Why dolomite flour is needed. Dolomite flour: rules for use at their summer cottage

It is made by grinding dolomite stone. This mineral is very common in our country. Today, its production volumes are quite enough to fully meet the needs of the state. Used this product in many areas National economy- in construction, animal husbandry, road construction, in the glass and paint and varnish industries. The very same wide application he found in agriculture. How to properly use dolomite flour on suburban area and we'll talk further.

Use of dolomite flour for soil neutralization

These funds are used primarily to improve acidified soils. The fact that it is impossible to get a good harvest from almost any crop on such land is probably known to all summer residents. The fact is that the roots of plants in acidic soil absorb very poorly nutrients. Even the application of fertilizers and an increase in the "fat content" of the earth does not change the situation. One of the most effective means used to neutralize acidic soil is just dolomite flour. Application in the fall for digging this tool - great way increasing crop yields next year. Limestone flour is applied in certain doses, depending on the degree of acidification of the site.

What other useful qualities does flour have?

Among other things, dolomite flour helps to loosen the soil and enrich it with useful minerals. For example, it contains a lot of calcium. This substance has an unusually beneficial effect on the root system of plants, increasing the efficiency of its work. Horticultural and horticultural crops begin to absorb various forms of substances such as nitrogen, phosphorus, molybdenum, and potassium faster and easier. Dolomite flour also contains magnesium. It is able to stimulate photosynthesis. This substance also has a beneficial effect on the vital activity of various microorganisms useful for plants.

The ability to prevent yield losses due to crop spoilage by certain insect species is also one of the useful qualities fertilizer such as dolomite flour. The use of this substance in autumn will lead to the destruction of the chitinous cover of beetles and worms wintering in the ground. This white dust has a particularly strong effect on the hard integuments of insects at the points of their articulation.

Another interesting property dolomite flour is that it is able to bind radionuclides. Therefore, after introducing it into the soil, you can get a much more environmentally friendly crop of horticultural and horticultural crops. It will keep much better.

How much dolomite flour should be added

In the event that the soil has an acid reaction over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe site, in the fall it is worth completely filling it with dolomite flour. In this case, it is important to correctly calculate the required amount. The dosage depends largely on the composition of the soil. So,

If the soil on the site is loose and light, the dose should be reduced by 1.5 times. On heavy dense soils, on the contrary, it is increased (by 10-15%). The flour should be distributed throughout the garden as evenly as possible. Leveling is done with a rake. Then the soil is dug up on the bayonet of a shovel. Re-treatment of the site will need to be carried out after about 8 years.

Terms of application of limestone flour

Next, let's figure out when exactly dolomite flour can be introduced into the soil. The use of this fertilizer in the fall, as you already understood, is most appropriate. You can apply it to the soil in the spring when planting or even in the summer. However, it is the method of improving the soil with its use before winter that is considered the most effective. Usually, on light soils, dolomite flour is applied to the soil once every 2 years, on heavy soils - once a year. It is best to improve the soil with it in August-October, after harvesting this particular crop. Of course, it is important to observe the correct dosage. For example, in trunk circles currant flour is usually applied in the amount of 500 g per bush. For cherries and plums, it is also used in the fall in the amount of 1-2 kg per plant. If necessary, you can use this tool twice a year - both in spring and autumn.

Which Plants Respond Best to Limestone Powder

Next, we will deal with exactly which plants limestone flour should be applied under. Dolomite flour, the use of which in the fall is a very effective procedure, can be used to increase the yield of almost any garden culture. From fruit trees stone fruits respond best to this substance. Also, when using it, the yield of vegetables is significantly increased. This method of improving the soil is most effective on cabbage. Also, this tool is often used to increase the yield of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and potatoes. It is worth making flour for legumes, salads, barley and cucumbers.

In autumn, dolomite flour should definitely be sprinkled under everything. It can be garlic, winter onions, ornamental garden plants, etc. According to the results of research conducted by scientists, the use of lime flour can increase yields by 4-12%. Most noticeable effect from its use appears in about a year or two after being introduced into the soil.

