Is wood ash a common potash fertilizer? (The efficacy and function of wood ash in plants)

Wood ash is a good potassium fertilizer

The potassium content in wood ash is about 5%, which is the highest among other organic fertilizers , and the water-soluble "potassium" contained in it reaches more than 80%.

When making wood ash, the ash produced by high-temperature combustion will have a lower potassium content. However, the black carbonized ash produced by low-temperature smoldering has a higher potassium content. This is why we used to cover the rice straw with soil to let it smolder when we burned it in the countryside.

There are many uses for plant ash

1. The water-soluble potassium in wood ash can be quickly dissolved by water, and then carried into the plant body by water to quickly replenish potassium.

2. Potassium is second only to nitrogen fertilizer in the growth process of plants. It can improve the environmental adaptability of plants and enhance their disease resistance.

3. Wood ash is alkaline, and after use, it can effectively prevent the growth of acid-loving bacteria in the soil. When wood ash is first applied, pests in the soil will be suffocated, and it can also drive away pests such as snails and slugs on the surface of the soil.

4. The potassium element in wood ash is recommended to increase the fruit setting rate. Applying wood ash when the flower buds fall and the fruits are just about to bear fruit can increase the fruit setting rate and make the fruits expand quickly.

What should you pay attention to when applying wood ash?

1. Wood ash is an alkaline fertilizer. When applying it, be careful not to apply it together with slightly acidic fertilizers. They will react chemically with each other and transform into elements that cannot be absorbed by plants or are ineffective for absorption.

2. The water-soluble potassium in plant ash is the most common. After making it, it cannot be exposed to rain. Otherwise, a large amount of potassium will be lost. It cannot play the role of potassium supplementation when fertilizing.

3. Plant ash is mostly lignin, with very little cellulose. Lignin is rotten, so when using plant ash, it cannot be used frequently. The fine particles after rot have strong adhesion, which will cause soil compaction.

4. When applying wood ash, it is best to use a shallow burial method. After potassium is dissolved by water, it exists above the soil and is easy to volatilize. It is also easy to lose in the rain.