Fertilizer ammonium sulfate - pantry of nitrogen and sulfur

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Synthetic Ammonium Sulfate is a nitrogen-sulfur fertilizer that contains 24% sulfur and 21% nitrogen. Outwardly, it resembles a white crystalline s alt, which dissolves well in water and is chemically neutral. Ammonium sulfate has a weak hygroscopicity and during long-term storage it does not cake, while maintaining flowability. And the value of the substances contained in it is difficult to overestimate. The same nitrogen has a significant impact on the vital activity of plants. It is rightfully considered the leader among mineral fertilizers. And sulfur in terms of importance in plant nutrition can be given the third place, since phosphorus occupies the second place.

Ammonium sulfate is a fertilizer that is useful for all types of crops. When applied, it dissolves in water without problems, and then is well absorbed by plants. In addition, it is inactive and even with high moisture it is not washed out of the soil. And the effectiveness of this fertilizer is not lower than that of urea and ammonias altpeter. But if we consider some of its physical and chemical properties (incombustibility, explosion safety, non-caking) and cost, then ammonium sulfate will be much more profitable than its “rivals”. Also an important component of this fertilizer is sulfur, which plays an important role in the life of plants. It is part of proteins and essential amino acids such as methionine and cystine. It is also present in vitamins and oils.

In this regard, ammonium sulfate has a positive effect on the redox processes occurring in plants, as well as on the activation of enzymes and protein metabolism, the initial product for the synthesis of which is just the oxidized form of sulfur. And if it is not enough, then the synthesis of proteins is delayed, and the so-called sulfur starvation begins in plants, which in its characteristics resembles nitrogen starvation. At the same time, agricultural crops are suspended in development, their stems lengthen and leaves decrease. True, the latter do not die off, but take on a pale color. And as studies have shown, it is sulfur deficiency that causes a violation of nitrogen metabolism. And you can avoid it if you add ammonium sulfate. Fertilizer this will help to restore the lack of sulfur.

Farmers also know that the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers can lead to environmental problems, especially if they are not balanced nutrients. It can be pollution of surface and ground waters, waste of products. Also in urea and nitratefertilizers, there are significant losses of nitrogen (up to 30%), which occur due to leaching and denitrification. And ammonium sulfate loses no more than 3% of this battery. It should be noted that nitrogen is in it in the most accessible form for plants, and it participates in the formation of the crop throughout the growing season.

Also, ammonium sulfate is used to recycle straw. In doing so, it turns into a fertilizer. That is, it is applied to the soil along with crop residues at a dose of 10 kilograms per ton of straw. At the same time, it contributes to the accelerated decomposition of fiber. In this regard, several problems are solved at the same time - soils receive additional fertilizer, straw is utilized and the environment is protected. And if the grain harvest is 20-30 centners per hectare, then ammonium sulfate, together with the straw remaining after them, is able to return up to 40 kilograms of nitrogen, 18-24 kilograms of potassium, up to 80 kilograms of phosphorus and 35-45 kg of sulfur to the soil, which significantly increases percentage of protein in products.