Of course, there are plants that do not respond too well to a substance such as dolomite flour. The use of this remedy in autumn or at any other time of the year under gooseberries or sorrel is not recommended. Do not use it under cultivated plants and if the soil on the site has a neutral or alkaline reaction.

Compatibility of dolomite flour with other fertilizers

It is also necessary to combine dolomite flour with other fertilizers correctly. In order to enhance its effect, you can use it simultaneously with boric acid or with other substances containing them in their composition. Do not mix limestone flour with urea and ammonium nitrate. It does not mix well with manure either. Since the latter is used very often for plant fertilizer, it is still used simultaneously with dolomite flour. However, one must follow one important recommendation. In autumn, dolomite is scattered over the bed and only then manure. Then everything is dug up.

Which dolomite flour should be used in the fall

As already mentioned, most often limestone flour is used in the fall. When buying it, be sure to pay attention to quality. It is determined by the fineness of the grind. In addition, it also depends on the raw materials from which the flour was produced. Depending on these two factors, lime flour is divided into classes and groups. In agriculture, rather small (with particles up to 1 mm) dolomite flour is usually used. As a fertilizer, you can also use its burnt version. Such flour has the advantage over ordinary flour that magnesium is better absorbed by plants from it.

What is the conclusion from all this?

As you can see, limestone flour is a useful fertilizer and does not have any negative side effects on plants. Of course, only if correct use. The effectiveness of the use of dolomite flour is directly dependent on the correct dosage. Before applying this fertilizer, it is imperative to conduct research on the level of soil acidity. At pH greater than 6 is unnecessary. Do not use flour in combination with incompatible fertilizers.

Dolomite flour is called crushed dolomite - rock, chemical formula which looks like CaMg(CO2). it effective remedy to reduce the level of soil acidity, the main advantages of which include, first of all, affordable price and environmental friendliness. It is thanks to this that the fertilizer described in the article is very popular among owners of suburban areas.

Features and advantages over other means

The use of dolomite flour is convenient way reducing soil acidity. The substance is a crystalline mineral with a light color (gray or white, rarely reddish) and a characteristic luster.

A feature that distinguishes dolomite chips from other means of a similar action is not only a lower cost, but a much lower consumption. Moreover, slaked lime, for example, which contains a hydroxo group and a calcium ion, reduces the acidity of the soil too sharply, as a result of which plants, unable to get used to such conditions, begin to absorb phosphorus very slowly. That is why lime is applied only in the fall after harvesting - in this case, the soil will still have enough time to find a chemical balance for the new garden season.

Another powerful deacidifier is wood ash. The concentration of calcium salts in it - the main active substance - ranges from 30-60%, but the difficulty is that it is not possible to determine the exact composition. The concentration of calcium salts depends, first of all, on the rock from which the ash was produced, on which parts of the plants were used (branches, trunk, etc.), as well as on the characteristics of the soil and climate conditions in that region, where these trees grow. Independently, without resorting to chemical analysis, it is impossible to accurately determine the required amount of ash, which means that people act at random. By the way, ash is usually used for seedlings and flowerpots, because it contains a lot of phosphorus and potassium.

Note! The volume of ash or lime should be approximately twice as large as that of dolomite flour, subject to the same area.

How does dolomite affect the soil

In the described fertilizer, as noted above, a large percentage of calcium. If the soil is used for a long time under fruit plants, then it worsens over time chemical characteristics, which means that the lost elements must somehow be replenished. The use of dolomite flour makes it possible to artificially maintain the required concentration of hydrogen and calcium ions.

Penetrating into the soil, this fertilizer not only normalizes its acidity, but also enriches it with microelements necessary for plants. But when and how should fertilizer be applied? One of the differences between the mineral is its versatility: not only can you fertilize the site almost all year round, but flour also increases the yield of all crops: vegetables, fruits and grains. Finally, fertilizer efficiency is equally high in the garden, in the greenhouse and even in the house (if we are talking about indoor plants).

But it is especially effective on:

sandy soil;
soil with a low concentration of magnesium.

