Ammonium nitrate is also called ammonium nitrate. By its nature, it is a nitric acid salt, one of the most common representatives of the family of mineral fertilizers. Applying ammonium nitrate on time and in optimal dosages, you can ensure that the flowers in your area will bloom longer and more luxuriantly, and the fruits of shrubs and fruit trees will become much tastier. It is said that the use of ammonium nitrate even prolongs the storage periods of later varieties of apples, and roses grown on soil rich in ammonium nitrate last longer in vases.
Garden strawberries are fertilized with ammonium nitrate, starting from the second season. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com encierro
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Manufacturing process and composition of ammonium nitrate
In terms of the scale of use, ammonium nitrate is a clear leader among all fertilizers used in vegetable growing, fruit growing and agriculture in general. Perhaps the popularity of the fertilizer is due to the ability to “work” with it even when the ground has not yet thawed completely.
Ammonium nitrate is a one-component compound that, once on the soil surface, immediately begins to disintegrate, releasing a fairly significant amount of nitrogen.
It is made in 2 ways. In the first way, ammonium nitrate is produced by neutralizing nitric acid with gaseous ammonia. In the second variant, ammonia is synthesized from nitrogen and hydrogen, part of which is oxidized to nitric acid and reacts with ammonia, resulting in the formation of ammonium nitrate.
If we talk about the appearance of ammonium nitrate, then these are granules, small in size, solid, about three millimeters in diameter, but sometimes a little more. The color of these granules can vary from milky white to grayish or even pinkish.
Often, this fertilizer is made by adding a variety of trace elements to the composition, and in addition, superphosphate or potassium salt.
The typical composition of standard ammonium nitrate is about 35% nitrogen, although there may be less. If we consider ammonium nitrate as a nitrogen fertilizer, then it is possible to isolate a number of types or types of such fertilizers, which in their composition, in addition to nitrogen, have other components that are no less important for plants:
- a simple fertilizer that is saturated with nitrogen and perfectly replaces urea;
- fertilizer grade “B”, usually used for indoor plants and vegetables;
- potassium nitrate (potassium nitrate) – potassium is also present in this type of fertilizer; application of this type of fertilizer is usually carried out in the midst of flowering, as well as the formation of the ovary, it often improves the taste of the crop and prolongs the flowering period of plants;
- calcium nitrate (calcium nitrate), it is potassium that predominates here, due to its introduction into the soil, the yield increases, the period of preservation of products increases;
- magnesium nitrate (magnesium nitrate) is a nitrogen-magnesium fertilizer, in fact, another source of magnesium needed by legumes;
- calcium ammonium nitrate, it contains all types of fertilizers mentioned above and contains potassium, magnesium and, of course, calcium.
- Sodium nitrate (sodium nitrate), by and large, is an alkaline fertilizer, most often used for feeding beets and potatoes.
Ammonium nitrate – composition, features of use. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Bisakimia
Features of the use of ammonium nitrate on different types of soils
Ammonium nitrate should not be used at the simple request of a gardener or gardener, but based on the type of soil, type of plant, climate conditions in your region, as well as the agrochemical characteristics of a particular cultivation technology.
As for the versatility of ammonium nitrate, we can firmly say that this fertilizer is suitable for any type of land, however, on podzolic lands, with the annual application of this fertilizer, slight acidification is observed.
Tip: on dense lands containing clay, it is better to apply ammonium nitrate before winter, digging up the soil, although spring application is also permissible.
If excessive wet growing seasons are observed in your region, then it is better to apply ammonium nitrate in both the spring and autumn periods, using it as a top dressing. In regions with a normal amount of moisture, spring use is sufficient.
How to use ammonium nitrate?
In the garden, fertilizer can be used, especially in those areas where the rules of crop rotation are not adhered to. In this case, the use of this fertilizer will help to neutralize the consequences of these violations.
In the orchard, this fertilizer helps to stimulate the development of seedlings, mature trees, various shrub and flower crops. In fruit growing, with the correct application of ammonium nitrate, it is possible to significantly increase the yield (up to 50%).
Ammonium nitrate can be introduced into the ground for digging the soil in the spring and in the autumn dry, that is, in the form of granules. In addition, these fertilizers can be applied in dissolved form, using both for root and foliar feeding, that is, spraying with fertilizer dissolved in water directly on the leaves.
