When we discuss fertigation or hydroponic programs, we won’t run away with the usage of AB fertilizer. Of course, many need to know what are the particular options of this AB fertilizer in order that it’s obligatory to have it on this drip irrigation system?
What is that this AB fertilizer? AB fertilizer is a liquid chemical fertilizer that provides full vitamins to vegetation. Fertilizer AB is produced from a combination of assorted water-soluble fertilizers (in powder kind) and is split into two units, particularly set A and set B.
To perceive, I divide two phrases right here. AB fertilizer inventory answer or nutrient answer.
AB fertilizer focus is a concentrated combination of AB fertilizer in powder kind. Usually made in portions of 100 liters of A and 100 liters of B. This starch then wants to be diluted to kind a nutrient answer. The nutrient answer is AB fertilizer that has been diluted 1000 occasions in a water tank.
AB fertilizer is a chemical fertilizer and is innocent to vegetation and people (except you drink this fertilizer straight!). All these fertilizers are meals grade that’s secure to be absorbed by vegetation.
Fertigation fertilizers are hydroponic fertilizers. These two fertilizers are the identical. The time period itself varies in accordance to the system used.
In this text, I clarify how we will make our personal AB fertilizer with out having to purchase an AB fertilizer set from a vendor. We are ready to save up to 30% on the price of fertigation fertilizer by making our personal AB fertilizer.
AB Fertilizer Name Separation
As the identify AB, this fertilizer is split into two elements that are A and B. There are additionally farmers who promote AB fertilizer however label XY, A1 A2, and YZ. Whatever the label is given, there’ll nonetheless be two elements to this fertilizer.
Why are fertilizers A and B separated? This separation is made as a result of there are elements in AB fertilizer that can not be blended with one another. Among all AB fertilizer elements there may be calcium nitrate, magnesium sulfate and MKP. These three substances when dissolved in water will kind ions. Calcium ions are positively charged whereas sulfate ions and phosphate ions are negatively charged.
At excessive concentrations, calcium ions will mix with sulfate ions to kind calcium sulfate. This response will kind a white precipitate. This white precipitate when channeled into the fertigation system will trigger the irrigation system to clog. In addition, timber can’t take this fertilizer.
The identical is true for calcium ions and phosphate ions that may kind calcium phosphate precipitates.
In conclusion, at excessive concentrations these ions will react with one another forming a white precipitate. That is why these supplies are separated into two elements, particularly set A and set B. However, these ions will work nicely if diluted in water right into a nutrient answer.
AB Steel Material
Plants want 13 important components to thrive. This factor is within the type of vitamins that may be absorbed by vegetation. There are 6 macro vitamins which are wanted in giant portions, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (Ok), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S). Among the 6 macro vitamins, N, P and Ok are wanted in giant portions.
Nutrients apart from these six are referred to as micronutrients (in any other case often known as hint components, hint components) which is required solely in small portions. Among them are iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), molybdeum (Mo), boron (B) and chlorine (Cl).
There are 10 elements utilized by fertigation farmers in making set A and set B of AB fertilizer. These supplies already include the vitamins required by the tree as described earlier. It may be mentioned that AB fertilizer is a whole liquid fertilizer for vegetation.
The follow of farmers in Malaysia is to produce a quantity of fertilizer A 100L and fertilizer B 100L from 25kg of fertilizer AB. We can scale back the measured amount ourselves in accordance to wants similar to 50L AB or 12L AB.
Here is a listing of the elements you want to purchase (I put the net buy hyperlink as soon as for every ingredient):
Material A:
- Calcium nitrate – https://shp.ee/nbwe4is
- Ferric EDTA –
Material B:
- Potassium nitrate – https://shp.ee/q58eyui
- Mono-potassium hydrogen phosphate (MKP) – https://shp.ee/hfxss3b
- Magnesium sulfate – https://shp.ee/ukufgyn
- Manganese sulfate – https://shp.ee/xiz5fbe
- Boric acid / hibor – https://shp.ee/saihru6
- Zinc sulfate – https://shp.ee/ikzquqe
- Copper sulfate – https://shp.ee/gdmbqaw
- Sodium molybdate –
For those that simply need to begin, I don’t suggest that you simply make this fertilizer your self. It is best to purchase ready-made AB fertilizer. I present a listing and buy hyperlink.
AB Fertilizer Formula for Chili, Eggplant, Tomato and Rockmelon
What is the amount for every materials specified to make AB fertilizer? In normal, farmers in Malaysia use Cooper’s formulation for leafy greens (mustard, lettuce, spinach, kale) and fruit greens (chili padi, chili kulai, eggplant, tomato). The distinction is within the EC focus that’s measured later when this AB essence is dissolved right into a nutrient answer.
While for root crops similar to ginger and turmeric, the formulation is barely totally different. Farmers add extra phosphorus (P) and fewer nitrogen (N).
Here is Cooper’s formulation for normal use on all kinds of vegetation.
| Steel | Content (g) |
| A | 1. Calcium nitrate – 11,000 2. Ferrum EDTA -200 |
| B | 1. Potassium nitrate – 13,200 2. Mono-potassium hydrogen phosphate – 2,200 3. Magnesium sulfate – 5,300 4. Manganese sulfate – 30 5. Boric acid / hibor -50 6. Zinc sulfate – 35 7. Copper sulfate – 3 8. Sodium molybdate – 4 |
For those that simply need to strive making it your self, I like to recommend that you simply observe the formulation or recipe that the farmer has made. They normally get it from MARDI or the Department of Agriculture.
Here I give free all AB fertilizer formulation for leafy greens similar to kale, spinach, mustard, cabbage / AB fertilizer formulation for fruit greens similar to chili, eggplant, okra, corn / AB fertilizer formulation for rockmelon.
I took and improved from the notes of paid and free fertigation programs from MARDI that I’ve participated in. You can obtain the pdf right here.
Fertigation Fertilizer Calculation Formula
We can calculate this fertigation fertilizer formulation ourselves by understanding the fundamentals of hydroponic fertilizer necessities for particular vegetation.
We can use the hydroponic calculator (refer to the reference part for the hyperlink) to learn the way many grams are wanted for the guide to make the combination.
Preparation of AB Fertilizer Stock Solution
The preparation of this AB fertilizer inventory answer isn’t troublesome.
Tools:
- 100L barrel with lid – 2 items (mark A and B on every barrel)
- Wood 1 meter – 2 sticks
Materials:
- Clean water (division water, river water, rainwater. Do not use underground water that may have an effect on the fertilizer combine later)
- AB fertilizer – 25 kg
Steps:
- Fill clear water till half full into A and B barrels
- Put all of the elements of fertigation fertilizer A into the barrel A and stir with a stick till no grains are felt on the base
- Put all of the elements of fertigation fertilizer B into barrel B and stir with a distinct stick from barrel A in order that there aren’t any grains on the underside
- Add clear water into the 2 barrels till it reaches a complete of 100L
- Close the container of inventory answer. Avoid publicity to direct daylight or warmth. This might scale back the effectiveness of the fertilizer.
- After that depart the inventory answer for twenty-four hours earlier than use. This is so that every one elements of the inventory answer can react and stabilize
How lengthy can this AB fertilizer be saved? This AB fertilizer has no expiration date. If you see a precipitate on the AB fertilizer, you simply want to stir it till the precipitate dissolves. However, if the precipitate doesn’t disappear even after stirring, there could also be a mistake in your earlier combination.
If anybody nonetheless does not perceive, I recommend you watch the video on how I make a combination of inventory answer A and B.
Reference