As for the soil with a neutral pH level, it is better not to use flour here, because this can cause a violation of the natural chemical balance.

The fertilizer applied to the soil has the following effects:

improves its biological characteristics;
improves plant photosynthesis;
increases the concentration of various minerals and trace elements that are necessary for plants;
helps to bring out environmentally friendly products;
increases the effectiveness of other means applied to the soil;
improves productivity;
improves the quality of nutrition of crops;
finally, due to the presence of calcium in its composition, the flour activates the development of both ground and underground parts (rhizomes).

Note! In addition to all this, dolomite flour is an excellent remedy for harmful insects which is completely non-toxic. Small particles of the product play the role of an irritating abrasive that destroys the chitinous shells of insects.

Video - Soil deoxidation with dolomite flour

Methods for determining acidity

In order to determine the right amount of fertilizer, you must first find out what the mechanical composition of the soil is (for example, clay or sandy) and its acidity level. Usually, disposable tests or other special devices (for example, the KS-300V soil analyzer) are used for this, which are sold in all gardening stores.

Acidity is expressed in pH, it is indicated by numbers from 0 to 14 and can be:

weak (more than 7);
neutral (pH is 7);
high (less than 7).

By the way, it is possible to determine the acidity of the soil with the help of improvised means.

Determination of soil acidity by improvised means

Method number 1. Pour a small amount of table vinegar onto a handful of earth.

If as a result a violent reaction began with the formation of foam, then the earth is either neutral or non-acidic.

The absence of a reaction (the vinegar simply soaked into the soil) indicates that the acidity is increased.

Method number 2. In a glass of grape juice, you need to lower a lump of earth.

If the color of the contents changes, and bubbles form on the surface, then the soil is either neutral or slightly acidic.

Method number 3. Weeds will not grow in soil that is not suitable for them in terms of acidity. That is why they can be used as a kind of indicators indicating the level of pH.

On soil with low acidity, coltsfoot, clover and wheatgrass grow.

On soil with neutral acidity - nettle, quinoa.

If the acidity is high, then plantain and wood lice will grow on the site.

Note! The effectiveness of the fertilizer will increase markedly if boric acid is applied along with it in combination with copper sulphate.

Another useful video that can help in determining the properties of the soil before the deoxidation procedure.

Video - Folk methods for determining the pH level

Dolomite flour how to use in the garden

The specific proportions of the mineral depend on the level of acidity. So, approximately 0.6 kg / m? should be added to acidic soil, if it is slightly acidic, then no more than 0.35 kg / m?, and if neutral, then a maximum of 0.5 kg / m?. If the soil on the site is sandy, then the amount of flour should be reduced by one and a half times, and if it is clayey, it should be increased by about 15%.

Note! It is possible to increase the efficiency of fertilizer by distributing it as evenly as possible. If the flour is sprinkled correctly, then the benefits from it will be enough for about eight to ten years.

Do not forget that plants react differently to the application of the agent. In this regard, cultures can be divided into several groups.

Table. Groups of plants according to sensitivity to acidity

Group	Short description
	These plants include sainfoin, beets, alfalfa and cabbage. All of these plants are comfortable with a neutral or low level of acidity. You can increase the yield by applying the product to non-acidic soil.
	Onion, barley, wheat, clover, beans, soybeans, cucumbers and corn cannot grow on acidic soils. Ideally, such crops should be planted on soil with weak or neutral acidity.
	This group includes timothy, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, millet, buckwheat, and rye. All these plants grow equally well on soils with a pH level of 4 to 7.5.
	This includes potatoes and flax. For example, if you grow potatoes in acidic soil, then sooner or later it will become infected with scab, which will significantly reduce the level of starch in the tubers. Flax under such conditions will become infected with calcium chlorosis, which will lead to a deterioration in the quality of the fibers.

When to fertilize?

As noted above, the described fertilizer can be used regardless of the season, since it does not affect either the composition of the soil or the intensity of absorption of other useful substances. But in most cases, flour is scattered before using other fertilizers, since it does not organically interact with all of them.

