulness of foliar feeding varies with several things like the type and concentration of solutions used, the period the application is made, and the prevailing factors present like; temperature and humidity. Thus the nutrients sprayed on the foliage can skip the problem of soils that are deficient in certain nutrients or root uptake limitations and therefore offer an instant solution to the nutrient problem. This method is useful where a soil has a wrong PH or has nutrient which have been locked up and the plants are unable to raise them despite being present in the soil. Furthermore, foliar feeding could improve matters such as completeness since it is not limited to compensating for shortcomings only. It may start the process of leaf formation and increase the quantity and quality of chlorophyll and the process of photosynthesis, resulting in higher and improved products. Micronutrients namely iron can be applied on the foliage toprevent and rectify such ails like chlorosis which is characterized by yellowing of leaves and enhances green growth of the foliage. Foliar feeds of phosphorus can improve root formation as well as flowering, which is beneficial when plants reach their reproductive phase.
Seasonal Fertilization
Application of fertilization by season is a concept widely used in farming and horticulture whereby feed is spread to match the plants’ requirements at different periods of the calendar year. The knowledge of plant development and nutrient uptake also differs in the annual calendar depending on temperature, daylight hours, the level of moisture, and the stage of plant development. According to the above mentioned requirements of the crops, seasonal methods and application of the fertilizer tries to make sure that nutrients are available and are absorbed by the plants in the right quantities, to increase yields and reduce losses and negative effects on the environment. Again we learn that during the spring, plants come out of their resting stage and buds or new foliage start to grow. Spring fertilization is mainly about providing nutrients such as Nitrogen (N) so as to achieve rapid growth and development of the foliage system and initiation of flowering to the flowering plants. During this time phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are also needed to support the formation of better roots, increase flowering and fruiting as well as making the plant more resistant to the effects of environmental shock. During summer and when the plants are fully grown, there could be changes in the nutrient needs due to factors such as heat, duration of light, and transpiration rate among others. The third and final application of fertilizer is done during summer so as to ensure that the nutrients are readily available in anticipation of growth. Mineral fertilizers with nitrogen, phospherous, and potassium are often used to replenish the plant nutrients and ensure photosynthesis while making plants resistant to heat regimes and pests. But it is advisable not to apply nitrogen fertilizer when the climate is hot because it results to fast growth and provision of a conducive environment for diseases to attack the plants.
Understanding Soil pH
It is vital to comprehend the notion of soil acidity level in order to achieve successful gardening and agricultural practices as the pH degree affects the availability of nutrients, the population of microorganisms, as well as the general wellbeing of the plants. pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of the soil, on a scale of 0 to 14 with a neutral point at 7. Any value below 7 is considered acidic and that above 7 is considered alkaline for the PH of soils. It has to be noted that majority of plants thrive well under the slightly acidic to neutral soil, with the PH ranging from 6 to 7. 5, depending on the preference that a person has. Because soil pH places an influence on how the nutrients are chemically tied in the soil, then soil pH impacts nutrient availability. Thus, for example, in acid soils, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium are less available to plants, and, in alkaline soils, micronutrients such as iron and manganese become less available. Nutrient cycling and soil structure which are activities carried out by microbes are also affected by pH. Most of the beneficial microorganisms that exist in the soil work best in slightly acidic to neutral environment and therefore, extremely high or low pH affects their productivity. Soil pH is also understood though testing your soil occasionally using the test kits or the laboratory. Another function is to assess the existing pH level and control this aspect using materials like lime to increase pH or sulfur to decrease it, if needed. Soil pH is determined by parent material, climate, vegetation and use, such as liming and irrigation practices. The nature of soil management greatly varies depending on the target pH for a certain plant and to further facilitate the nutrients and healthy populations of the soil organisms.
Slow-Release Fertilizers
Slow-release fertilizers release nutrients to the plants slowly and over a long period of time and have some features compared to other fertilizer types. These types of fertilizers dissolve with time slowly in the ground giving out their ingredients by a controlled chemical reaction or by the decomposing of a coating layer. This slow-release mechanism assist in controlling leaching, a process where the nutrients are washed away by the water before being accessed by the plant cutting down on environmental pollution and making fertilizer application more effective. This sort of fertilizer can nourish the plants for weeks to even several months in one application thus minimizing the reapplication process as well as repetitive planting. This saves time as well as effort as the plant food is made available when plants require it most compared to when it is irregular and in large quantities. However, slow-release fertilizers also have benefit impacts to the soil condition because it supports microbial life and the amount of nutrient in the soil. It comes in different types for individual plant requirements and the type of soil in the garden hence a fertilizer for all classes of gardeners and farmers. In general, slow-release fertilizers can be considered as a successful strategy of fertilization that provides both efficiency and minimization of negative effects on the environment in plant growing.
Integrated Fertilization Strategies
Triple fertilization means that there are ways of applying the fertilizers that make them effective in the right concentration to support plant needs and at the same time having little effect on the environment. These strategies usually combine home made inputs including compost, animal manure among others with artificial fertilizers and other soil amendments to prepare inputs with optimal nutrient packages for the specific crops and types of soils. Many of organic matter, supply necessary nutrients, affect the physical property of soil and water holding capacity and has direct bearing on microbial life in the soil. They also release nutrients slowly which helps remove the chances of leaching and nutrient running of in the soil. Synthetic fertilizers, on the other hand, gets exact proportions of particular elements that could be missing in the ground if not applied together with the organic amendments during the precise phase required by crops. Integrated fertilization also uses soil testing to determine nutrient needs and soil pH to apply the correct kind of fertilizers that will not waste resources on what the soil does not need. Moreover, crop rotation and cover cropping as part of combined concepts because they disrupt pest and disease cycles and enhance the fertility of the soil, thereby decreasing dependence on outside inputs in the long run. With this merged concept, integrated fertilization strategies seek to attain the realization of efficient and enduring agriculture endeavors in sustaining the qualities of soils in addition to dictating the productivity of the crops and soil patterns in the natural surroundings.
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