The use of ammonium nitrate in various crops
Potatoes
Usually, ammonium nitrate is introduced into the wells at the end of a teaspoon, mixing well with the soil, after which the tuber is laid and sprinkled with earth.
White cabbage
This fertilizer is used a week after placing the seedlings in a permanent place. It makes no sense to apply in dry form, fertilizer in the amount of 15 g must be diluted in a bucket of water and consumed per square meter of area. A week after this top dressing, you can carry out foliar dressing – in the evening, spray the foliage of the seedlings with 0,25% ammonium nitrate, repeating such treatments 5-7 times during the growing season.
Bow
First, ammonium nitrate is scattered over the non-thawed soil, approximately 9-11 g per square meter. A week later, in the same amount, fertilizer can be scattered over the first shoots, slightly loosening the soil.
Grapes
The first part of the fertilizer is applied in the spring in the amount of half a tablespoon under each bush, in the summer – a third of a teaspoon under each bush. In this case, the soil should be loosened and watered.
Strawberries
In the first season, fertilization is not needed, in the second year, you can add 5-9 g of ammonium nitrate per square meter, sealed in a previously dug trench in the aisles to a depth of 8-9 cm.After applying, the bed must be sprinkled with soil. For the 3rd season, it is better to water the plants with dissolved fertilizer – 25 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water, the consumption rate is 1 liter per square meter, when watering, do not pour on the leaves, but try to pour under the roots, it is better to do this in the evening.
Seedlings of most vegetable crops
It is necessary to add literally 3-5 g of ammonium nitrate to each well, it is great if you decide in advance to dilute this amount in 0,5 liters of water. After a week, you can repeat the feeding of already strengthened plants by diluting 35 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water and spending it per square meter of soil occupied by seedlings.
Horticultural crops
When planting in the hole, you need to pour 16-18 g of ammonium nitrate, mixing well with the soil. In the future, until mid-June, one more top dressing can be carried out by dissolving 25 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water and pouring this amount under each tree older than five years and 20 g each younger than five years.
With nitrogen starvation of fruit trees, they can be sprayed with a solution of ammonium nitrate in the amount of 25 g per bucket of water, the main thing is to thoroughly wet the entire above-ground mass of the plant.
Flower crops
Flower crops – gloxinia, petunias and the like – respond very well to ammonium nitrate. To do this, you must first prepare a standard soil mixture where you will plant the plants, and then add a tablespoon of this fertilizer to it. If you want to water the flowers with ammonium nitrate in the future, then 10 peas are enough for a bucket of water, and this amount is enough for a square meter of the area occupied by flowers.
In the spring, you can also feed roses with ammonium nitrate, for this you need to water them with a solution consisting of a tablespoon of fertilizer per bucket of water, this rate is enough for 3-4 rose bushes.
The negative properties of ammonium nitrate
- Ammonium nitrate is quite explosive and should therefore be kept away from fire.
- Do not spray plants on green foliage in the daytime as this will cause severe burns on the foliage.
- If you decide to mix ammonium nitrate with potash and phosphorus fertilizers, then fertilize the soil with this mixture immediately after its preparation.
- Do not use this fertilizer for vegetables that can accumulate nitrates: zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, squash.
- If an overdose of the drug still took place, then the garden should be watered abundantly within a week, combining watering with loosening the earth.
- Two weeks before harvesting the fruits, the use of this fertilizer should be completely stopped on any crop.
Ammonium nitrate is quite explosive and should therefore be kept away from fire. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com em-group
How to store ammonium nitrate?
First of all, ammonium nitrate must be protected from fire, secondly – from dampness. If the fertilizer is stored indoors, then it should be devoid of sources of fire, close tightly, without the possibility of moisture penetration. The ideal storage temperature is 25-30 degrees above zero, high jumps are also not desirable, as this can cause caking of the granules and cause difficulties in further use.
The usual shelf life of ammonium nitrate is six months, but this is in a closed bag, after opening the package, the shelf life is reduced to only one month.
Conclusion. As you can see, ammonium nitrate can be considered an almost irreplaceable fertilizer, it is used in 80% of cases, and if you do everything right, you will get tasty and large fruits, devoid of nitrates, as well as lush flowering and large buds of roses and other flowers in your area.
