What kind of fertilizer is better for growing celery?
When growing celery, if the wrong fertilizer is used, the celery won't grow well and the yield won't increase. Many growers are not clear about what kind of fertilizer celery should be applied with, how to mix the base fertilizer, and which type of fertilizer to use for the irrigation. Many people only know to use nitrogen fertilizer blindly, and as a result, the quality of the celery is poor and diseases are prone to occur. Now, based on actual planting conditions, let's explain clearly the fertilizer selection and application operation for celery at different growth stages.
Celery requires nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as some trace elements such as calcium and boron. The nutrient requirements vary at different growth stages. Fertilization is divided into two parts: base fertilizer and later irrigation fertilization. The base fertilizer provides basic nutrients for the entire growth period of celery, while the irrigation fertilization is used to meet the nutrient consumption of celery during its rapid growth. If the fertilizer ratio is unbalanced, slow growth, leaf stalk cracking and other problems may occur in the field.
Let's talk about the base fertilizer. The base fertilizer is applied to the soil during the land preparation process and cannot be omitted. The base fertilizer should primarily use decomposed organic fertilizer, combined with balanced compound fertilizer. The organic fertilizer must be completely decomposed; uncomposted organic fertilizer cannot be applied to the soil as it can burn the roots and carry insect eggs. During the land preparation and turning process, the fertilizer should be evenly spread on the surface of the soil and then mixed into the soil layer.
The fertilizer dosage varies depending on the soil fertility. For plots with average fertility, the decomposed organic fertilizer for one acre should be applied at the conventional dosage, combined with balanced compound fertilizer. Do not only apply nitrogen fertilizer as it lacks phosphorus and potassium, which are essential for the growth of the celery root system. Without adequate phosphorus and potassium, the celery root system will not grow well and the growth will not keep up in the later stage. A well-prepared base fertilizer can reduce the pressure of frequent fertilization in the later stage.
After the celery transplantation is completed, the slow growth period should be passed first. Do not rush to apply fertilizer during this period; the root system has not yet recovered its absorption capacity. Applying fertilizer too early can easily damage the roots. Start the first fertilizer application when the celery seedlings have recovered their growth and new leaves have emerged.
After the slow growth stage, the seedling stage of the celery plants is not large and has a low nutrient demand. Balanced water-soluble fertilizer can be used for fertilization, and the fertilizer dosage should not be high. The interval between fertilization should be determined according to the soil conditions. In soil with poor water-holding and nutrient retention, the interval should be shortened appropriately. The main purpose of this stage is to nourish the roots and promote the growth of new roots of the celery, laying the foundation for its vigorous growth in the future.
Entering the vigorous growth stage, it is the key period for the formation of celery yield. During this stage, nutrient consumption is the highest. For fertilization during this period, the fertilizer ratio should be adjusted. Nitrogen fertilizer can be appropriately increased, while potassium fertilizer should not be omitted. If only nitrogen fertilizer is added, the celery stem will be brittle and prone to collapse, and the quality will decline. Fertilization should be carried out according to the cycle and not wait until the celery is obviously deficient in nutrients before supplementing. Watering and fertilizing should be carried out simultaneously, and the fertilizer should be injected into the soil along with the water.
In the period approaching harvest, the use of pure nitrogen fertilizer should be reduced. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer makes the celery unsuitable for storage, and it is prone to rot after harvest. During this stage, the focus of fertilization is on potassium fertilizer, which maintains the normal growth of the celery and ensures the storage performance after harvest.
In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, celery is sensitive to boron and calcium. If there is a lack of boron in the soil, the petioles of celery are prone to cracking. If there is a calcium deficiency, abnormal growth points will appear on celery. Trace elements can be applied together with fertilizer application or as foliar sprays. Supplementing boron and calcium should be done in advance. Don't wait until cracking symptoms occur to make up for it, as the remedial effect will be limited.
In actual cultivation, several fertilizer application issues often occur. First, only nitrogen fertilizer is used throughout the process. In the short term, celery grows quickly, but the plant's resistance is weak and diseases increase. Second, the amount of fertilizer applied in one time of the fertilizer application is too large. If the fertilizer concentration is too high, it will cause root burning and the leaves of celery turn yellow. Third, apply fertilizer during the midday when the temperature is high. When the soil temperature is high, applying fertilizer during this time will affect root absorption and is prone to fertilizer damage. Fertilizer application should be carried out at a relatively lower temperature period.
In addition, it should be noted that fertilizer application should be combined with soil moisture. If the soil is dry, first water with clean water and then apply fertilizer. If the soil is waterlogged, do not apply fertilizer. Waterlogging will hinder the root's absorption of nutrients.
Overall, when fertilizing celery, it should be done in stages. Prepare the soil by applying sufficient decomposed organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer as the base fertilizer. After the seedlings have recovered, apply balanced water-soluble fertilizer by foliar spraying. Increase nutrient supply during the vigorous growth stage, use a combination of nitrogen and potassium. Control nitrogen fertilizer before harvest. Supplement trace elements such as boron and calcium as needed during the growth period.
