The correct way to use wood ash

Wood ash is a traditional organic fertilizer that is rich in mineral elements such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and has a good promoting effect on crop growth. So how to use wood ash effectively? Let’s take a look at the correct way to use wood ash.

1. How to use wood ash

1. Use alone

Wood ash should not be mixed with organic farmyard manure or ammonium nitrogen fertilizer to avoid acid-base neutralization which will cause ammonia volatilization and reduce fertilizer efficiency. It should not be mixed with phosphate fertilizer to avoid phosphorus fixation and reduce the fertilizer efficiency of phosphate fertilizer.

2. Soil application

Wood ash is suitable for clay, acidic or neutral soil. It can be used as base fertilizer, seed fertilizer and topdressing fertilizer.

(1) When used as base fertilizer, the amount used per mu is generally 50-100 kg, and it should be separated from seeds to prevent seed burn.

(2) When using fertilizer as seed fertilizer, the amount of fertilizer should not be too large and it should be separated from the seeds.

(3) When applying topdressing, it is best to apply it in a concentrated manner, at a depth of 8-10 cm, and cover with soil after application.

3. Foliar fertilization

More than 90% of the potassium in wood ash is soluble in water and can be used as foliar fertilizer. You can use 1% wood ash extract for foliage spraying, with a spreading rate of 20-40 kg per mu.

2. Precautions for the use of wood ash

1. Understand soil properties

Before using wood ash, you must first understand the properties of the soil. For acidic soil, you can apply an appropriate amount of wood ash to neutralize the acidity; for neutral or alkaline soil, use wood ash with caution to avoid making the soil too alkaline.

2. Pay attention to the mixing effect

Wood ash should not be mixed with acidic quick-acting fertilizers to prevent chemical reactions and reduce fertilizer efficiency.

3. Deeply apply

90% of the potassium contained in wood ash is potassium carbonate, which is soluble in water and easily lost with the water. Therefore, when applying wood ash, it should be applied deeply.

4. Control dosage

When spreading wood ash on the ground, the principle of "small amounts and multiple times" should be followed to avoid spreading too much at one time.

5. Save correctly

Wood ash should be stored in a dry, ventilated place, away from moisture and rain. If wood ash remains wet for a long time, it will cause nutrient loss and reduce fertilizer efficiency.

In general, wood ash is suitable for all kinds of soils, responds well to a variety of crops, can be used as base fertilizer, topdressing and seed fertilizer, and has a wide range of uses. But you must master the correct usage to avoid counterproductive effects.