Water-soluble fertilizers, referred to as water-soluble fertilizers. Its definition is: liquid or solid fertilizers that are dissolved or diluted in water and used for irrigation and fertilization, foliar fertilization, soilless cultivation, seed soaking and root dipping, etc.

What are water-soluble fertilizers

Water-soluble fertilizer is a new type of fertilizer that can be completely dissolved in water and has been developed in recent years. It is a multi-component fertilizer that can be completely dissolved in water. It can dissolve quickly in water, is more easily absorbed by crops, and has a relatively high absorption and utilization rate. It can meet the nutritional needs of high-yield crops during the rapid growth period. Especially in facility agriculture, it is combined with micro-sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, etc., to use water to carry fertilizer, realize water-fertilizer integration, and achieve the efficiency of saving water, fertilizer, and labor. Today, with the increasing shortage of water resources, the application of water-soluble fertilizer has become one of the measures to increase agricultural efficiency and increase farmers' income.

It should be noted that many people confuse water-soluble fertilizer with flushing fertilization. Flush fertilization and water-soluble fertilizer are two completely different concepts. Some manufacturers and dealers deliberately confuse the concepts and take the opportunity to fish in troubled waters, which is not conducive to the healthy development of the market.

Simply put, flushing fertilization is also called water flushing fertilizer. It is a kind of topdressing method, that is, dissolving solid quick-acting fertilizer in water and using water to carry fertilizer. Fertilization is irrigation fertilization, and the irrigation methods can be divided into well irrigation and furrow irrigation, including drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. The raw materials used for fertilization are relatively common, which can be either completely water-soluble or incompletely water-soluble.

Water-soluble fertilizer is a multi-element compound fertilizer that can be quickly dissolved in water (based on the presence or absence of precipitation). The ability to quickly dissolve in water is the physical property of the fertilizer. It is an independent fertilizer variety. Fertilization is just a term generated in the practice of fertilizer consumption in terms of usage methods.

The materials used for water-soluble fertilizers are relatively strict. First, there is no sediment in the liquid after dissolving in water. Secondly, the raw materials used must be quickly dissolved in water. Thirdly, the heavy metals contained in the raw materials of water-soluble fertilizers cannot exceed the standard. Fertilization can be either water-soluble fertilizer or non-water-soluble fertilizer. As long as it can be diluted into liquid with water and then flushed with water, it can be called flushing fertilizer. For example, compound fertilizer and human feces and urine are not flushing fertilizers. After being diluted into liquid by water, they become flushing fertilizers.

Characteristics and advantages of water-soluble fertilizer

Compared with traditional superphosphate, granulated compound fertilizer and other varieties, water-soluble fertilizer has obvious advantages. It is a fast-acting fertilizer with good water solubility and no residue. It can be completely dissolved in water and can be directly absorbed and utilized by the roots and leaves of crops. The use of water and fertilizer at the same time, with water and fertilizer, realizes the integration of water and fertilizer. Its effective absorption rate is more than double that of ordinary chemical fertilizers, reaching 80%-90%; and the fertilizer effect is fast, which can meet the nutritional needs of high-yield crops during the rapid growth period. The water requirement of the drip irrigation system is only 30% of that of ordinary chemical fertilizers, and the fertilization operation can be almost labor-free, which greatly saves labor costs

 Full nutrition, full water-soluble, easy to absorb

Compared with traditional fertilizer varieties, water-soluble fertilizer has obvious advantages. It is a multi-component compound fertilizer that can be completely soluble in water. It can be quickly dissolved in water, easily absorbed by crops, and has a relatively high absorption and utilization rate. The key is that it can realize the integration of water and fertilizer, and can be used in facility agriculture such as sprinkler and drip irrigation to achieve the efficiency of saving water, fertilizer and labor.

Save water and fertilizer, safe and efficient

Its main features are easy use, small dosage, water and fertilizer saving, low cost, fast absorption, and extremely high nutrient utilization rate. Since the application method of water-soluble fertilizer is irrigation with water, the fertilization is extremely uniform, which also lays a solid foundation for improving yield and quality. People can design formulas according to the nutritional requirements of crop growth. Scientific formulas will not cause fertilizer waste, making its fertilizer utilization rate almost 2-3 times that of conventional compound chemical fertilizers. Water-soluble fertilizers generally have fewer impurities, low conductivity, and the concentration is very convenient to adjust, so it is safe even for young seedlings, without worrying about causing adverse consequences such as burning seedlings, and effectively reducing soil pollution caused by fertilizers.

