Water-soluble fertilizers have obvious advantages in improving fertilizer utilization rate, saving agricultural water, reducing ecological and environmental pollution, improving crop quality and reducing labor force. However, when applying, the following fertilization techniques should be mastered in combination with its characteristics:

1. Avoid direct application by flushing; instead, use secondary dilution

Water-soluble fertilizers have a higher nutrient content than general compound fertilizers and require relatively less application. Direct flushing application can easily lead to phenomena such as burning seedlings, damaging roots, and making the seedlings small and weak. Secondary dilution not only helps to apply the fertilizer evenly but also improves the utilization rate of the fertilizer.

2. Apply in small amounts multiple times

Due to the strong quick-acting nature of water-soluble fertilizers, they are difficult to remain in the soil for a long time. The most important principle of fertilization is to apply small amounts frequently, which conforms to the characteristic of continuous nutrient absorption by plant roots and reduces the leaching loss caused by large-scale fertilization at one time. The general dosage is 3 to 6 kilograms per mu each time.

Iii. Pay attention to nutrient balance

Water-soluble fertilizers are generally applied by watering, spraying, or mixed into water and used along with irrigation (drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation). It should be noted that when using drip irrigation for fertilization, due to the dense and large root growth of crops, their dependence on soil nutrient supply decreases, and they rely more on the nutrients provided by drip irrigation. If the formula of water-soluble fertilizer is unbalanced, it will affect the growth of crops. In addition, water-soluble fertilizers must not be applied along with traditional irrigation methods such as flood irrigation or running water irrigation to avoid fertilizer waste and uneven application.

4. Application in combination

Water-soluble fertilizers are quick-acting fertilizers and are generally only used as top dressings. Especially in conventional agricultural production, water-soluble fertilizers cannot replace other conventional fertilizers. It is necessary to combine base fertilizer with top dressing, organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer, and water-soluble fertilizer with conventional fertilizer, so as to reduce costs and give full play to the advantages of various fertilizers.

V. Try to use it alone or mix it with non-alkaline pesticides

When vegetables show signs of nutrient deficiency or have poor root growth, many farmers often use the method of spraying water-soluble fertilizers to alleviate the symptoms. Hereby, it is reminded that water-soluble fertilizers should be applied alone or mixed with non-alkaline pesticides as much as possible to avoid the reaction of metal ions and the formation of precipitates, which may cause fertilizer or pesticide damage to the leaves.

Six. Avoid excessive irrigation

When irrigating with fertilization as the main purpose, it is sufficient to achieve deep moisture in the root layer. The depth of the root layer varies greatly among different crops. You can use a shovel to dig up the soil at any time to understand the specific depth of the root layer. Excessive irrigation not only wastes water but also causes nutrients to be leachate below the root layer, preventing crops from absorbing them and resulting in the waste of fertilizers. Especially, urea and nitrate nitrogen fertilizers in water-soluble fertilizers (such as potassium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, nitrophosphate fertilizers and water-soluble fertilizers containing nitrate nitrogen) are very likely to be lost with water.

Vii. Prevent the accumulation of salt on the surface

Long-term use of drip irrigation and fertilization in greenhouses or greenhouses can lead to the accumulation of salt on the surface, affecting root growth. Sub-film drip irrigation can be adopted to inhibit the migration of salts to the surface layer

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