Timely soil disinfection in a plot helps protect plants from fungi and diseases and improve crop yields. Copper sulfate is applied to the soil before planting and at the end of the season. In agriculture, the solution is used not only as an antiseptic. When growing plants, the powder is used as a copper-sulfur fertilizer and fungicide.
Why is the soil treated with copper sulfate?
Fungal diseases, rot, rust, late blight, fusarium, and scab cause significant damage to crops. Failure to disinfect the soil before planting can significantly reduce yields.
Copper sulfate is used to disinfect soil. It also effectively kills chewing and sucking pests and helps increase plant resistance to disease. Its activity increases in alkaline soils.
How to prepare a working mixture
Excess copper in the soil negatively impacts plants (slowed growth, fruit and foliage loss). Therefore, it's important to use copper sulfate correctly. Soil is most often treated with a 1% working solution, prepared according to a standard formula:
- 100 g of powder is diluted with several liters of water heated to 45-50 °C;
- the concentrated solution is poured into a 10-liter container;
- Fill the container completely with water, stirring thoroughly.
When working with the substance, use plastic or glass containers. It is recommended to dilute the preparation before use.
Land cultivation rules
Copper sulfate is used to treat various areas (gardens, beds, greenhouses). However, the rules for its application must be followed.
For the garden
Autumn preventative soil treatment in the garden is performed after the leaves fall from trees and shrubs. The soil is sprayed to prevent pathogens and fungal spores from overwintering in the soil.
In spring, it's best to use copper sulfate in the first days of March, when temperatures rise to 4-5°C. Disinfection is carried out with a 3-5% concentration of the product. A standard sprayer is used for treatment. The product is evenly distributed over the area and then incorporated into the soil. Garden plots are disinfected once every 3-5 years. Experienced gardeners recommend simultaneously incorporating compost or humus into the soil.
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Vegetables
The product has a systemic effect and is highly effective against a range of diseases. The working solution is used for soil disinfection when spraying garden beds.
The soil is treated a week before sowing seeds or planting seedlings. The soil is sprayed with a 3% solution. To prepare a concentrated solution, 30 grams of powder is diluted in a liter of hot water and mixed thoroughly. It is recommended to treat the soil before planting potatoes to prevent tuber damage from late blight.
For the greenhouse
To prepare the soil for planting crops, preparatory work is carried out in the fall. There are various ways to disinfect the soil. However, copper sulfate is considered the most effective.
The recommended dosage is one tablespoon of powder per 10 liters of water. A concentrated solution is prepared first, then poured into a sprayer tank and filled with water. After spraying, the greenhouse beds are shallowly dug over.
For the soil
In the fall, before applying copper sulfate to the soil, dig up annual crops and collect any remaining leaves, branches, and stems. The area is dug over, breaking up large clods of soil and thoroughly crushing them.
To spray the soil, prepare a solution: dissolve 5 grams of copper sulfate in 5 liters of warm water. Add another 5 liters of warm water to the concentrated solution. The recommended application rate for the working solution in the garden is 2 liters per square meter of soil.
Safety precautions at work
The substance is considered low-toxic. However, when using and preparing the solution, observe the following precautions:
- during work, use personal protective equipment (rubber gloves, safety glasses, respirator);
- Spraying is carried out in calm, dry weather;
- During spraying, it is prohibited to drink, smoke, or remove personal protective equipment.
If the dry powder or concentrated solution is accidentally swallowed, perform gastric lavage with a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate and induce vomiting. The victim should take a saline laxative (1-2 tablespoons of magnesium sulfate).
Using copper sulfate to treat a site is an optimal and inexpensive option for soil disinfection. To achieve the desired results, it's important to properly prepare and apply the solution.