Saltpeter: fertilizer. Application in agriculture

Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer from a huge nitrogen family, without which it is impossible to imagine any branch of plant growing today. It is the universality of application that causes a high demand for its production and use. With large volumes of supplies, the technology of its production is constantly being improved, which further contributes to securing this fertilizer to the position of the most popular one.

Ammonium nitrate

It has the chemical formula NH4 NO3. Ammonium nitrate is a highly concentrated fertilizer that contains 34.4% nitrogen. It is available in the form of small granules of spherical shape, which have high hygroscopicity. Ammonium nitrate as fertilizer occupies 55-60% of the market among a variety of minerals that are used in agriculture. Its popularity is growing year by year.

Composition

Nitrate (fertilizer) is formed by mixing nitrogen with hydrogen. As a result of this reaction, ammonia is formed, which has the property of oxidizing with time. Further, this mixture becomes nitric acid. This acid and ammonia are combined and ammonium nitrate is obtained. This fertilizer contains 17% of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen (a total of 34%). The nitre obtained in this way is a hygroscopic white powder that dissolves in water, thereby greatly reducing the temperature of the solution. It is explosive, so you need to handle it carefully and carefully.

Nitrate in the form of fertilizer

Nitrate (fertilizer) application is quite wide due to its versatility. It is perfectly suitable for all types of soil and is perfectly absorbed by any plants. Saltpeter (fertilizer) can be used both as a fertilizer during the entire vegetation period, and in the form of the main one. In the spring it should be applied before planting.

Dosage

To avoid accumulation in the crop production of nitrates, do not exceed the dosage of ammonium nitrate. To use it as the main fertilizer it is necessary to take within 3 centners per hectare, as a top dressing - no more than one and a half centners per hectare.

Application

Saltpeter (fertilizer) helps to increase the yield of grain crops (barley, rye, wheat, triticale) by 3-5% when using it in the early spring period to fertilize crops. This is well known to people who grow grain, and as soon as snow falls from the fields, they are taken to massively feed the plants. It is also introduced as the main fertilizer in spring or autumn. When using saltpeter on light soils, it gives excellent results, especially when it is applied for cultivation, just before sowing. On acidic or buffer soils it is recommended to use it regularly in combination with other top dressing during the year.

Recommendations

If desired, use it in combination with potassium and phosphorous substances, the mixing of fertilizers is carried out immediately before application. Nitrate perfectly affects the growth of the vegetative mass. It is able to increase the content of gluten and total protein in the grain, and also serves as an excellent assistant to increase the overall yield.