To compensate for the lack of nitrogen in the soil, nitrogen fertilizers must be used. In this article, two of the most popular types of such fertilizers will fall into our field of vision: ammonium nitrate and urea. Let's try to figure out which of these fertilizers is better and how to put them into practice.
Use of nitrogen fertilizers
Every gardener or gardener knows that it is impossible to grow a good crop without fertilizers containing nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the most important substances for any crop. With a nitrogen deficiency, plants weaken, poorly grow the leaf apparatus, have small leaves and undergo various diseases.
In the agricultural sector, nitrogen types of fertilizers are practiced quite widely. They are introduced into the soil as the main pre-sowing fertilizer, as well as during inter-row cultivations and extra root top dressing.
There are three groups of nitrogen fertilizers:
- nitrate;
- ammonium;
- amide.
All of them have various properties, characteristics and methods of application. Most often, domestic farmers prefer to deal with urea or ammonium nitrate, since they have a high percentage of nitrogen and are convenient to use.
Characterization of ammonium nitrate and its use as a fertilizer
This is a type of white granular mineral fertilizer that can have a gray, yellow or pink hue. Fertilizer granules have a diameter of 2 to 4 mm. The product contains 34% of total nitrogen, including 17% in nitrate form and the same in ammonia form. Available under the brands "A" and "B".
The main name of this fertilizer is ammonium nitrate, but it is also called ammonium nitrate, ammonium salt of nitric acid, ammonium nitrate.
Nitrate works well as a regulator of plant leaf growth, increase protein and gluten in cereals, as well as to increase yield.
In the production of ammonium nitrate, ammonia and nitric acid are used. Other useful elements can also be found in this fertilizer: sulfur (up to 14%) and a small amount of potassium, magnesium and calcium.
This is one of the most popular nitrogen fertilizers. The product under the brand name "A" is used for many crops and in any climatic zones, but most often it is used by farmers on grain crops. The product under the brand name "B" is usually used in seedlings of vegetable and ornamental crops, when they are grown indoors in winter.
Ammonium nitrate is introduced into the ground during the process of digging the garden and during preparation for sowing. When transplanting seedlings, saltpeter is, as usual, used for top dressing.
On root crops, top dressing is carried out 20 days after germination. Ammonium nitrate is distributed between the rows at the rate of 6-8 g of fertilizer per square meter.
Vegetables are enriched with ammonium nitrate at the time of planting or 8 days after that. It helps to strengthen plants and increase leaves on them. The second top dressing with ammonium nitrate is started a week before the onset of the flowering phase.
It is forbidden to use ammonium nitrate during the formation and filling of fruits.
Characteristics of urea and its use as a fertilizer
Urea (urea) is produced industrially through the synthesis of ammonia and carbon dioxide. The product is available in two forms and is marked with the letters "A" and "B". The first type of product is used in industry, and the one under the brand name "B" is intended for the agricultural sector.
Urea is represented by white or yellow, odorless crystals. Nitrogen in it contains 46%, and it is all in nitrate form. The domestic industry has launched the production of urea not only in granules, but also in tablets.
Urea is the most concentrated nitrogen fertilizer. It is completely soluble in water and has a wide range of applications.
Urea is a very valuable fertilizer with its positive and negative sides. Nitrogen in it is completely soluble in water and does not go to the lower horizons of the soil.
Urea is used for foliar dressing, as it acts gently without causing burns to the leaves. This means that it can be practiced during the growth and development of plants:
- Main application. Fertilizer before sowing is buried in the soil by 5 cm. On irrigated lands, urea is scattered on the day of irrigation. From 1.4 to 2.1 kg are added per each hundredth.
- Sowing dressing. Carbamide is introduced as a starter fertilizer along with seeds. In this case, a layer of soil must necessarily be between the substance and the seeds. The dose of urea is set in the range of 40-60 grams.
- Foliar top dressing. Carry out a sprayer in the morning or evening. When preparing the working solution take 55-105 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water. The flow rate of the fluid per 1 hundredth should be 10 liters.
Urea is widely used on different soil types for feeding fruit, flower, berry crops and vegetables. It is strictly forbidden to increase the dose of urea when spraying - this will lead to a burn of the leaves.
