Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer from a huge family of nitrogen, without which today it is impossible to imagine a single branch of crop production. It is the versatility of application that causes high demand for its production and use. With large volumes of deliveries, its manufacturing technology is constantly being improved, which further contributes to securing this fertilizer to the position of the most popular.
Ammonium nitrate
It has the chemical formula NH4 NO3. Ammonium nitrate is a highly concentrated fertilizer containing 34.4% nitrogen. It is available in the form of small spherical granules with high hygroscopicity. Ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer occupies 55-60% of the market among various minerals that are used in agriculture. Its popularity is growing from year to year.
Composition
Nitrate (fertilizer) is formed by mixing nitrogen with hydrogen. As a result of this reaction, ammonia is formed, which tends to oxidize over time. Further, this mixture becomes nitric acid. This acid and ammonia are combined to produce ammonium nitrate. This fertilizer contains 17% of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen (in total is 34%). The nitrate obtained in this way is a hygroscopic white powder that dissolves in water, thereby greatly reducing the temperature of the solution. It is explosive, therefore it is necessary to handle it especially carefully and carefully.
Nitrate in the form of fertilizer
Nitrate (fertilizer) application is quite wide because of its versatility. It is perfect for any type of soil and is perfectly absorbed by any plants. Nitrate (fertilizer) can be used both as a top dressing during the entire growing season, and as a main one. In spring, it should be used before planting plants.
DosageIn order to avoid the accumulation of nitrates in crop production, do not exceed the dosage of ammonium nitrate. To use it as a main fertilizer, you need to take it within 3 centners per hectare, as top dressing - no more than one and a half centners per hectare.
Application
Nitrate (fertilizer) helps to increase the yield of grain crops (barley, rye, wheat, triticale) by 3-5% when used in the early spring to feed crops. This is well known to people who grow cereals, and as soon as the snow falls from the fields, they are accepted to feed plants en masse. It is also applied as the main fertilizer in spring or autumn.
When using nitrate on light soils, it gives excellent results, especially when it is brought under cultivation, just before the start of sowing. On acidic or buffer soils, its regular use in combination with other top dressings throughout the year is recommended.
Recommendations
If you want to use it in combination with potash and phosphorus substances, the mixing of fertilizers is carried out immediately before application. Nitrate perfectly affects the growth of vegetative mass. It can increase the content of gluten and total protein in the grain, and also serves as an excellent helper to increase the overall yield.