If vegetables are grown on the site, then dolomite flour crumbles in the spring, two to three weeks before planting. This tool not only nourishes, but also sanitizes the soil, which is especially important, for example, for potatoes prone to various diseases, whose development dolomite can stop. In addition, it is important for potatoes that the fertilizer fights pests. What about crop nutrition? closed type, then the introduction of the mineral in the greenhouse will prevent the spread of fungi.

In autumn, it is recommended to fertilize the soil under fruit bushes and trees. Here, about 2 kg of fertilizer must be applied under each tree (along the edge, with a slight depth), and for shrubs - from 0.5 kg to 1 kg (it all depends on size) in a similar way.

Dolomite must not be mixed with superphosphate, urea or ammonium nitrate, otherwise a dangerous reaction may begin.
Clay soil should be fertilized annually.
Gooseberries or sorrel cannot be fertilized with flour.
The fertilizer should be distributed as evenly as possible, thoroughly mixing with the soil and loosening by about 15 cm (except for shrubs and trees).
In the spring, vegetables can be periodically watered with dolomite "milk" (a mineral diluted with water).
Manure is also good for the soil, but it is forbidden to mix it with flour. First you need to scatter fertilizer, then - manure, and only after that the site can be dug up.
Turnip and cabbage yields will improve if flour is applied directly at the time of planting.
Plums with cherries need to be fertilized every year after harvesting the fruits (dosage is described above). So the fruits will be large and juicy.
When growing blackcurrant, flour should be sprinkled every two years (0.5-1 kg per bush, depending on size).

As a result, we note that dolomite flour acts gradually, so you should not expect an instant positive effect. Greatest Benefit observed two to three years after fertilization - the yield increases by 10-15%.

In order to get a good harvest and healthy plants, it is necessary to feed them, as well as monitor the acidity of the soil. If the soil is alkaline, then acidity problems are not terrible for it, otherwise its level should be maintained by adding lime or dolomite flour.

What are the properties of dolomite flour?

The mineral substance, which is called dolomite, is brought to a powder state by crushing, so dolomite flour is obtained. Such a tool is inexpensive and of high quality, it is used to neutralize the acidity of the soil, and enrich it with useful elements.

Dolomite flour is rich in potassium and magnesium, these substances allow plants to fully develop. In addition to the fact that dolomite flour creates a suitable and favorable composition for plants, it has other useful properties.

Dolomite flour can improve the consistency of the soil.
Such a tool creates a favorable environment in the soil for the development of various microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on it.
The constant use of dolomite flour nourishes the topsoil with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. And also increases the usefulness of the applied mineral fertilizers.
The use of dolomite flour cleans the fruits of plants from radionuclides, and they become environmentally friendly.
The soil is saturated with a useful element, magnesium, without it the process of photosynthesis does not occur, the efficiency of organic fertilizers increases.
Such a tool is able to destroy pests, while not harming plants and their fruits.

How is dolomite flour used?

Dolomite flour is actively used in horticulture, horticulture and floriculture. It can be added to an open area or in a greenhouse. This tool is used for sandy or sandy soils in which there is a lack of magnesium. Before adding dolomite to the soil, it is necessary to determine its acidity, for this, litmus paper is used.

With an increased level of acidity, such a tool is not used. And if this figure is below 4.5, then use dolomite flour for one square meter about 600 grams. With an average acidity of 4.5 to 5.2, add 500 grams per square meter. If the acidity of the soil exceeds the number 5.2, then 400 grams of dolomite flour are added.

AT without fail the correct dosage must be observed, otherwise the soil structure may deteriorate. The introduction of dolomite flour can be combined with organic fertilizers.

Milk of lime can be made from dolomite flour, it is better absorbed by plants than a pure composition. For example, with this fertilizer, beets give a rich harvest and healthy tops.

Also, with the help of dolomite flour, liming is performed garden plants, that is, trees and shrubs, do this every two years. This tool helps to actively fight pests.

Dolomite flour cannot be used in conjunction with mineral fertilizers, superphosphate, urea or nitrate.

What are the properties of lime?

