Iron vitriol: application in gardening and instructions on how to breed

The use of fungicides makes it possible to protect garden and garden plants from bacteria and fungi. Many of the tools that were used in the past are still being used today. Consider the composition, pros and cons of iron sulfate, purpose and methods of application. What is its difference from copper sulphate, product compatibility, how to store and substitute fungicides.

What is this

Ferrous vitriol has other chemical names: ferrous sulfate or ferrous sulfate. It looks like small crystals of blue with green color, with a metallic taste, there is no smell.The chemical formula is FeSO4. The crystals dissolve well in water, for better dissolution, they must be diluted in heated water.

Pros and cons

Iron vitriol has the following virtues:

has a strong disinfectant effect;
prophylactic and curative;
detrimental to pests;
can be used as fertilizer as it contains a lot of iron in elemental form;
substance does not penetrate into plant tissues, therefore it does not accumulate in them, it is safe for greens and fruits;
available and cheap.

Cons of Ferrous Sulfate:

solution is easily washed off by watering and rain;
can be used on dormant plants when they have no leaves;
has some toxicity to humans.

In order for the drug not to reduce its effectiveness, it is important to follow the rules for working with it, for example, do not treat trees before it rains.

Why do you need iron sulfate in gardening

They treat trees and bushes from infectious damage and pests.

From diseases

Vitriol is used against infections, lichens and mosses on fruit trees, shrubs and vines. Prevents infection and heals damage, so it is treated with saw cut branches after pruning, bark cracks, hollows.

Ferrous vitriol has another effect on plants: it can delay bud break for about a week, this property can be used to delay bud break during frost. Trees and grapes in this case are sprayed with a 3-4% solution.

Used to cultivate land that is deficient in iron. An element in a substance is in a form that plants absorb very well.

From pests

Iron sulphate is also used in the garden against pests that overwinter, hiding under the bark and in the soil of tree trunks. The bark is also processed in spring or autumn. Often it is mixed with lime, which enhances the fungicidal effect and improves the adhesion of the solution to the bark. The same solution can be used to disinfect wooden elements of buildings, walls of cellars, utility rooms, barns and sheds for animals.

How is it different from blue vitriol?

Iron and copper sulfate, although they are s alts of sulfuric acid, contain different elements - iron and copper, so they have different effects on plants. But they have a lot in common - sulfates are used primarily as antifungal agents for treating plants in the dormant period.They can be fertilizers to feed plants with iron and copper. Each has its own purpose, replacing one with another as fertilizer will not work.

How to apply ferrous sulfate correctly

According to the instructions for use, use solutions of different concentrations:

3% (300 g per 10 l) - for the treatment of stone fruits from fungi in the fall, before wintering;
4-5% (400-500 g per 10 l) - for pome fruits;
5-6% - for the treatment of trunks and branches from lichens and mosses, cellars from mold.

Fungicidal effect lasts at least 2 weeks after fungal treatment. Treatment for lichens and mosses may need to be done 1 or 2 more times to reliably destroy them. During the growing season, green leaves are not processed - there is a high probability that burns form on them.

Plants are fed with a 1-1.5% solution with signs of iron starvation. The solution is applied by the usual irrigation method, in spring and summer. For spraying on the leaves, a solution of 0.5% is prepared. After foliar application, iron quickly penetrates into the plant, so this method can be used to quickly resolve the issue of the lack of an element in the soil. Spraying with iron can be carried out not only for trees, but also for annual crops. Vitriol can be added to compost to enrich it with iron (100 g per 10 kg of mass).

Precautions

When preparing the solution, you need to use non-metallic utensils, ordinary buckets will not work. Metal and vitriol react with each other, the solution becomes unusable, the walls of the bucket deteriorate.

Ferrous sulphate is class 3 for human toxicity. To work in the garden with iron sulfate, you need to wear gloves on your hands so that the skin is not damaged by the powder or solution.Protect your eyes with goggles and wear a respirator. If the liquid does get on the skin, it must be washed off with clean water. Failure to do so may result in severe skin irritation.

When aerosol penetrates into the respiratory system, liquid into the stomach - poisoning is possible. The impact of the substance is expressed in irritation of the mucous membranes, signs of intoxication, diarrhea. If such symptoms are observed, gastric lavage should be carried out quickly: drink medical coal and 1 liter of water. If after this the condition has not stabilized, you should consult a doctor.

Compatibility with other drugs

Iron vitriol cannot be mixed in solution with FOS and agricultural products that decompose under the action of alkalis. Therefore, in spring and autumn, it must be applied separately from fungicidal preparations, do not mix them in one solution. If it is necessary to carry out treatment with another fungicide, an interval of 2 weeks must be maintained.

In other cases, if vitriol is to be used in a tank mix, you should know that in theory it has good miscibility, but in each case, you should first check the chemical compatibility of the substances. It is necessary to conduct a test: take both drugs in a small amount and combine the solutions in a separate container. If they don't interact, they can be mixed and used.

Terms and conditions of storage

Vitriol can absorb water, so it must be protected from moisture. Store only in tightly closed, undamaged packages so that moisture and air and sunlight do not penetrate the substance. If the conditions are met, the drug can be stored indefinitely. If the packaging is damaged and moisture penetrates, the powder becomes saturated with water, cakes and partially loses its valuable properties.

Food, animal feed, medicines and household products should not come into contact with vitriol.It is impossible that iron sulfate could be found by children or animals. Together with vitriol, you can add any pesticides and fertilizers, they do not affect the fungicide and do not change its properties.

Analogues

As a fungicide with a similar effect, you can take copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture, as well as ready-made preparations "Horus", "Clean Trunk".

As a fertilizer, instead of vitriol, you can use iron-containing preparations, for example, iron chelate, as well as complex micronutrient fertilizers containing this element.

Iron vitriol is a substance that is often used for spring and autumn treatments of orchards and vineyards from a number of fungal infections. Moreover, it finds application both in agriculture and in private. The drug acts quickly and effectively, prevents or treats fungi, destroys mosses and lichens.

Can also be used as an iron-containing fertilizer, especially if it is necessary to quickly restore the amount of the element in the soil. In this case, you can make a solution under the root or by spraying on the sheet. Normalization of iron levels allows plants to develop stably, increases yields, and improves fruit quality. It does not accumulate in the fruits themselves, so they remain usable. The tool is not expensive, it is stored for a long time, you can buy it at any hardware store.