Vegetable Formula Fertilizer 1

First, vegetables

1. Fertilization Principle: The main approach is to use organic fertilizer, supplemented with other types of fertilizers, such as multi-component fertilizers, and use single-element fertilizers only when necessary.

The primary method is to apply Shiji Fei (a type of organic fertilizer), with additional top-dressing as needed.

2. Base Fertilizer: Base fertilizer is applied to the field before or after planting vegetables. It should primarily consist of organic materials mixed with a proper amount of chemical fertilizers. When deciding on the variety and quantity of base fertilizer, the following points must be considered:

1) Avoid issues caused by high fertilizer concentration;

2) For nitrogen-based base fertilizers, it's best to use nitrate nitrogen rather than ammonia nitrogen;

3) About 70% of the total nitrogen required by crops should be provided through base fertilizer, while the remaining 30% is used for top-dressing;

4) All phosphorus fertilizer should be applied as base fertilizer. Vegetables absorb 100% of phosphorus when they take up 100% of nitrogen. Therefore, the phosphorus content in base fertilizer should not be too high;

5) The amount of potash applied is generally 0.8 to 1.4 times the amount needed by the vegetable crop.

3. Top Dressing: Top dressing refers to the application of fertilizer after sowing or planting. It should be done in appropriate amounts based on the type of vegetable and its growth stage to meet the nutrient needs at different developmental phases.

The focus of top dressing varies depending on the vegetable type:

1) For root or stem vegetables, the emphasis is on promoting the enlargement of roots or stems;

2) For long-growing green leafy vegetables like Chinese cabbage, mustard, and leek, top dressing is mainly applied at the early stage of head formation or bulb development (as in cauliflower);

3) For melons, Solanaceae (like tomatoes and peppers), and legumes, top dressing should focus on the first female flower (pod) formation.

4. Foliar Fertilization: This involves applying a fertilizer solution or powder directly onto the leaves of the vegetable, allowing the plant to absorb nutrients through its foliage. This method is especially useful when soil conditions are poor, such as when the soil is overly wet due to prolonged spring rains. The concentration of the solution used for foliar feeding varies depending on the crop and environmental conditions, typically ranging from 0.1% to 1%.