Ammonium nitrate: full description, varieties, application

Content:

The article extensively presents ammonium nitrate: a complete description of the fertilizer is given, characteristics, properties, varieties, rules of application, storage are described.

In this article, we will look at.

Several characteristics:

1) what is ammonium nitrate.,

2) what's in the composition.,

3) what varieties are there.,

4) recommendations for application to the soil.,

5) a tool in the fight against plant diseases.,

6) economic component.,

7) about the content of nitrates.,

8) manufacturing process.,

9) how to store nitrogen fertilizer.

Ammonium nitrate: brief information

What is ammonium nitrate? From the school chemistry course, many are familiar with the concept of "ammonium nitrate", or, in a simple way, ammonium nitrate. It is a chemical compound (NH4NO3), a nitric acid salt. The date of the appearance of the connection is considered to be one thousand six hundred and fifty-ninth year. Ammonium nitrate was discovered by a German chemist and pharmacist, whose name was Johann Glauber.

What is it used for.
Currently, ammonium nitrate has two areas of application.

First case.

As a component for the manufacture of explosives.

Second case.

Also as nitrogen fertilizer for horticultural crops.

Ammonium nitrate (fertilizer): why is it so popular with gardeners

Everything is very simple. The active ingredient of ammonium nitrate is nitrogen, the most important macronutrient for the proper growth and development of plants. The nitrogen content in the composition of ammonia fertilizer fluctuates within twenty-six percent, which is typical for low varieties, and can reach thirty-four percent for higher varieties.

The second component is ammonium nitrate.
The second component of ammonium nitrate is sulfur, which is no less important for plants. After all, it is she who ensures the normal course of important metabolic processes. The sulfur content in the fertilizer ranges from three to fourteen percent.

Can be an analogue of what?
Ammonium nitrate is an equivalent analogue of urea; gardeners use it as a top dressing in the spring.

The main advantage.
The most important advantage of ammonia fertilizer is the ability to saturate plants with nitrogen.

What are the varieties of ammonium nitrate, application and description

There are many varieties of saltpeter. This fact is due to the fact that fertilizer is used everywhere, and the features of the climatic zones are quite different. So, let's consider the main types used in agriculture.

The first type is simple ammonium nitrate.

Simple ammonium nitrate. This species appeared earlier than the others.

The main task of ammonium nitrate.

Its main task was to maximize the saturation of cultivated crops with nitrogen. Simple saltpeter has become widespread among gardeners and farmers in different countries.

Better quality and use instead.

This fertilizer has established itself as the best source for most crops of the middle lane. In addition, this species is considered an equivalent analogue of another mineral fertilizer - urea, or more simply, urea.

The second type is ammonium-potassium nitrate.

Ammonium-potassium nitrate. Has the formula - K2NO3. The unofficial name is Indian saltpeter.

What is the peculiarity of ammonium-potassium nitrate.

A feature of this species is that it contains half of all nitrogen in the form of ammonium chloride.

Where and why is ammonium-potassium nitrate used.

It is widely used in regions where crops require both nitrogen and potash fertilizers. Most often, ammonium-potassium nitrate is used by gardeners in the spring for early feeding of garden trees.

The effectiveness of ammonium-potassium nitrate.

The result of using for plants is an increase in the resistance of crops to negative environmental conditions (cold, or vice versa, drought), some types of characteristic diseases (powdery mildew), as well as an increase in the quality of the resulting crop.

The third type is lime-ammonium nitrate.

Calcium ammonium nitrate. Popularly called Norwegian saltpeter. This name is due to the fact that for the first time this species was prepared from air nitrogen in Norway.

In what form is lime-ammonium nitrate sold.

In terms of composition, such nitrate is simple or granular, with a granule size of up to four millimeters. A characteristic feature of this type is the strength of the granules, which ensures ease of storage conditions.

Calcium ammonium nitrate composition.