Lime is obtained by burning carbonate rock. The material is divided into three types, but the most common is slaked lime, which is obtained by adding water. So that the tool does not lose useful properties, when extinguishing it, use cold water.

Lime is rich in calcium, it is this element that contributes to the development and vital activity various plants. Thanks to this fertilizer, the plants become stronger, and are not subject to various diseases that arise due to a lack of calcium.

After liming, nodule bacteria actively multiply in the soil, which help to retain nitrogen in the soil after loosening. As a result, nitrogen is actively supplied to the roots, and the plant fully develops, receiving useful elements. The movement of carbohydrates through plant tissues improves. Due to calcium, the elements dissolve well in the aquatic environment. When lime is added to the compost pit, beneficial bacteria are created that are able to release and mineralize nitrogen from organic matter. Calcium contributes to the rapid breakdown of organic elements, and the creation of humus, maintains neutral acidity in the soil.

Lime prevents the release of toxic substances from heavy metals, makes the soil structure ideal, it takes on the appearance of lumps, and not flowability.

How is lime used?

Lime is used to normalize the soil acidity index, liming is carried out once every five years. With active exploitation of the soil, such work is carried out once every three years. First, you need to pay attention to the soil itself, if horsetail, wormwood or moss is actively spreading on it, then the earth needs to be treated with lime.

The main work on liming must be carried out in the autumn, and in the spring only partial processing can be done, adding a small amount of the agent. AT spring period you need to observe a gap before planting seedlings or seeds for about seven days.

When using only mineral fertilizers, the processes of liming the soil must be increased. And use natural fertilizers contributes to the independent maintenance of a normal acidity index, so the use of lime will be superfluous.

Tree trunks are also whitewashed with lime, this helps to prevent the appearance of pests. The tool is effective and inexpensive, it is done in the spring and autumn.

Dolomite flour or lime which is better?

Compared to lime, dolomite flour contains eight percent more calcium. Thanks to this element, it is well formed and developed root system plants and improves soil structure. Also, dolomite contains 40 percent magnesium, it contributes to the passage of photosynthesis in plants, and this element is absent in lime.

With a lack of magnesium in the soil, the shoots develop poorly, the leaves may wither and fall off, and the plant itself may be subject to various diseases that are difficult to fight.

To normalize acidity, slaked lime is used, that is, fluff, its cost is lower than dolomite flour. Using lime is the most powerful way to restore soil acidity. Calcium, which is part of its composition, is in the form of hydroxide, and in dolomite it comes as a carbonate. That is, lime has an active effect on soil acidity than dolomite one and a half times.

Lime helps to restore the acidity of the soil faster, but it also has its drawbacks. Immediately after its introduction, it is quite difficult for the plant to absorb such necessary elements as nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, lime is applied in advance before planting, so that the soil can rest. Lime is usually used in the fall to keep the soil free throughout the winter.

Dolomite differs from lime in that it can be used at any time, so it is actively used to normalize the acidity of the soil.

When should lime and dolomite flour be used?

You can fertilize the site with dolomite flour in any season, this remedy does not negative impact on plants and allows them to favorably absorb other nutrients from the soil. But this remedy must be applied before the rest of the fertilizers, since it is not combined with all types of dressings.

If the fertilizer will be produced in the area where vegetables are planted, in the spring, flour must be scattered over the entire surface two weeks before planting. Dolomite flour is able to improve the structure of the soil, fertilize it, and prevent the development of diseases. With this tool, you can actively fight pests that infect potatoes and other crops, for example, a bear or a Colorado potato beetle. In the spring, such fertilizer is especially important, as it acts as mineral dressings for plants, and kills fungal diseases. In autumn, dolomite flour can be used to process and feed plants in the garden, that is, trees and shrubs. For one tree, you will need 2 kilograms of dolomite flour, and for a bush - up to 1 kilogram, it is buried in the soil under the plant.

Lime is also used to normalize the acidity of the soil. But this should be done only on the ground where hyperacidity. If the soil is not acidic, then liming is not performed. I process the soil with lime in the preparation of the planned site or garden. If it is planned to plant strawberries on the site, then liming is carried out two years before the work. You can also apply lime after the plants have grown stronger, that is, two months after they were planted. Liming the garden can be carried out in any season. The tool is applied in the autumn and spring during the digging of the soil.

