Green AAG

Nitrogenous Fertilizers

Overview

• Nitrogenous fertilizers take the foremost place among fertilizers since the deficiency of nitrogen in the soil is the foremost and crops respond to nitrogen better than to other nutrients.
• More than 80 per cent of the fertilizers used in this country are made up of nitrogenous fertilizers, particularly urea.
• It is extremely efficient in increasing the production of crops and the possibilities of its economic production are unlimited.

Classification of Nitrogenous Fertilizers

Ammoniacal Fertilizers

• Ammoniacal fertilizers contain the nutrient nitrogen in the form of ammonium or ammonia.
• Ammoniacal fertilizers are readily soluble in water and therefore readily available to crops.
• Except rice, all crops absorb nitrogen in nitrate form. These fertilizers are resistant to leaching loss, as the ammonium ions get readily absorbed on the colloidal complex of the soil.

a. Ammonium Sulphate [(NH4)2 SO4]

• It is a white salt completely soluble in water containing 20.6 .per cent of nitrogen and 24.0 per cent of sulphur.
• It is used advantageously in rice and jute cultivation.
• It is easy to handle and it stores well under dry conditions. But during rainy season, it sometimes forms lumps.
• It can be applied before sowing, at the time of sowing or as a top-dressing to the growing crop.

b. Ammonium Chloride (NH4Cl)

• It is a white salt contains 26.0 per cent of nitrogen.
• It is usually not recommended for tomato, tobacco and such other crops as may be injured by chlorine.

c. Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3)

• It is a colourless and pungent gas containing 82.0 per cent nitrogen.
• It is the cheapest and can be applied directly to soil by injection using blade type applicator having tubes.
• It becomes liquid (anhydrous ammonia) under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure.

Ammonium Fertilizer (Straight Nitrogen Fertilizer Specifications)

Composition

Properties

• Readily available for crop absorption in form of ammonium ion.
• Easily converted to Nitrate ion as well by bacterial action therefore both the species are ready and available for plant absorption
• Leaching resistant as the ammonium ion is absorbed in colloidal complex of soil.

Benefits

• Sustainable, Eco-friendly, Green Fertilizer.
• Reduced cost of fertilizer application up to 50% for specific crop area, hence huge saving on fertilizer subsidy and cost to farmers as well.
• Prevent environmental pollutions because of leaching losses.
• Decarbonises fertilizer sector, eliminates carbon foot print from fertilizer production process.
• Increased crop yield up to 25% as compared with Urea application.
• Eliminates dependency of fossil fuels.
• Saves foreign reserve by import of fossil feed stock.
• Plants absorb nitrogen in the form of Ammonium (NH4+) ions or Nitrate (NO3-) ions only.
• Urea needs microbial action for being ready to be absorbed.
• Whereas ammonia directly converted into ammonium (NH4+) ions that is ready for being absorbed by plants.
• Ammonium makes a colloidal complex with soil, and prevents wastage by leaching etc., thereby huge savings on fertilizer cost.
• Agriculture Directorate Uttar Pradesh also opined that the said Ammoniacal Fertilizer may be applied to Paddy Crop.
• Prevents leaching losses thus increase utilization factor, and reduces need of fertilizer application up to 50%.
• Ammonia(Ammonium) promotes plant growth faster than that of any other Nitrogenous fertilizer.
• The soil bacteria convert NH3/ NH4+ to NO2-/ NO3- thus both of the species readily available to crops.
• Increased specific crop yield as compared to solid fertilizers.
  • In cabbage, tomatoes and beans anhydrous ammonia proved as effective ammonium nitrate and sodium nitrate, proving superior for beans.
  • In sugar beet, yields were on average 7.4 t/ha higher with anhydrous ammonia than that of urea.
  • In potatoes, using anhydrous ammonia increases yield compared to solid fertilisers up to 5.9 t/ha.