In addition to the main substance, such nitrate contains calcium, magnesium and potassium. It is universal for most crops.

What can you use calcium ammonium nitrate for.

Granular fertilizer is suitable for preparing mixtures with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

Compared to ammonium nitrate.

Compared to ammonium nitrate, this species is less hygroscopic and is suitable for mechanized penetration into the ground, which is an advantage when fertilizing large areas is required.

What is calcium ammonium nitrate and what does it refer to?

Lime-ammonium nitrate is a flammable substance, but it is classified as explosion-proof. However, in addition to the advantages, there are also disadvantages. For the treatment of this type of nitrate, substances are used that contain fuel oil. Therefore, it is not difficult to draw a conclusion about the harm to the soil. Therefore, this fertilizer is used in case of emergency.

The fourth type is ammonium nitrate grade B.

Ammonium nitrate grade B. This type is divided into two grades - the first and the second, respectively.

The main difference between ammonium nitrate, grade b.

The main difference is the amount of nitrogen and sulfur contained.

Where ammonium nitrate is used, grade b.

It is most often used in individual garden plots and for feeding domestic plants.

In what form can you buy ammonium nitrate, brand b.

Has a convenient form of packaging for one kilogram.

What is the most effective ammonium nitrate grade B.

It is effective as a primary feeding of seedlings, which are deficient in nitrogen with insufficient insolation.

The fifth variety is Calcium nitrate.

About the composition of calcium nitrate.
Calcium nitrate. It contains about nineteen and thirteen percent calcium and nitrogen, respectively.

What is calcium nitrate used for?

It is used most often, like grade B saltpeter, for personal use. Calcium nitrate has a beneficial effect on garden flowers, increases resistance to diseases, ensures the formation of green mass and protects against rot.The latter characteristic is due to the hygroscopicity of calcium nitrate, which takes excess moisture onto itself, protecting the roots from decay. In addition, calcium nitrate can reduce soil acidity.

The sixth variety is porous ammonium nitrate.

What is it.
Porous ammonium nitrate. It is not a fertilizer.

What is porous ammonium nitrate used for?

It is used as a component of various types of explosives. The consumers are the mining industry and
explosives manufacturers.

Danger of ammonium nitrate.

Flammable and explosive.

The seventh variety is magnesium nitrate.

Magnesium saltpeter. It is used as an additional source of magnesium. Most often when growing vegetables and legumes.

The eighth variety is sodium nitrate.

Sodium saltpeter. This type is universal for all types of crops and soils.

Ammonium nitrate: recommendations for soil application

Earlier, we looked at the main properties and varieties of ammonia fertilizer. But how to calculate the required amount to solve a specific problem. In this matter, everything depends on the task at hand. There are some general rules.

First recommendation.
For seedlings, an average of five grams of substance per well is required (when using a dry form), and about thirty to forty grams, diluted in ten liters of water, when it comes to a solution.

Second recommendation.
If fertilization is necessary for vegetable crops, the consumption per square meter will be from ten to twenty grams. Granules should be poured into the wells three weeks after germination.

Third recommendation.
For garden plantings, about fifteen grams of fertilizer applied directly under the trunk will be enough.

Fourth recommendation.
To feed trees, it will take thirty grams of saltpeter to dilute in ten liters of water. The composition is poured into the limits of the trunk circle. Fertilizer in dry form is used when foliage appears. There is also a method of spraying trees. This measure is effective in pest control, but only in the absence of leaves.

A characteristic feature of ammonium nitrate

A characteristic feature of ammonium nitrate is its ability to act immediately. In addition, it is the only fertilizer that does not lose its activity at low temperatures. Therefore, the product is suitable for application in early spring, even when there is still snow on the surface. However, it is worth knowing an important point - foliar treatment with nitrate is not worth doing, as this can cause serious burns to the plant.