Urea is not only a good fertilizer. He showed effectiveness against harmful insects in fruit crops. Before budding, at a temperature of +5 degrees, you can spray the crown of the trees with a urea solution (60 g per 1 liter of water).
Advantages and disadvantages of ammonium nitrate
The ammonium salt of nitric acid has the following advantages:
- In the economic aspect, ammonium nitrate is extremely beneficial. She is the cheapest fertilizer. Its consumption is 1 kg per hundred square meters.
- It can be used from March to frost. This fertilizer has a rare feature - its granules can burn snow, so that crystals are scattered across the snow at the earliest possible date.
Nitrate is effective even in frozen soil. It can fertilize cultivated plants on frozen ground, which makes it possible to saturate the soil with nitrogen when it experiences an acute deficiency of this element. Organics and urea under such conditions are completely useless - their effect manifests itself when the soil warms up.
In the presence of many useful qualities, saltpeter has certain disadvantages:
- it is not recommended for use on soils with acidity above normal;
- ammonium nitrate should be applied carefully, otherwise ammonia released can destroy crops;
- saltpeter is not used for foliar top dressing because of the danger of leaf burn;
- it cannot be mixed with superphosphate, lime, dolomite and peat due to possible spontaneous combustion;
- in our time, it is difficult to acquire ammonium nitrate;
- nitrate is explosive, so you need to know how to transport it and store it properly.
The advantages and disadvantages of urea
Urea is endowed with the following positive qualities:
- the nitrogen contained in urea is easily and quickly absorbed by any plants;
- subject to the recommended doses of fertilizers, urea with leaf feeding never burns the leaves of the crop;
- carbamide is highly effective on all types of soils, regardless of their acidity;
- urea shows excellent efficiency in irrigated areas;
- fertilizer is easy to apply by all known methods and at any time;
- urea is relatively easy to transport and store.
The following factors indicate the negative qualities of urea as fertilizer:
- when it enters the soil, it takes longer for it to take effect;
- during storage, urea can adsorb moisture from the air;
- when seeds come into contact with fertilizer, germination is possible;
- urea is completely useless in cold soil, and therefore is not used for early spring application.
What is the difference between ammonium nitrate and urea?
Both substances are popular nitrogen-containing fertilizers, but there is a difference between them:
- These products contain different amounts of nitrogen: 46% in urea and 34% in nitrate.
- Urea is allowed to be used not only for application under the root, but also by spraying on the leaves, and saltpeter can be applied only to the soil.
- Urea is a softer fertilizer.
- The main difference is that nitrate is a mineral, and urea is an organic compound.
- Plants assimilate nitrogen from urea more slowly than from saltpeter, but the nutritional effect is longer.
- When saltpeter is added, it increases the overall acidity of the soil, and urea does not change it. Therefore, on acidified soils, as well as for crops that do not tolerate an acidic environment, only urea is suitable.
- The treatment with nitrate is more effective than urea, because nitrate contains two different forms of nitrogen: nitrate and ammonia.
- Nitrate is explosive and requires specialized storage and transportation conditions. Urea is only sensitive to moisture.
What fertilizer is better to use: urea or nitrate?
A lot in this matter depends on the specific conditions and requirements for fertilizer:
- Ammonium nitrate is in great demand among farmers cultivating crops. An additional increase in grain yield of 3-4 centners per hectare is quite real thanks to the use of nitrate. Fertilizer is applied for plowing in the fall or spring under cultivation. For a greater effect, superphosphate and potassium fertilizers are added together with nitrate.
- On light sandy loamy soils, nitrate nitrate nitrogen, introduced in the fall, can be washed away, so it is better to make it before sowing for cultivation.
- If you need to make several fertilizers, including ammonium nitrate, then you need to mix them before use.
- Urea should be used on acidic soils and in areas where plants that do not tolerate acidic environments grow.
- On garden, ornamental and fruit crops, it is better to use urea as a milder agent.
- To perform nitrogen dressing by spraying on leaves, you should choose urea.
Talking about which fertilizer is better - urea or ammonium nitrate - is at least incorrect. In each particular case, it is necessary to choose fertilizer based on the purpose of its application. If you want to accelerate plant growth, pay attention to saltpeter. If you put crop quality at the forefront, choose urea.