Ammonia anhydrous: application benefits and properties

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 13:48

Nitrogen fertilizers are used by farmers in growing almost all crops. The use of compounds of this type makes it possible to achieve an improvement in plant development and, as a result, an increase in yield.

In Russia and in the countries of the former CIS, solid nitrogenous fertilizers are mainly used in agriculture - ammic nitrate, ammonium sulfate, etc. The situation is exactly the same in Europe. In the United States and Canada, at a time of falling grain prices and increasing energy costs, a completely different, much more economical technology for the production of nitrogen fertilizers was developed. In these countries, this type of liquid top dressing is used in most cases in the fields. At the same time, about 53% of all fertilizers of this variety used here are anhydrous ammonia.

Benefits of using

The advantages of this type of fertilizer include, first of all, the low cost of production. The cost of anhydrous ammonia is 40% lower than, for example, the same ammonium nitrate.

Another definite advantagefertilizer of this variety is uniform distribution in the soil. Ammonium nitrate in granules under the influence of natural factors goes into the ground after vertical application. Therefore, access to nitrogen in the future often has only a certain part of the roots of plants. Anhydrous ammonia, after entering the soil, is converted into gas and distributed both downwards and in all directions.

Another indisputable advantage of this modern fertilizer is the ability to increase plant yields. Such top dressing is more effective than ammonium nitrate popular in the expanses of the former CIS. The yield of wheat, for example, when used instead of solid nitrogen fertilizers, can increase by almost 3%.

Some advantage of anhydrous ammonia can be considered a fairly long shelf life. Unlike solid fertilizers of this group, such top dressing in warehouses does not cake, does not undergo segregation, etc.

When introducing anhydrous ammonia into the ground, manual labor is practically not used. This, of course, can also be attributed to the benefits of fertilizer.

Why is it not used in Russia and Europe?

Farmers of the countries of the former CIS for the most part recognize the advantages of using liquid nitrogenous fertilizers, including ammonia, over solid ones. However, in Russia and other states of the post-Soviet space, this type of top dressing is still practically not used. If in the Central regions of the Russian Federation, in Ukraine and in Belarus, new technologies for applying nitrogenous fertilizers are still being implemented in some places, thenAnhydrous liquefied ammonia is not used anywhere by Ural.

What is the reason for this state of affairs? The reason for this is primarily agricultural traditions. Agricultural workers in Eurasia have long been accustomed to fertilizing plants with solid compounds. Accordingly, all equipment used in agriculture is designed to work with just such types of fertilizer. The transition to new methods of management is a very costly business. That is, liquid fertilizers are not used in Russia and Europe, mainly due to the lack of a technical base and the development of new management methods. In the Russian Federation, for example, anhydrous ammonia is mainly exported or used for the production of solid nitrogenous fertilizers.

Main flaws

Liquid ammonia is a by-product of the chemical industry. One of its features is that at ordinary temperature and pressure it turns into a gas. Accordingly, in warehouses such fertilizer has to be stored in special containers at t below 0 °C. This, of course, can be attributed precisely to the shortcomings of anhydrous ammonia. In warehouses, when it is used in agriculture, it is necessary to install additional energy-intensive equipment.

Transportation of anhydrous ammonia is also quite complicated. Such fertilizer is transported in thick-walled tanks of a special design at elevated pressure. The route of transportation of this liquid top dressing, according to the rules, must be agreed with the traffic police without fail.

Feature of anhydrousammonia is also the fact that it is able to stimulate the corrosion of certain metals. It is allowed to transport it only in tanks made of expensive steel grades. At the same time, such containers during the transportation of liquid fertilizer must also be filled no more than 85%. This is also due to the characteristics of anhydrous ammonia. With an accidental drop in pressure or an increase in the temperature of the surrounding air, part of such a liquid can turn into a gas. When the lid of the tank is opened subsequently, fertilizer sprays fly in all directions, which can lead to injury to workers. All this, of course, can also be attributed to the disadvantages of such top dressing.

A simple incorporation of liquid ammonia, unlike the same s altpeter, of course, cannot be introduced into the soil. Top dressing of agricultural crops with such fertilizer is carried out using special expensive equipment - an applicator. Sometimes this fertilizer is applied to the ground and during irrigation. However, this more or less simple method may not be used in all cases.

Safety

Anhydrous ammonia is by far the most dangerous type of agricultural fertilizer. This chemical substance belongs, among other things, to the class harmful to the human body. Only agricultural workers who have undergone special training can work with this type of top dressing. This, of course, is also considered by many farmers as a disadvantage of liquid nitrogen fertilizers.

Work with anhydrous liquefied ammonia at agricultural enterprisesRelies on overalls and gloves. Also, farm employees must wear protective goggles when using this tool.

Rules of application

Anhydrous ammonia is introduced into the soil in most cases to a depth of 12-15 cm. At the same time, the soil is pre-moistened. Under such conditions, the fertilizer that has passed into the gaseous state does not evaporate. Such top dressing cannot be applied to dry soil. Otherwise, his losses will be significant.

How to improve the characteristics of the earth

If all the required technologies are observed, a small part of such top dressing can volatilize only on highly carbonate soils. Immediately after the introduction of anhydrous ammonia, the following processes begin to occur in the soil:

• the concentration of ammonia and ammonium is increasing;
• soil becomes alkaline (up to pH 9);
• nitrate nitrogen concentration gradually starts to increase.