Quick and controllable, convenient formula fertilization

Water-soluble fertilizer is a quick-acting fertilizer that allows growers to see the effect and performance of the fertilizer more quickly, and can adjust the fertilizer formula according to the different growth and growth period of crops.

Convenient application, time-saving and labor-saving

The application method of water-soluble fertilizer is very simple. It can be applied during irrigation with irrigation water, including sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, etc., which saves water and fertilizer while also saving labor. The benefits of using water-soluble fertilizer are obvious today when labor costs are rising.

Advantages of water-soluble fertilizer: First, water and fertilizer are applied at the same time, and water carries fertilizer, which realizes the integration of water and fertilizer, has high fertilization efficiency, can reduce the total amount of fertilizer, give play to the synergistic effect of fertilizer and water, and significantly improve the utilization efficiency of fertilizer and water. Second, the fertilizer effect is fast, which can meet the nutritional needs of high-yield crops during the rapid growth period.

Disadvantages of water-soluble fertilizer: First, the price of water-soluble fertilizer is generally high, which is not conducive to popularization. Second, it is fast-acting and difficult to store in the soil for a long time. The amount of fertilizer should be strictly controlled. If a little more is used at a time, it will cause fertilizer loss, which will not only reduce the economic benefits of fertilization, but also fail to achieve the purpose of high yield, high quality and high efficiency, and will also cause water environment pollution, which is not conducive to sustainable development.

Application methods of water-soluble fertilizers

Water-soluble fertilizers are not only diverse in variety but also flexible in application methods. There are generally three methods.

Drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and soilless cultivation

In some extremely water-scarce areas, large-scale farms, and high-quality and high-value-added economic crops, people often use drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and soilless cultivation techniques to save irrigation water and improve labor production efficiency. During irrigation, the fertilizer has been dissolved in the water, and watering is also a process of fertilization, that is, water and fertilizer integration. At this time, the nutrients needed by the plant can be obtained through water-soluble fertilizers, which not only saves water and fertilizers, but also improves labor efficiency.

Soil irrigation

When watering or irrigating the soil, mix it in the irrigation water first, so that the roots of the plants can be fully exposed to the fertilizer, and the chemical nutrients are transported to various tissues of the plant through the respiration of the roots.

Foliar fertilization

Dilute and dissolve the water-soluble fertilizer in water for foliar spraying, or dissolve it in water with non-alkaline pesticides for foliar spraying, and enter the plant through the stomata on the leaves. For some young plants or crops with poor root systems, it is the best choice to correct nutrient deficiency symptoms. It greatly improves the efficiency of fertilizer absorption and utilization, and saves the transportation process of plant nutrients in the plant.

Precautions for the use of water-soluble fertilizers

Precautions for the application of water-soluble fertilizers

Small amounts and multiple times are important principles for the rational application of water-soluble fertilizers. Fertilization in small amounts and multiple times is in line with the characteristics of uninterrupted nutrient absorption by plant roots, and can also reduce leaching losses caused by large-scale one-time fertilization.

When applying water-soluble fertilizers, pay attention to the following matters

Fertilizers must be prepared and used immediately, especially in the case of poor water quality, to prevent fertilizer components from reacting with substances in the water.

Choose the right time for fertilization

In sunny days with high temperatures, fertilization should be selected before 10 am and after 4 pm, and avoid fertilization under strong sunlight; avoid fertilization on rainy days, especially foliar spraying, to avoid fertilizer loss.

When applying water-soluble fertilizers with drip irrigation, drip clean water first

When applying water-soluble fertilizers with drip irrigation, drip clean water first. Start fertilizing after the pipe is filled with water. Immediately drip clean water for 20-30 minutes after fertilization to drain all the residual fertilizer liquid in the pipe. If the pipe is not washed, moss, algae or microorganisms may grow at the dripper and block the dripper.

Pay attention to the pH and whether flocculation occurs when mixing

When mixing with pesticides for root irrigation or foliar spraying, avoid mixing acidic fertilizers with alkaline pesticides, or alkaline fertilizers with acidic pesticides. At the same time, pay attention to whether flocculation occurs during mixing. If flocculation occurs, mixing is prohibited.