Lime must be thoroughly mixed with the earth, so it is used in a powdered state. It is forbidden to use quicklime, as it comes in lumps, and you can oversaturate the soil. You can extinguish it with water per 100 kilograms of material 4 buckets of liquid, only after that lime is used as a fertilizer.

Lime is poured evenly over the entire earth, while the correct dosage must be observed. If the soil has a loamy and clayey character, then up to 14 kilograms of such a product is applied per 10 square meters, this fertilizer is enough for 15 years. And for sandy and sandy loamy soils, add up to 1.5 kilograms to the same area, this is enough for two years. If the dosage is not observed or exceeded, the soil can be oversaturated and become harmful to plants.

How to determine the acidity of the soil?

Before applying fertilizers in the form of dolomite flour or lime, it is necessary to determine the acidity of the soil in the area so as not to oversaturate the earth. This is done in several ways, with the help of weeds, vinegar, grape juice or special devices.

Weed grass will not grow on soil that does not meet normal acidity. They can serve as a certain indicator of the acidity of the soil. On a site with low acidity, chamomile, dandelions, wheatgrass and clover are actively growing. On too acidic soil, plantain, buttercup or wood lice grow well, and on land with a neutral indicator, nettle or quinoa grows well.

With the help of vinegar, you can easily, simply and quickly determine the acidity of the soil. A few drops of table vinegar are applied to the soil, if it swells and bubbles appear, then the soil is neutral or acidic.

Also, acidity can be checked with grape juice, they put earth in it, and if it changes its color, and bubbles appear on the surface, then the soil is neutral.

The most reliable determination of soil acidity is the use of special instruments, such as a pH meter or litmus paper. This allows you to accurately determine the acidity of the soil.

The difference in the use of dolomite flour from lime

Dolomite flour is not capable of harming plants and burning their leaves, so it can be used not only for vegetable plants but also to fertilize lawns. It can be used in any season. And it is better to apply lime in the autumn, so that the earth rests, since after such fertilizer, it is necessary to wait for time for planting.

Dolomite flour and lime cannot be combined with mineral fertilizers such as saltpeter, superphosphate or urea. Lime is very rarely used to reduce or normalize acidity, since it has a harsher effect, this can lead to oversaturation of the soil, and plant burns.

Liming the soil increases the effectiveness of organic fertilizer, it begins to decompose faster and nourish the plants. Lime can be combined with manure for fertilizer, while the amount organic feeding reduce. But before using such fertilizers, it is necessary to determine the acidity of the soil on the site.

Dolomite flour has become one of the most popular natural fertilizers that summer residents use on their site. It is used as a soil deoxidizer, enriches it with microelements, facilitates the fight against weeds and some types of insects.

Article outline

Fertilizer Description

Fertilizer dolomite flour is a powdered top dressing that is made from dolomite- a crystalline carbonate mineral that has a white, brown or grayish color. Sometimes top dressing gets a reddish or brownish tint. Dolomite deoxidizer is prepared by crushing into fractions, resulting in fine sand, more like flour.

Grinding has become widespread due to its low cost and soft action on the ground. For comparison: slaked lime enriched with calcium does not allow crops to quickly adapt to conditions, as it dramatically changes the composition of the soil, and when using ash to reduce acidity, there are often problems with the selection of dosage.

Properties of dolomite flour

The composition of dolomite flour includes two main components - calcium and manium. The first provides accelerated education root system of crops, and the second positively affects the processes of photosynthesis.

Fertilizer is useful for vegetables (beets, potatoes, carrots, onions), herbaceous plants(flax, buckwheat, clover), fruit bushes and trees (plum, cherry).

A good result can be obtained both when applying to the beds throughout the site, and when enriching the soil in greenhouses, greenhouses and even at home. flower pots. Most often, dolomite rock powder is poured into the ground, poor in magnesium, sandy and sandy loamy soils.

