Features Of The Use Of Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizers

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

Among all currently existing mineral and organic fertilizers, liquid nitrogen fertilizers stand apart - they seem to form an independent group. And this group of fertilizers is characterized by an impressive variety, as well as unequal properties and degrees of efficiency. That is why it is very important to learn how to choose the right nitrogen fertilizers correctly

What are liquid nitrogen fertilizers?

The main active ingredient of any fertilizer belonging to this category is, of course, nitrogen. This element not only helps to improve the throughput and structure of the soil, but is also endowed with the ability to change its physicochemical composition. It also significantly increases the overall fertility rate and significantly improves the phytosanitary condition of summer cottages as a whole! And, of course, the systematic introduction of nitrogen-containing dressings helps to saturate the growing crops with nitrogen, which is vital for their full development. Such dressings are especially important if the garden crops were planted on soils characterized by a depleted mineral composition.

Modern liquid nitrogen fertilizers are usually subdivided into four independent groups, and this division invariably proceeds according to the main active ingredient. So, it is customary to allocate fertilizers based on ammonia, anhydrous ammonia, ammonia water and UAN (urea-ammonia mixture).

The effectiveness of mixtures based on ammonia is always very high, and it is in no way inferior to fairly widespread solid nitrogen-containing fertilizers. The nitrogen content in such fertilizers often reaches fifty percent, therefore, when applying them, it is very important to ensure that the skin and mucous membranes are reliably protected.

In fertilizers based on anhydrous ammonia, the nitrogen concentration can reach 82.5% - when working with this group of fertilizers, the dosage must be carefully observed. And they can only be stored in a tightly closed container made of cast iron, steel or iron! As a rule, such fertilizers are most often used in various industrial facilities.

But fertilizers made on the basis of ammonia water are often used in the dacha economy - the nitrogen concentration in them is either 16% or 20%, and it is much less dangerous both for plants and for summer residents themselves. By the way, in terms of its effectiveness, ammonia water is similar to nitrogen fertilizers in crystalline form. As for UAN, fertilizers based on them are most suitable for use in industrial crop production.

How to use?

Liquid nitrogen fertilizers are applied both in spring and summer. And you should not postpone the timing of their introduction to early spring or to the pre-winter time, since in this case the risk of a huge loss of nitrogen, which occurs during the washing out by melted snow, significantly increases. The only exception is ammonium nitrate - it is just the best to apply it in late autumn, when the soil has already stopped heating, but has not yet frozen - the moisture of such soil is ideal for the proper assimilation of nitrogen. In all other cases, the ideal time for applying nitrogen fertilizers will be considered the period after the final snow melt - about a couple of weeks after the snow melts, they gradually begin to apply them. And if nitrogen fertilizers will be applied on acidic soils, then it is recommended to use dolomite flour or lime simultaneously with their introduction.

If the region of residence is characterized by aridity, the plants should be fed with liquid nitrogen fertilizers evenly and regularly, and before starting to apply such dressings, it is recommended to thoroughly shed the soil and loosen it thoroughly. Moreover, it is quite permissible to combine some mixtures with water for irrigation (in the event that this is not prohibited by the instructions).

To apply nitrogen fertilizers in liquid form, it is recommended to use coarse sprayers - this approach will help not to touch the stalks with leaves and evenly wet the soil surface. And for foliar dressing, you can safely purchase fine sprayers, and solutions in this case are prepared less concentrated. But the most important thing in all cases is to strictly observe the appropriate precautions and the dosage indicated in the instructions, only in this case it will be possible to achieve the planned results and not harm the plants!