Ammonium Nitrate (AN)
Technical specification
Ammonium Nitrate is a fast-acting fertilizer with a total nitrogen content of 34.4%. It is the nitrogen fertilizer most widely used to provide nourishment to all types of crops. The primary effect of nitrogen fertilization on the quality of plant production is higher protein content and quality which is of crucial importance for the cereals and feed crops.
Ammonium Nitrate contains nitrogen in both ammonium and nitrate forms. It is a product quickly and fully dissolved in the soil solution. Upon application, Ammonium Nitrate reacts with the soil adsorption complex whereby the ammonia cation is adsorbed by the colloids in the soil, while the nitrate anion remains mobile in the soil solution.
When nitrogen is present in both forms, the relative rate of its uptake into the plants depends on the pH value of the nutrient solution, the concentration of ammonia and nitrate salts, the stage of plant development and the degree of carbohydrate availability. In a neutral to mild alkaline environment, ammonium nitrogen is absorbed more actively, while nitrate nitrogen is a better source of nutrition in an acidic environment. Most plants absorb more actively ammonium nitrogen in their early stage of development and nitrate nitrogen in the later stages.
Advantages
- Accelerates photosynthesis and chlorophyll formation
- Readily available nitrogen for the plants
- Nitrogen in two forms – nitrate and ammonium
Effects of nitrogen deficiency in plants:
- Disrupted chlorophyll formation and stunted plant growth
- Inhibited cell division at the growth points
- Reduced foliar surface
- Reduced biosynthesis of saccharides
- The leaves turn orange or brown and fall off
- Reduced storage substance availability to the reproductive organs
- Lower yield
Effects of nitrogen overload in plants:
- Extended vegetative shoot apex
- No resistance to fungal diseases and pest attacks
- Deteriorated production quality
- Rapid leaf growth
- Cereals tend to lodge
Agricultural Advisor’s Recommendation:
Nitrogen deficiency at the beginning of the growing season and nitrogen overload in the second half – and especially by the end – of the growing season are detrimental to the normal growth, development, and productivity of most crops. This should be considered during the development of the fertilization process for the respective crop.
Customs tariff number
3102309000
Technical characteristics
It satisfies the requirements of Regulation 2003/2003 relating to mineral fertilizers with high contents of nitrogen.
| PARAMETER | NORM | Harmonized analytical standard | |||||
| Total Nitrogen (N), % | 34.4 ± 0.6 | BDS EN 15750; BDS EN 15476 | |||||
| Nitrate Nitrogen, % | 17.0 ± 0.6 | BDS EN 15750; BDS EN 15475; BDS EN 15476 | |||||
| Ammoniacal Nitrogen, % | 17.0 ± 0.6 | BDS EN 15475 | |||||
| Water, max., % | 0.6 | BDS ЕN 13466-1 | |||||
| Inorganic additive (MgO), % | 0.3 - 0.5 | BDS EN 15960; BDS EN 16198 | |||||
| рН of water solution @ 200С* | min. 4.5 | Regul. 2003 / 2003, App. 3, method 4 | |||||
| Chlorine (as Cl-), mg/kg, max. * | 200 | Regul. 2003 / 2003, App. 3, method 6 | |||||
| Copper (Cu), mg/kg, max. * | 10 | Regul. 2003 / 2003, App. 3, method 7 | |||||
| Oil retention, %, max. * | 4 | Regul. 2003 / 2003, App. 3, methods 1,2 | |||||
| Combust. Comp. (as С), %, max. * | 0.2 | Regul. 2003 / 2003, App. 3, method 3 | |||||
| Granulometry: granules 1-4 mm | min. 95% | Regul. 2003 / 2003, App. 3, method 5; BDS EN 1235 | |||||
| granules under1 mm | max. 5% | ||||||
| granules under 0.5 mm | max. 3% | ||||||
* Parameters are determined once at every 3 months.