Ammonium nitrate has found a very wide application in agriculture. This is an indispensable mineral fertilizer, stimulating the formation of "building material" for plant cells. In addition to being used as a mineral fertilizer, ammonium nitrate can be used in the manufacture of explosives.
Excellent universal fertilizer
As fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is simply indispensable in agriculture. This substance is more than a third of nitrogen. Nitrogen, in turn, is simply necessary for any plant for full development. The use of ammonium nitrate is quite widespread in the garden, at the dacha in individual gardening. For convenience of storage and introduction into the soil, as well as due to the fact that this substance absorbs moisture very well, in the manufacture of it add chalk, lime, other auxiliary substances. It is produced in the form of granules of milky-cream color.
Because of its universality, ammonium nitrate is used as a spring top dressing before planting almost all types of plants - vegetable crops, garden plantations. Often, ammonium nitrate is used to fertilize flowers. It can also be used as a fertilizer during development and active plant growth. This substance is suitable for any type of soil. It decomposes, releasing nitrogen, on podzolic soils giving an easy acidification effect. In other normal soils, their composition does not change after the addition of ammonium nitrate. The ability of ammonium nitrate is also known to work even in frosts. No other fertilizer is able to work at low temperatures on frozen ground. When applying ammonium nitrate, it starts working immediately. This also does not differ from any other fertilizer. However, it is not recommended to use it for foliar dressing, as it can cause serious burns to the plant.
Time and method of making
How to fertilize plants with ammonium nitrate? It is recommended to bring it in from early spring to mid-summer, when only the tops of vegetable crops are being formed. In the second half of the summer, when the fruit is formed, its application should be stopped, as the growth of the stem and the tops can dampen the formation and development of the fetus. At the same fertilizer is brought to a sufficient depth by rakes or loosening, so that the substance is not washed away during rain or watering. But it can also be used in solution.
- When fertilizing garden plantings, the rate of application of ammonium nitrate is 15-20 grams per square meter. And it is brought under bushes and trees along the whole projection of the crown.
- When planting vegetables, 20-30 grams per square meter of soil is applied to the soil. If the soil has not been till then, then the norm is increased to 50 g.
- When planting seedlings add 4-6 grams per running meter or 3-4 grams per well. The dosage of ammonium nitrate for the solution is 30-40 grams per 10 liters of water. Such a solution is used for fertilizing plants during the growing season.
- Dilute ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer for fertilizing fruit trees in a ratio of 20-30 grams per 10 liters of water. It is necessary to make such top dressing one week after the end of flowering, and then again after 4-5 weeks.
Any application of ammonium nitrate must necessarily be accompanied by copious irrigation.
Contraindications and storage conditions
You can not make ammonium nitrate with sawdust, straw and peat. After reacting, the substance can catch fire. It is not recommended to make it simultaneously with organic fertilizers - manure, superphosphate. Categorically, this fertilizer can not be applied to cucumbers, pumpkin, zucchini and squash . This fertilizer provokes the accumulation of a significant amount of nitrates in these cultures.
Storage of ammonium nitrate requires special attention. Since this is an explosive, the storage location should be away from flammable substances. If heated, saltpeter may cause an explosion. To store it, you need a cool dry place. In domestic conditions it is stored in factory paper or plastic bags.