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Caceres, Spain

Wich kind of nitrogen fertilizers have you used and with what results?

11/22/2002 12:01:42 AM

[email protected]

Don,
Since all manufactured forms of commercial Nitrogen contain carbon, then all forms are "organic". So I suppose then you're wondering about the manufactured or synthetic organic forms we've all used.

As ingredients I've used:

Urea : 46-0-0
Ammonium Nitrate : 36-0-0
Polymer/Sulfur Coated Urea : 39-0-0
Aminoureaformaldehyde,et al: 35-0-0
Ammonium Sulphate : 26-0-0

In blends, we probably all use at least some of these & the following.

Diammonium Phosphate : 18-46-0
Monoammonium Phosphate : 11-52-0

I also pick up 6.5% N from Nutrical Calcium Nitrate
It yields 6% nitrate N & .5% Ammoniacal N.
We also get N from solubles that contain Urea, Potassium Nitrate, etc.

All have their own uses depending on temperature, crop stage, & soil type.

Steve

11/22/2002 11:03:37 AM

Caceres, Spain

Thanks Steve, nice list. I'll state: I am thinking in adding some nitrogen in early spring at cover crop tilling time, in order to facilitate the crop breaking down. Over here the follows are easier to find: ammonium nitrate, calcic ammonium nitrate, Urea. Wich one could you recommend me, if one?

11/22/2002 5:08:52 PM

[email protected]

Hi Don,

If your soils get cold there like they do here, then ammonium nitrate would be my choice. If your calcium is low, the calcium ammonium nitrate would be better, but watch the total applied calcium. The amount needed to cook green organic matter could result in too much calcium. So raise the N with ammonium N to finish.

If soils stay warm there (55*F or higher), then urea would be OK.

Steve

11/22/2002 8:10:55 PM

Caceres, Spain

Yes, Steve, despite pH is 6.8, calcium (as well as Mg and K)is low, actually I add every year little amounts of dolomite, wood ashes and gypsum, but when I pass away, after one hundred (or more) years adding calcium products, I believe calcium will stay low.
Wich amount calcium ammonium nitrate would you use per 3000 sq ft?
Other question, man: I've tried to find calcium nitrate over here, without any success, is the calcium ammonium nitrate very similar in its results?
Don

11/23/2002 1:48:08 AM

[email protected]

Don,
Without a complete soil test result in hand it's hard to make accurate recommendations.
But.....Ph is 6.8 so additional lime or ashes would be bad.
For adding more calcium without changing the Ph you may consider gypsum. If you want to pickup some N from CAN, I'd first want to know the exact analysis of the local material.
Most CAN is about 27%N & 6%CA & usually contains other micros like boron, so the entire micronutrient soil tests should be known before selecting this source. Placing any one element to high, can have a displacement effect on other elements (sometimes). Assuming all the other elements are within acceptable range, I'd apply a 27%N material at 1-1.5 lbs of N or 3.7 - 5.6 lbs./1000 sq ft. Or maybe 12-15lbs total on 3000. This would yeild about .3lbs of Ca/1000. Not bad.

Nitrate fertiliers that are also oxydizers are getting harder to purchase here in the states. Too many freaks running around trying to make bombs. After the Oklamoma bombing, I has John Stossle (sp?) enter my building (with a film crew outside hiding in a black Chevy Suburban) & pose as a "landscaper" trying to buy "high analysis fertilzer with a lot of nitrogen". I yanked his press credentials & reamed him pretty good. Two weeks later another ABC affiliate station represtative got arrested & fined for "faking" an ammonium nitrate purchase. LOL

If you do use a nitrate, be sure to till it in to avoid volatalization.

Stevve

11/24/2002 9:29:16 AM