When growing vegetables, many garden owners try to preserve the ecological purity of products as much as possible, therefore they strive to use only natural products for processing and feeding plants. The most popular fertilizer is bird droppings, known for their rich organic composition. How to use it correctly when growing cucumbers will be described in the article.
The benefits of chicken manure as fertilizer
- The widespread use of bird manure is due to a number of its positive properties:
- availability and environmental friendliness;
- high concentration of nitrogen;
- the presence in the litter of quickly digestible forms of the main trace elements (phosphorus, magnesium, potassium);
- contributes to the destruction of mold from the topsoil;
- nourishes the soil and makes it more fertile;
- Helps reduce weed growth in the area
- significantly increases the yield of vegetable crops.
How chicken droppings affect plants
Experienced gardeners argue that the proper use of bird guano as a fertilizer positively affects the development and productivity of vegetable crops:
- contributes to the growth of green mass and the formation of ovaries;
- accelerates the ripening of fruits;
- provides an increase in the yield of cucumbers by about 20-30%;
- due to the rich microelement composition, this fertilizer helps to strengthen the plant's immunity and protects it from dangerous diseases and fungal infections;
- unlike other types of top dressing, litter releases nutrients to the soil gradually, thus its effect lasts much longer.
Did you know? Bird droppings can harm car owners. Due to the nature of its composition, it is such a caustic substance that, if it enters the car body, partially corrodes the varnish and paint, leaving noticeable spots.
How to prepare a solution
It is impossible to fertilize cucumbers with manure in its pure form, since it has a very concentrated composition, so there are various methods for preparing a nutrient solution.
Fermentation method
Previously, the preparation of top dressing by fermentation was used only at large poultry farms, but today there are many tools that accelerate fermentation, which can be used in households. To make such a solution, it is necessary to collect a small layer of litter in the pan, and then mix it with sawdust treated with a special fermentation accelerator.
After collecting the required amount of raw materials, it is re-treated with an accelerator and insisted in an open place for 30 days in the warm season and 60 in the winter. Such a mass of cucumbers can be fed immediately after cooking.
Important! Chicken excrement contains almost 10 times more nitrogen than cow dung, this must be taken into account when applying to prevent a nitrogen burn of the plant.
Infusion
It is much simpler and faster at home to prepare an infusion of manure. This method is convenient in that it requires a small amount of litter. The raw materials are placed in a bucket or other container, poured with water and mixed. The solution is insisted until it acquires a light brown shade, usually it takes 2-3 days. If the infusion turned out to be too dark (in color, like a strong tea brewing), then it must be diluted with water to a brighter one.
Soaking litter
It is known that fresh chicken manure contains a high concentration of uric acid, in order to reduce it and make fertilizer suitable for use, the litter is soaked. For this, fresh chicken excrement is poured with water for 2-3 days, the resulting infusion is drained and pure water is poured, the procedure is repeated 3-4 times.
Features of the use of fertilizers for cucumbers
The key to a good harvest of cucumbers is the timely and rational organization of fertilizer crops. It is important not only to properly feed, but also to consider when and how many times to carry out the procedure during the season.
In the greenhouse
When growing greenhouse cucumbers, chicken droppings can be used already at the stage of planting seedlings. Beginning gardeners may have doubts as to whether it is permissible to combine watering and fertilizing young animals: experts recommend pouring a prepared solution into each well before replanting the bushes, and after planting, pour plain water. All subsequent feeding is carried out in parallel with watering.
Important! Excess nitrogen-containing fertilizers can lead to excessive growth of green mass, deterioration in the quality of the fruit, so a strict measure must be observed.
First, seedlings are poured with water at the rate of 2 liters of water per bush, then the solution is poured, trying to distribute it between the beds (since when poured directly into the hole, there is a risk of burning young roots). In the future, after the successful rooting of seedlings, cucumbers need to be fed during the formation of the first flowers and with the appearance of the first fruits.
In the open ground
When growing cucumbers in an open area, you should not use chicken droppings as the first fertilizer. It is recommended that when forming the buds, first feed the young seedlings with minerals and only after 14 days can the litter solution be added. Next, a repeated procedure is performed at the time of formation of the ovaries and in the future as necessary, but no more than 1 time in 21 days.
Did you know? In the 19th century, at the peak of the popularity of bird manure feeding, the leader in the supply of guano was the Ballestas Islands, where at that time about 4 million migratory birds regularly lived. It was from here that the USA, Europe, and Great Britain were supplied with fertilizer.
Features of granular bird droppings
Technology does not stand still, and today in the market for plant care products you can find granulated bird droppings. The product is available in the form of dry granules, packaged in bags. This tool is very convenient to use compared to natural chicken excrement due to the absence of an unpleasant odor and the possibility of long-term storage of open packaging.
To prepare the solution, a certain amount of granules is poured with water and mixed. So, when fertilizing seedlings, a concentration of 1 part of dry matter per 50 parts of water is used, and for watering adult bushes - 1: 100. An undoubted advantage of this product is its safety for humans and plants, since the raw materials undergo heat treatment and are disinfected.
Precautions While Using Chicken Dung
Since this type of organic fertilizer is a waste product of birds, Strict safety rules must be followed when applying it:
- in order to avoid infection with parasites and pathogenic microorganisms when working with raw materials, it is necessary to wear protective rubber gloves, a respirator and glasses;
- clothes in which work with manure is carried out must be tight. After completion of work, it must be washed;
- Do not allow particles of fertilizer or its solution to get on the skin, hair or mucous membranes;
- after contact with the litter is complete, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, wash your face, and take a shower.
So, having familiarized with the natural fertilizer made from bird droppings, we can conclude that this type of fertilizing is convenient and affordable for farms of any scale. The rich organic and mineral composition of the substance can replace many industrial products and provide intensive plant growth and high productivity.
