May Ammonium Sulfate Be Used In Pop-up Fertilization? ind-svcs.com /blog/may-ammonium-sulf ate-used-pop-f ertilization/
What Is Pop-Up Fertilization? “Pop-Up” fertilization is the process of putting the fertilizer in at the time of planting the seed. The alternative is starter fertilization, in which the fertilization is done near but not with the seed. Ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2 SO4] has been a f ertilizer of choice f or over 150 hundred years. In one conf iguration or other, it has served world agriculture and its economy very well. It serves needs f rom the common f ront lawn to major f arm lots. Broadcast or applied as liquid or granule, it meets almost every f ertilizer need. But, as agricultural application technology improves, users needs to understand its use in pop-up f ertilization. As growers pursue early planting in cool soils that inhibit early root growth, they have to consider their options.
Once There Was The St art er Fert ilizer T he so-called “starter f ertilizers” place nutrients in bands 2-inches below and 2-inches to the side of the seed. Starter applications place more Nitrogen (N), Z inc (Z c), and micronutrients near the seed. Common liquid sources are ammonium polyphosphate solution and urea ammonium nitrate solution. Dry materials include urea, ammonium sulfate, and diammonium phosphate. Higher rates may be applied at f urther distance f rom the seed.
Now There Is The Pop-up Fert ilizer T he increasingly popular “pop-up f ertilizers” are placed directly with the seed at planting. Fertilizer placement has been engineered into the seed f armers used on more modern planters, allowing precise placement of seed and f ertilizer. T his single operation f ertilization process saves time, energy, and f ertilizer. T here is no requirement f or a separate, specif ic, distribution opener on the planter, so pop-up f ertilizing lowers costs by reducing the rate of starter f ertilizer. It reduces the amount of f ertilizer handled during starter f ertilizing and the quantity of necessary phosphorus in soils already high in phosphorus. It suppresses weeds by not broadcasting f ertilizer near weeds. It reduces power consumption and the need f or separate deep-band openers or planter modif ications. It eliminates nutrient erosion by precise placement. However, there are some considerations regarding use of pop-up f ertilization: T here is a risk of leaching losses of N during the winter f ollowing f all pop-up f ertilization. Pop-up f ertilization may ef f ectively override the natural organic mineralization of previous crops. High concentrations of nitrogen, sulf ur (S), and potassium (K) in soils with low water content present a dander of salt or ammonia injury to the seeds. Limiting N and potassium oxide (K2O) to 10 pounds/acre is a good bet.
Ammonium Sulf at e Fert ilizer T he active ingredients of ammonium sulfate are intended to correct the nitrogen levels in soil and the pH balance in alkaline soils. It is an odorless, tan, water-soluble, sand-like crystal produced by combining ammonium with sulf uric acid. Mixed with water in the soil, it releases nitrogen f or plant growth and acidf orming ammonium ions f or soil alkalinity. It is a non-hazardous and non-f lammable byproduct of nylon production. T he nitrogen is slower to release than in nitrate f orms, so it works throughout the growth season. Its nitrogen will produce healthy plants, but overuse may over stimulate growth and invite disease and pests. Alf alf a crops and soybeans produce oil and benef it f rom the sulf ates. And, as sulf ur has been removed f rom the atmosphere and acid rain, f armers f ind pH def iciency which can be helped by the sulf ates in the f ertilizer. Ammonium sulfate continues to prove indispensable, and advances in application technologies like pop-up f ertilization will continue to require its ready accessibility. Image Credit: Calgary Reviews 20130305-005-of -365 CIAT NitrogenFixing1 About Latest Posts Follow Us
Indust rial Services Commonwealth Industrial Services, Inc. (CIS) is an industrial services company located in Hopewell, Virginia. Although historically a service business, CIS’ primary prof it center is the packaging and resale of ammonium sulf ate. Follow Us
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