Potassium chloride: fertilizer application and what plants need

Potassium chloride is an effective mineral fertilizer. It can be used alone or combined with nitrogen or phosphorus supplements. The composition is suitable for garden and ornamental plants. Regular use of potassium chloride helps to make crops stronger, increase resistance to temperature fluctuations, form a dense crown and produce larger fruits.

Description and physico-chemical characteristics of potassium chloride

Potassium chloride is produced in the form of a crumbly mass of white or pinkish hue or in the form of granules. The fertilizer contains 60% of the active ingredient - potassium oxide. The product mixes easily with water.

The substance is considered the main potash drug. It is allowed to be used in its pure form. However, there are also combined compositions with copper, bromine and other components.

Signs of lack or excess

Lack of potassium in the soil affects the general condition of plants. Under natural conditions, it is present in the composition of the soil only in combination with other constituents. Potassium deficiency in various types of crops is accompanied by the following manifestations:

• marginal burn - in this case, a light border appears along the edges of the foliage, which subsequently dries up;
• compacting greenery and changing its color;
• brown spots;
• weakening of the main stem and shoots;
• lagging behind average;
• late flowering or complete lack of buds;
• Crop tendency to be damaged by fungi.

At the same time, potassium chloride often provokes overfeeding of weakened plants. In perennial crops, it manifests itself in damage to the roots and freezing of the buds in winter. In annuals, the violation is noticeable immediately. At the same time, the stems lie down and begin to rot near the roots.

To save at least part of the crop, it is worth stopping all feeding and reducing watering. You should also remove some of the shoots with unripe fruits.

How to apply and application rates

Not every crop needs potassium chloride. Therefore, when using a substance, it is important to focus on the instructions.

Potatoes

The beds for plants need to be fed with the composition once. They do it in the fall. Due to this, the volume of the substance is normalized by spring. On loamy or clay soil, 100 grams of the substance per 1 square meter is used. In light types of soil, it is worth adding cement dust and flour.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes do not like chlorine, so you need to apply fertilizer in the fall, under a shovel. 100 grams of product is used per 1 square meter.

Cucumbers

With a lack of potassium, cucumbers lose their taste and volume. Before fertilizing, a test must be carried out. To do this, under 1 lash you need to pour 500 milliliters of the solution. After a few days, you can evaluate the reaction. If the plant began to actively develop, you can feed the entire garden.

During the season, cucumbers are fed in greenhouses 2-3 times. For outdoor cultivation, fertilization is required 5 times.

Grapes

This shrub should not be fertilized with potassium chloride as it cannot tolerate chlorine. However, grapes need potassium supplements. They contribute to increased resistance to frost, improve fruit ripening and vine development.However, for grapes it is better to use potassium sulfate.

Fruit trees

All plants in this category require top dressing. Fruit trees take chlorine very well. Under each fruiting trunk, 150 grams of potassium chloride should be added. If the trees grow in black soil, 120 grams of fertilizer will be enough. When growing crops in light soil, the dosage is increased to 180 grams.

Flowers

Feeding is worth taking into account the variety of plants. This must be done several times during the season. At the same time, for 10 liters of water, you need to take 20 grams of a product for large-bulb crops. Small bulbous plants require no more than 10 grams of top dressing. For roses make a solution of 20 grams of the drug.

Fertilizer compatibility

The drug can be combined with lime, chalk, dolomite flour. It can be combined with ammophos, ammonium sulfate, diammophos. It is also acceptable to use combinations with chicken manure or manure.

Right before use, the composition is allowed to be combined with ammonium, sodium or calcium nitrate. Combinations with urea and superphosphate are also possible.

Safety

The substance can be classified as a moderately hazardous element. It does not affect the integrity of the skin, but prevents the regeneration of damaged areas. Also, the composition can provoke irritation and lead to inflammation. Therefore, when working with this fertilizer, you need to use protective equipment that covers damaged areas of the skin.

When combined with air, the composition does not provoke toxic compounds that are dangerous to the body. The substance is non-flammable and non-corrosive.

Storage conditions and expiration date

The drug has high hygroscopic parameters.Therefore, it should be kept indoors with a low level of humidity. It is important to ensure that the composition is not affected by precipitation or groundwater. On the street, top dressing must be kept in an airtight container or plastic bags. This must be done under a canopy.

The duration of storage of potassium chloride does not exceed six months. After the specified time, the top dressing loses its external characteristics and forms lumps. However, its chemical properties are fully preserved.

Potassium chloride is considered an effective fertilizer that helps improve the growth and development of cultivated plants. It is important to strictly follow the instructions for use of the substance. This will help to achieve the desired results and not harm the plants.

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