Why is plant ash a good potash fertilizer? What problems should be paid attention to in the accumulation system and application?

Plant ash is the residual ash after burning plant residues such as crop straw and litter. According to rough estimation, the ash of burning plants in China is more than 20 million tons every year. If the average potassium oxide is 5%, it is about 1 million tons, equivalent to 2 million tons of potassium sulfate. Under the condition of insufficient commercial potassium fertilizer in China, it is an important potassium fertilizer resource. Why is plant ash a good potash fertilizer? What problems should we pay attention to when accumulating and applying?

The composition of plant ash is very complex, its main component is potassium carbonate, generally containing potassium (K2O) 5%~10%, easily soluble in water, is a quick-acting potassium fertilizer.

Three points should be paid attention to when plant ash is accumulated and applied:

① Plant ash is alkaline, can not be mixed with ammonium nitrogen fertilizer or mixed application, nor can it be added to human excrement, so as to avoid nitrogen volatilization loss. Plant ash should not be piled up in the open to prevent potassium from being leached by rain;

Plant ash can be used in neutral, calcareous soil, especially in acidic soil, but not in saline-alkali soil. When potato is planted, potato pieces are cut and mixed with plant ash first, and then planted. It is a good way to apply plant ash economically and effectively, and has the effect of insect prevention and sterilization.

③ Pay attention to the application method. Plant ash can be used as base fertilizer, topdressing, the most suitable for rice, vegetable seedbed cover fertilizer, so that both can provide nutrients, but also loose soil, improve soil temperature.