Nitrogen Fertilizers

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The chemical called nitrogen is full of paradoxes. Nitrogen is the fourth most abundant in our solar system among all chemical elements, being one of the main elements for the existence of life. At the same time, under certain conditions, it becomes dangerous for humans and other representatives of the living world. Using nitrogen fertilizers at their summer cottage to increase the yield of vegetables and fruits, it will not be superfluous to learn about their behavior in the soil

High mobility of nitrogen compounds

During the period of intensive plant growth, that is, in the first half of summer, plants especially need nitrogen. But natural nitrogen compounds are highly mobile, thereby depleting the nitrogen content in the soil. Why is this happening?

Firstly, nitrates and ammonium salts dissolve easily in water and in loose permeable soil are freely washed out by rainwater or when watering a plant.

Secondly, as a result of the high biological activity of soil bacteria, nitrogen fertilizer, for example, urea, turns into ammonium carbonate, which, decomposing, evaporates from the soil, capturing part of the nitrogen.

Thirdly, nitrogen fertilizers are loved not only by plants, but also by microorganisms living in the soil. Two-thirds of the nitrogen fertilizers applied to the soil in the first week are eaten by bacteria and fungi. And only 30 percent goes to plants. The nitrogen consumed by microorganisms will get to plants only after the death of these organisms.

With this state of affairs, the conclusion suggests itself that for high-quality plant nutrition, you just need to add more fertilizer to the soil. But simple solutions are not always the best. The more fertilizers are applied to the soil, the more they are washed out, falling into nearby water bodies. Nitrogen, getting into the reservoir, provokes the rapid development of algae, which prevents the penetration of sunlight and creates an oxygen deficiency in the water. The whole chain of transformations leads to the death of fish.

So, achieving a harvest in the beds, we simultaneously destroy life, chopping off the branch on which everything is sitting.

Types of nitrogen fertilizers

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Urea or urea - in urea, the nitrogen content is 46 percent of the total mass. Urea is the most concentrated nitrogen fertilizer. Its white granular balls are pleasant to look at and dissolve easily in water. Most often, urea is used in liquid feed, which is very effective. Keep in mind that such dressings acidify the soil a little. If you feed plants for which acidic soil is contraindicated, then you immediately need to alkalize it, for example, sprinkling with wood ash.

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Ammonium nitrate - the nitrogen content in nitrate is inferior to that in urea, amounting to 35 percent. It is also a white, granular fertilizer, readily soluble in water. Due to its high ability to absorb moisture when stored improperly, ammonium nitrate cakes. It acidifies the soil even more than urea.

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Sodium nitrate - but sodium nitrate, saturating the soil with nitrogen, the content of which in it is 16 percent, alkalizes the soil. It is a white powder, soluble in water.

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Calcium nitrate - rather large cream-colored granules contain up to 17 percent nitrogen. It dissolves in water, it is used for liquid fertilizing of plants, alkalizing the soil. Calcium nitrate should be stored in a dry room, since the granules are highly hygroscopic, that is, they actively absorb moisture from the air.

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Ammonium sulfate - when fertilizing acidic soils, alkalinization is required. It is a white, odorless powder with a nitrogen content of 21 percent. It dissolves in water, but is not hygroscopic during storage. It has a very low toxicity and is well retained by the soil. Suitable for fertilizing cabbage, sugar beets, carrots, pumpkins, courgettes, tomatoes, raspberries, gooseberries.