WOOD ASH

WOOD ASH: ITS BENEFITS IN CROP FARMING 

Most people will throw away the messy remnants from burning firewood, including the ash. It is because they do not know that what they consider waste can be beneficial on their farms. Ash, especially for an organic farmer, is a very important asset. There are many types of ashes, but the ash from wood and plant matter is the best for use in gardens compared to that obtained from coal, briquettes, or fake logs.

When applied to soil, ash provides important nutrients such as carbon, potassium, and lime. It also controls pests in the garden and on animals, as well as trace elements like phosphorus, calcium, and boron.

Potassium contained in wood ash regulates water balance, keeping plant tissues firm and juicy. Lack of potassium causes plants to become vulnerable to frost, a dry climate, pests, and diseases. Keep your ash dry, as potassium is very soluble, and if your ash is rained on, it will be lost through leaching. Potassium helps transport nutrients and create starches and sugars in plants.

The use of wood ash is common to increase the pH of the soil. But it is also very important to know when to use wood ash and when NOT to use wood ash. Get a free soil test. Soils in the pH range of 6.0–7.0 are optimal for most lawns and garden plants. Some plants prefer soil with a lower pH (acidic), and certain plants grow better in soil with a higher pH (alkaline).

When to add wood ash  

Add wood ash when the soil pH is too low (falling below 6.5). Magnesium and calcium availability are reduced; for example, tomato blossom end rot is caused by a lack of available calcium in the soil.

When NOT to add wood ash  

There is no need to add wood ash if your soil is already alkaline with a pH greater than 7.0, because if you do, you will hurt your plants or even kill them. Many plants cannot survive if the soil pH is high; for example, trees will have yellow leaves (chlorosis); some vegetables and fruit trees will also suffer. To lower the soil pH, elemental sulphur is used. If your soil is already in the optimal range of 6.0–7.0, you do not want to mess with it.

Benefits of using wood ash

1. Ash raises the pH of acidic soil. Sprinkle it lightly on the soil and mix. However, test your soil pH before application and avoid adding it to soil with a high pH. Do not add ash to crops that thrive in acidic conditions, such as sweet potatoes. 
2. Apply lightly between the layers of compost materials to reduce acidity. 
3. It fights frost and fungi and stops the reproduction of fungus spores, reducing their spread.
4. When sprinkled around vulnerable plants, its rough texture irritates the soft bellies of snails and slugs and repels them, but this effect will disappear after rain or irrigation, which dissolves the ashes.
5. Pouring ash where there are ants repels them.
6. It reduces calcium deficiency in tomatoes. Add about 1/4 cupful of ash to the planting hole and mix it thoroughly with the soil. Transplant your tomatoes and cover with the mixture. You can also make ash tea to apply to tomatoes during their flowering stage for extra potassium and better fruit formation.

Ash Tea

Put 100–200 grams of ash in a cloth bag or an old pillowcase and tie it. Place the bag in a garbage bin or bucket filled with 10 litres of water. Allow it to sit in the water for several days. Once the ash tea has brewed, pour about a cup around your potassium-deficient plants once a week until the pH balances out. Too much will cause a nitrogen deficiency and can affect the ability of your crops to ingest other important nutrients.

Use ash around the roots of crops such as potatoes, carrots, peas, and beans, as well as soft fruit bushes like plums, pears, cherries, strawberries, and blackcurrants. Apply it sparingly since excess alkalinity can negatively affect plants that prefer acidic conditions. Too much alkalinity can also hinder the functions of some organisms in the soil or compost.

In summary, ash plays a multifunctional role in plants and soil health, which is an important aspect of organic farming. It is also important to note that a little goes a long way.