The effect of adding dolomite flour

This type of deoxidizer is used for:

ensuring proper nutrition of the root system of planted crops;
improvement of soil characteristics at the physical, chemical and biological level;
saturation of plants with useful substances during the period of applying other mineral fertilizers;
acceleration of metabolic processes occurring during photosynthesis;
increasing the likelihood of product safety, improving its taste properties;
formation of a strong and voluminous root system;
control of terrestrial insects.

However, you should not start making dolomite flour immediately after the gardener has learned about all its beneficial properties. Although the fertilizer is natural and does not seem to harm the site, it will still require some preparatory steps.

The first thing a gardener who decides to use dolomite grinding should do is to find out what the acidity of the soil is. This procedure will avoid excessive application of powder, which can harm plants in large quantities.

When determining acidity, they rely on a scale from 0 to 14. Accordingly, soils are divided into 3 types according to the pH level:

weak - from 7+;
neutral - exactly 7;
sour below 7.

The mechanical composition of the soil is also important, which component prevails in it (clay, sand, humus).

When determining the acidity of the soil, special pH testers which can be purchased at a gardening store. You can also find out if the land on the site is acidic or not at home, resorting to the use of improvised means.

Methods for determining pH:

With acetic acid. Take a little earth at the tip of the spatula, pour it with table vinegar. If foam begins to appear, then the soil is non-acidic or neutral. The absorption of liquid into the ground indicates increased acidity.
With natural grape juice. Dial it into a container, dip a little earth there. The juice changed color and bubbles appeared - the soil is slightly acidic or neutral.
Site inspection. Before using dolomite flour, observe which weeds grow in your garden. Acidic soils are a place for woodlice, plantain, chamomile, dandelions, coltsfoot are placed on slightly acidic soils, nettles, quinoa are placed on neutral ones.

The most accurate readings can be obtained by applying special tests.

About plants-indicators of soil acidity (how to determine acidity)

Only after determining the acidity of the soil can the introduction of dolomite flour begin. When choosing a dosage, they are guided by pH, mechanical composition, place of use and whether mixing with other mineral additives will be carried out.

So, how much dolomite flour is needed per hundred square meters:

if the pH is less than 4.5 units, then the soil is acidic. When using dolomite powder, they are guided by a proportion of 50 kg per 1 weave;
the pH level in the range of 4.5-5.2 indicates the presence of moderately acidic soil, so the amount of flour is reduced - 45 kg per 1 weave;
a pH value of 5.2-5.7 is a sign slightly acidic soil, which needs the introduction of a deoxidizer in the amount of 35-40 kg per 1 weave.

Amendments to the dosage are made taking into account the structure of the soil. If it is loamy or aluminous, then the amount of dolomite grinding is increased by 10-15%, on light soils, on the contrary, the volume of powder is reduced by one and a half times.

Before buying fertilizer, do not forget to calculate how much it is needed for the entire area. Manufacturers of dolomite flour offer different packaging and supply top dressing in bags, bags or in bulk. So, for example, for a plot of 6 acres, about 300 kg of product will be required.

Prices for dolomite powder are more than democratic, and given that the application must be carried out every 4 years, you can provide for yourself good harvest without thousands of investments.

Combined formulations also give good results. It is permissible to combine dolomite flour with compost, boric acid,. Since dolomite normalizes the acidic environment, it promotes the reproduction of worms, which in turn accelerate the process of processing organic substances in humus.

What are the terms of application of fertilizer

Summer residents, in addition to the dosage of top dressing, are also interested in when to apply dolomite flour. In some cases, it is appropriate to carry out liming with a dolomite deoxidizer in the spring, simultaneously with planting. But most often the use of this fertilizer is practiced in the autumn months - from August to October.

It is advisable to sprinkle the powder over the area immediately after harvesting, this will help the soil prepare in winter for the new season and will not harm the crops.

Dolomite or lime - pros and cons

In order to change the composition of the soil, some gardeners use slaked lime, dolomite flour is considered to be a more expensive product in comparison with it. Also (Ca (OH)) is known among gardeners as "fluff". But do people who use lime on their site really win?