Alkalinizes the soil with ammonia for the first 10-15 days. During this period, due to a sharp change in pH and a high concentration of NH_{3, the soil in the field becomes almost sterile. That is, all bacteria and fungi, both harmful and beneficial to plants, die in it.}

However, after a while, the soil gradually begins to return to normal. At the end of the nitrification process, within a few weeks, the microflora in the soil on the field is restored. In total, the conversion of anhydrous ammonia to nitrate takes about 1 month.

Ultimately, due to the improvement of nitrogen nutrition, the amount of usefulmicroorganisms in the soil after the application of such fertilizer even increases. The same goes for earthworms. Immediately after fertilization, most of them, unfortunately, die. It is this argument, along with others, that is often cited by opponents of the use of anhydrous ammonia in the fields. However, within a few weeks after applying such a fertilizer, the worm population in the treated area is restored and even begins to grow.

What should you know?

For farmers who decide to use anhydrous ammonia as a fertilizer, among other things, it should be borne in mind that if it is used incorrectly on the field, the percentage of seed germination can significantly decrease. This happens because of the high concentration of NH_{3 in the soil. Close up anhydrous ammonia in the ground, therefore, should be at the prescribed depth. Subject to application technologies, there is no decrease in seed germination in the fields when using such a fertilizer.}

Method of use

It is possible to introduce anhydrous ammonia into the soil without the risk of its loss both in autumn and in spring. In any case, the average daily air temperature when using this fertilizer should not exceed 10 °C. That is, in the summer in Russia and other countries of the post-Soviet space, this fertilizer cannot be used. Most often, in agricultural enterprises, ammonia is applied to the fields in the fall. This relieves a busy spring schedule.

Air temperature of 10 ° C for the use of anhydrous ammonia is optimal first of allbecause in this case, the processes of nitrification in the soil occur very quickly.

If it is still decided to apply ammonia in the spring, farmers should follow special rules when using it. After all, as already mentioned, this fertilizer can have a negative effect on seeds. In addition, anhydrous ammonia can also inhibit the development of already germinated cultivated plants.

In the spring, this fertilizer is put into the soil, therefore, in most cases, it is buried in the ground to a depth of at least 20-25 cm. In any case, it is supposed to sow plants no earlier than 7-14 days after improving the soil in the field with anhydrous ammonia.

Applying methods

Most often, as already mentioned, special equipment is used when fertilizing crops with ammonia. But sometimes this fertilizer is applied to the soil and simply with irrigation water. In this case, conventional surface irrigation systems are used.

The method of applying such top dressing during irrigation can only be applied in those areas where the water does not contain too much mineral s alts. With such substances, anhydrous ammonia can react to form a precipitate of magnesite or calcite. And this, in turn, significantly reduces the percentage of top dressing entering the soil and leads to all sorts of problems with the equipment. As a result of the formation of sediment, the irrigation system can simply fail. For its restoration in the futurecostly repairs will be required.

GOST

Regulates the production and use of anhydrous liquefied ammonia GOST 6221-90. At present, the industry produces three grades of such a substance - A, Ak and B.

The first type of substance for the production of top dressing in agriculture is not used at all. Anhydrous liquefied ammonia grade A is used only for the manufacture of nitric acid. Used for the production of liquid fertilizer only options Ak and B.

In addition to safety precautions for people, when working with such dressings, their storage and transportation, environmental protection requirements must also be observed. For example, in no case should such top dressing be allowed to enter lakes, ponds and rivers. This can lead to the death of underwater flora and fauna. Of course, such fertilizer can only be used far from the water supply sources of cities and large towns.

Of course, there are also increased requirements for equipment designed to work with ammonia. Among other things, it must ensure the safety of people dealing with this type of fertilizer. For example, the design of such units may include a quick-detachable connection for an anhydrous ammonia receiving unit. Parts of this type are used for quick connection/disconnection of hydraulic lines from NH_{3 without the need for any special tools.}

Applying equipment

Fed crops with ammoniaYou can, therefore, when watering. However, it is not always possible to use this technology, unfortunately. On the territory of Russia, for example, in most regions, water for moistening land intended for growing crops is used quite hard.

If it is impossible to apply when irrigating, special equipment is used to feed agricultural plants with ammonia. For example, such a procedure can be performed in the fields using the PZHU-3500-02 applicator. In this anhydrous ammonia spreader, the fertilizer supply is controlled via the SCS-44 control panel. This design of the equipment allows you to apply fertilizer over the area of the site as evenly as possible.

The main working body of PZhU-3500-02 is a disc with a figured knife installed behind it, to which, in turn, a tube is attached for introducing the solution to a depth into the soil. The supply of anhydrous ammonia to the ground when using such equipment is carried out under pressure from 4 to 6 atm. Such equipment is quite expensive.

Signs of poisoning

Thus, GOST 6221 defines the safety rules for working with anhydrous ammonia. This document, among other things, also indicates signs of poisoning by this substance. Of course, every employee of an agricultural enterprise who works with NH_{3 should have an idea about them. This will help the victim and call the doctors in time. Signs of poisoning with this substance are primarilyheadache and dizziness, stomach pain, increased heart rate. The victim may also experience muscle weakness, seizures, and hearing loss.}