When cultivating your garden, you want to make sure your plants are growing in the healthiest possible conditions. No nutrient is more important to garden health than nitrogen. However, not all soils contain sufficient amounts of nitrogen for plants to grow to their full potential. Use the right types of plant or animal manure to increase soil nitrogen levels so that the plants in your garden can thrive the way they want.
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Method 1 of 4: Increasing Nitrogen Content with Fertilizer
Step 1. Use chemical fertilizers if you need a quick solution
Synthetic fertilizers can react quickly and are easy to apply. If the plant is in the middle of its growing season and is experiencing nutritional deficiencies, use chemical fertilizers to re-fertilize it. You can buy a variety of chemical fertilizers at a plant or hardware store.
Remember, chemical fertilizers are not a viable solution in the long term. Over time, synthetic fertilizers will reduce soil fertility
Step 2. Purchase a fertilizer product made specifically for the particular plant you have in your garden
If we talk about chemical fertilizers, the formula will be very decisive. If you're trying to increase nitrogen levels for your vegetable garden, buy a fertilizer made specifically for vegetables. If your lawn needs additional nitrogen, purchase a fertilizer specially formulated for lawns. The specific formula will release nutrients in a targeted manner, which is ideal for this type of plant.
Step 3. Read the N-P-K numbers on the fertilizer label
All fertilizers are categorized by a 3-digit rating system. The first number is nitrogen (N), the second number is phosphorous (P), and the third number is potassium (K). These numbers show the percentage of each nutrient contained in the fertilizer. Always check the N-P-K numbers before buying a product.
Step 4. Choose a fertilizer with a nitrogen content that suits the needs of the soil
For example, 27-7-14 and 21-3-3 are popular high nitrogen fertilizers. This fertilizer also contains small amounts of phosphorus and potassium. Meanwhile, 21-0-0 fertilizer contains only nitrogen. You can use a balanced mix such as 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 if the soil needs additional three nutrients.
Step 5. Choose a quality slow-release fertilizer
The price of slow-release or controlled-soluble fertilizers may be slightly higher, but they are the best choice in the long run. With a slow-release formula, you don't have to fertilize the soil too often because it lasts longer. Slow-release fertilizers are also more effective because they release nutrients slowly and steadily.
- Cheaper products can sometimes shock plants and catch fire, causing a number of new problems.
- Since chemical fertilizers can negatively affect the soil over time, using them less frequently can help maintain a healthy level of soil.
- Slow-release fertilizers are often sold in pellet form.
Method 2 of 4: Using Plant Waste
Step 1. Make compost from vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and other food waste
The easiest way to enrich the soil with lots of nitrogen is to collect leftover food from the kitchen. Compost takes several months to "rip" until it can be used. Start making compost about 9 months in advance so that it is ready to use when planting season arrives. The natural composting process does take a long time. To speed up the process, use a composting activator that you can find online or at a plant store. This activator material will greatly shorten the composting process.
- Some other materials that can also be composted are tea, old spices, rotten bread, corncobs, peanut shells, fruit peels, and more.
- For items such as shells (starting from shells, nuts, or eggs) and fruit seeds, it is better to crush them with a hammer or other heavy equipment before placing them in the compost bin.
- Do not add bones, cheese, meat, oil, or animal waste.
Step 2. Add the remaining grass clippings and other plant trimmings to the compost
Garden waste that collects when you trim your plants can still be used. Before adding garden waste, chop it into small pieces by hand. Mix the garden waste with all the compost to distribute it evenly.
Spread the grass clippings on a towel for a few hours to dry before placing them in the compost bin. Otherwise, the grass may rot into mushy clumps and give off a foul odor
Step 3. Spread alfalfa flour (protein feed for livestock) over the soil
This alfalfa flour is very strong, heats up as it rots, and reacts quickly. Therefore, do not add to the soil too deep because it will make the soil excess nitrogen. Alfalfa flour will provide the soil with a generous supply of nitrogen, as well as potassium and phosphorus.
Step 4. Plant legumes such as peas, alfalfa, and beans
Legumes naturally contain much higher nitrogen than other types of vegetables. As they grow, legumes will contribute by adding additional nitrogen to the soil, making the soil richer and providing other plants with the nutrients they need.
Method 3 of 4: Distributing Animal Manure
Step 1. Mix feather flour with fertilizer and spread it over the soil before planting
Feather flour is dried and ground chicken feathers. If you don't have chicken, just buy this flour from your local grocery store or online. Weigh about 80 ml (⅓ cup) of feather meal for each plant, or about 5.5 Kg for every 90 m2. Mix with the fertilizer of your choice before spreading it over the soil surface.
Step 2. Mix the crab flour into the soil before planting the garden
Crab flour is made from the organs and shells of blue crabs and can be purchased at plant stores. Spread the crabmeal along with the fertilizer over the damp soil before hoeing. Crab flour will fertilize the soil with lots of nitrogen, also protecting plants from being eaten by nematodes (parasites belonging to the class of worms).
- Dig the soil at a moderate depth (if the soil is moist) or a shallow depth (if the soil is hard) or use a tractor with such a depth setting. Hoe in a straight line all over the planting area.
- Let the crab flour sit in the soil for 3 days to 3 weeks. The nutrients will begin to break down and seep into the soil.
Step 3. Add fish emulsion to the soil
Fish emulsion is mashed fish parts. Look at your local plant store. Sprinkle fish emulsion into the soil every month; distribute it sufficiently to seep into the soil. Alternatively, add fish emulsion to plenty of water and sprinkle it over the plants.
- Cover your mouth and nose when using fish emulsion because the smell is pungent and unpleasant!
- If you are using fish emulsion, keep pets away from this new fertilizer so they don't dig up the plants.
Step 4. Water the garden with blood meal
Blood meal is dried animal blood. You can get them from your local plant store. While the idea of using blood meal to fertilize the soil may sound terrifying, it is actually rich in nitrogen. Mix the blood meal with water before use, then sprinkle with embrat.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle it into a hole in the soil before the plant is planted
Method 4 of 4: Fertilizing Soil with Manure
Step 1. Choose manure produced by poultry or livestock
Sheep, chickens, rabbits, cattle, pigs, horses, and ducks are excellent sources of nitrogen fertilizer. Manure from these animals will enrich the soil with nitrogen and many other nutrients, including zinc and phosphorus.
You can also buy rotted manure at your local plant store
Step 2. Use manure that is 6 months old or older
It is not only the potential for disease that makes this new manure unsafe to use (although this is a major contributing factor). Fresh manure also contains too much nitrogen for the soil to absorb. Nitrogen levels that are too high can inhibit seed growth because too much nitrogen will burn the roots.
Step 3. Put on gloves before handling manure
Manure can spread disease easily. Protect yourself from these negative effects by wearing the right equipment. After distributing the manure, scrub your hands and nails with antibacterial soap under warm running water.
Step 4. Add manure-based compost at least 60 days before planting
Wait at least 60 days for the soil to absorb the nutrients from the manure. This waiting period will also reduce the health side effects that may occur from eating produce that is in contact with manure. Add dry manure to the compost or spread the manure directly over the soil. If you decide to turn the manure into compost, just mix it with the other ingredients and mix well.