Here it is necessary first of all to recall the characteristics of both fertilizers. In limestone flour, calcium is present in the form of hydroxide, therefore it has a stronger effect on the soil. In the grinding of dolomite, Ca is present as carbonate, changing the acidity of the earth more gently.

Thus, when lime is applied to the area, the result will be visible faster, since the substance acts more actively. However, one cannot fail to mention reverse side such an advantage. A large dose of hydroxide, which begins to dramatically change the composition of the soil, prevents plants from obtaining essential trace elements for growth. In particular, we are talking about nitrogen and phosphorus.

For these reasons, after the introduction of lime, a period of time must pass, and the earth must be allowed to “rest”. Dolomite powder is allowed to be applied at any time of the year, even in autumn, even in spring. What is better, dolomite flour or lime, the gardener already decides for himself, based on their beneficial properties of each fertilizer and the negative consequences that their use may entail.

There are several secrets on how to use dolomite flour in the garden, and summer residents have long figured out which plants are most susceptible to this fertilizer.

As for crops, dolomite will be useful in the following cases:

when applied to beds where vegetables are planted, including tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, eggplant, potatoes;
to enhance the growth of lettuce, herbs, barley, legumes, cucumbers;
to improve the yield of winter crops (garlic, onion);
when growing stone fruit trees.

Dolomite flour for potatoes it is introduced only when it turns out that the site has acidic or medium acidic soil. The fertilizer is used to reduce infection of tubers with scab and starch deficiency in potatoes, and also allows you to fight the main pest of this crop - the Colorado potato beetle. The powder is scattered over the field so that it mixes with the ground during plowing.

Dolomite flour is added under strawberries. Usually fertilizer is prepared from several components and used in the fall so as not to harm young plants during transplantation. To make top dressing, take 2 tablespoons of nitrophoska per 1 square meter, which are combined with 1 cup of ash and 2 cups of dolomite grinding.

Fruit trees(cherries and plums) are fed once a year in the autumn, bringing 1-2 kg of powder under the bush. Dolomite flour for apple trees is used less frequently - once every 2-3 years, and only if the soil is highly acidic, with slightly acidic soil, fertilizer will be required every 5-7 years.

Enriched with calcium in the same way. Fertilizer is applied in the fall at the rate of 0.5-1 kg per plant, the powder is scattered, focusing on the location of the edge of the near-stem circle.

If it is decided to use dolomite flour on the site, then it is important to distribute it evenly over the surface of the earth, and loosen it a little, deepening by 10-15 cm.

Stirring will allow the mineral to act immediately, changing the acidity in the area. If loosening or digging was not performed, then the effect of making potash fertilizer will only appear on next year when the substance gets deeper into the soil along with precipitation and melted snow.

Proper application of dolomite flour for cherries and plums

How to prevent plant death

An excess of a mineral can cause backfire for the growth of crops, and leave the owner of the site without a large share of the crop. To prevent this from happening, you need to know some of the features of dolomite flour, its use in gardening. So, here are some rules for using this natural top dressing:

always before deoxidation, it is necessary to assess the condition of the soil, determine whether it is really necessary to change the level of acidity and apply viburnum-magnesium fertilizers. If it turns out that the pH exceeds the mark of 6 units, then it is better to postpone liming until the time when it is really needed;
it is important to choose the right dosage so as not to harm the plants, especially young ones that are planted in the spring months;
compatibility with other fertilizers should always be taken into account, whether they are applied in combination or one after another.

Here are some more ground rules:

you can not combine dolomite flour with,. It is not recommended to mix dolomite with organic fertilizers (). If, nevertheless, the summer resident decided to certainly use flour and manure, then the powder is added early autumn, and organics later, then the soil is subjected to digging and leveling.
when buying dolomite flour, read the instructions for use on the package;
it is advisable not to use this fertilizer to enhance the growth of certain crops, these include sorrel, blueberries, gooseberry bushes, cranberries.

The correct use of dolomite flour will help you increase the yield by up to 10-15%, and top dressing will act gradually, showing its effectiveness over 2-3 years.