A tool in the fight against plant diseases

The widespread use of ammonium nitrate is due to the ability to increase the plant's own immunity. This ability is most relevant when we overload the soil, or we do not observe crop rotation, that is, from year to year we grow plants of the same class in the same place. Ammonia fertilizer serves as a shield against fungus, bacteria and rot for horticultural crops.

The economic benefits of using nitrate

There are several components.

The first component.
In addition to the mass of useful properties for crops, there is another criterion by which summer residents choose this particular fertilizer - the price. Ammonium nitrate belongs to the budget types of fertilizers. After all, a kilogram of a substance costs about twenty-five rubles, and to fertilize an area of one hundred square meters, just about one kilogram of this fat is required.

Second component.
It can be concluded that this type is very economical to use. Even despite the fact that it is advisable to use ammonium nitrate in tandem with other fertilizers.

Third component.
Finding saltpeter is not difficult. To do this, just go to any specialized store for gardeners.The form of release of the substance is usually two-scatter, or packaged form. In addition, there are types with a variety of additives. Such species are more rational for solving individual problems that universal feeding cannot cope with.

Ammonium nitrate: on the content of nitrates

There are several factors.

First factor.
At the present time, there is a promotion of a healthy lifestyle and healthy diet. Therefore, most people are concerned about the question of what fruits and vegetables they eat, whether they contain harmful substances, nitrates.

Second factor.

Ammonium nitrate is indeed a nitrate fertilizer.

Third factor.

However, not many people know that organic fertilizers such as compost can also load crops with nitrates. Indeed, they also contain nitrogen.

Fourth factor.
However, plants such as melons, pumpkin, squash, cucumbers and squash are prone to an increased accumulation of nitrates, therefore, it is better to refuse ammonium nitrate to fertilize them.

The importance of following the instructions

Hence the conclusion - it is not the type of fertilization that is important, but strict adherence to the soil application rates prescribed in the instructions. Whichever top dressing you would not decide to use, there is one main rule. Two weeks before harvesting, the use of dressings should be discontinued.

Manufacturing process

There are several methods for the production of this substance.

On an industrial scale.

Anhydrous ammonia and concentrated nitric acid are used commercially. There are several stages.

First stage.

As a result of the reaction, a large amount of heat energy is released.

Second phase.

Such a reaction should only take place under special conditions with the observance of safety measures.

Stage three.

After the solution has formed, the excess water is evaporated, reaching the state of a melt, which is then granulated in special apparatuses, dried, cooled and covered with compositions to prevent caking. The color of the granules itself can be either colorless or white.

Stage four.

During the manufacturing phase, additional elements such as potassium, calcium or magnesium are usually added to the ammonium nitrate. This is necessary to obtain different varieties.

Ammonium nitrate: how to store it correctly and safely

Ammonium nitrate is an agricultural chemical. Therefore, it requires compliance with certain storage conditions. Considering that the main component of the fertilizer is nitrogen, which tends to volatilize, it is important to observe the tightness of the package. If we violate this condition, the nutritional properties of the fertilizer will be noticeably weakened.

The hygroscopicity of ammonium nitrate.

Also, do not forget about the property of hygroscopicity. Granules perfectly absorb moisture, therefore it is important to maintain a free-flowing consistency of the substance. To do this, we store the fertilizer exclusively in dry rooms, additionally placing gently falling moisture in bags with saltpeter.

Explosion hazard of ammonium nitrate.

The most important thing to remember is that saltpeter is explosive. Therefore, it is necessary to remove all combustible materials, oil products, wood from the room where the fertilizer is stored. In addition, smoking and open flames should not be allowed. The safe distance from walls to packages with fertilizer is twenty centimeters, and from packages to heat sources - at least one and a half meters.

The importance of temperature control.

Make sure that the temperature in the storage room does not rise above thirty-two degrees, otherwise the saltpeter may explode. Good ventilation is essential.
Also, sharp changes in temperature should be avoided, otherwise ammonium nitrate will recrystallize, the granules will become difficult to dissolve.

Ammonium nitrate