Design

Lime nitrate application. Features of the use of ammonium (lime-ammonium) nitrate

NH4NO3.СаСО3.МgСО3 - the chemical formula of calcium ammonium nitrate, a universal nitrogen fertilizer, which, in addition to nitrogen itself (27-27.5%), also includes calcium and magnesium.

In fact, lime - ammonium nitrate is ammonium nitrate, which is better known as ammonium nitrate, but with the addition of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Such additives in the popular nitrogen fertilizer perform two functions at once. The first and main one is to reduce or nullify the explosiveness of ammonium nitrate, which is a serious problem, especially in countries with a hot climate. The second function is a complex effect on crops, due to the expanded composition of elements useful for plants.

Production

Lime nitrate, in its final (commercial) form, is beige granules ranging in size from 0.6 to 5 mm. The very process of manufacturing IAS (lime ammonium nitrate) consists in mixing carefully ground limestone or dolomite with a melt of ammonium nitrate, after which the finished mixture undergoes an additional granulation procedure in screw granulators or granulation towers.

In the role of inhibitors in the process of industrial production of calcium nitrate, sulfuric acid, ammonium, magnesium, calcium and iron sulfates, some silicofluorides and phosphates, as well as diammonium are additionally involved, in different doses. Very often, instead of traditional limestone, ground dolomite is used as an ingredient for the production of lime nitrate. In practice, this leads to a reduction in nitrogen loss after fertilization into the soil. In such cases, it is more correct to call the finished product not lime nitrate, but dolomite.

Buy IAS at a wholesale price

KhimAgroProm LLC has been a wholesale supplier of mineral fertilizers since 2008. Sales of lime - ammonium nitrate are produced from the plant on the condition of delivery by Russian Railways cars and our own to the consignees' stations, as well as by our own vehicles to storage depots.

In order to meet the demand of small peasant farms and agricultural cooperatives, we also ship various brands of mineral fertilizers in modular wagons.

The selling wholesale price for lime - ammonium nitrate varies from year to year, as a rule, not significantly. The most noticeable increase in the cost takes place in the spring at the pre-sowing and sowing time. Seasonal demand, purchasing tonnage and the competitive environment in the delivery area mainly determine the final price of limestone nitrate.

Commercial offers in which the current, market price for lime nitrate is calculated with delivery and packaging

Chemical properties

Lime - ammonium nitrate (IAS) is known for its complex effect on crops. Each of the fertilizer components present in the composition separately and the whole complex as a whole contribute to an increase in the green mass of plants and help to significantly increase crop yields. In particular, among the main three elements:

Nitrogen (about 27%) is a component of many active biological compounds that have a beneficial effect on plant growth;

Calcium (about 4%) contributes to better solubility of fertilizer elements in soil solutions, which simplifies the process of absorption of nutrients by plants;

Magnesium (2%) enhances the ability of plants to absorb phosphorus and is involved in photosynthesis.

In addition, the presence of calcium and magnesium in the nitrogen fertilizer IAS increases the strength of the connection of plant cells and the thickness of their walls. The effect of these components on the explosion and fire hazard of fertilizer has already been mentioned somewhat above.

Physical - chemical composition

The name of indicators	Norm
Mass fraction of total nitrogen, in terms of dry matter,%
Ammonium nitrogen, %
Nitrate nitrogen, %
Mass fraction of calcium carbonate, %
Mass fraction of water, %
Mass fraction of calcium nitrate, %

Application

Like other types of nitrogen fertilizers, IAS is versatile and suitable for fertilizing many crops. Especially good fertilizer manifests itself in working with cereals and oilseeds, garden plants, various vegetables and berries.

Almost all types of soils are suitable for the application of IAS, but the best effect of application is observed on acidic and alkaline, as well as sandy and sandy soils, where calcium and magnesium carbonates contained in the fertilizer can fully reveal their beneficial properties.

There are several ways to make lime - ammonium nitrate. Among the most popular are incorporation into the soil by harrowing or the belt method used for vegetable crops. IAS is also used as top dressing, which is typical for fertilizing sunflower crops or, for example, spring cereals.

Active use of lime - ammonium nitrate also found in the necessary proportion of nutrients.

Highly effective granular nitrogen fertilizer for grain, fodder, oilseeds, fruit and vegetable crops, sugar beet
It is applied on all types of soils and has a positive effect on their fertility.
Regulates the growth of vegetative mass, increases crop yields
It is an alloy of ammonium nitrate and ground limestone, non-hygroscopic, non-caking and safe to store
It has good commercial properties for mixing fertilizers due to the high strength of the granules and coarse grain composition.

Nitrogen-limestone fertilizer (NH 4 NO 3 CaCO 3 MgCO 3) is a promising nitrogen fertilizer, physiologically neutral, which is a mixture (alloy) of ammonium nitrate and ground limestone or dolomite. Contains 27% nitrogen, 4% calcium and 2% magnesium. Depending on the composition, the fertilizer is called: lime-ammonium nitrate or ammonium nitrate with dolomite. Granular fertilizer (granules 1-5 mm), suitable for mixing with phosphate and potash fertilizers.

Compared to ammonium nitrate, it has better physical and chemical properties, is less hygroscopic, less caking, and can be stored in stacks.

Nitrogen-lime fertilizer can be used on all types of soils and under all crops as the main, sowing fertilizer and top dressing. The fertilizer contains calcium and magnesium carbonates. The application is especially effective on acidic and alkaline soils, soils of light granulometric composition, depleted in magnesium.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL INDICATORS

TU 2189-064-05761643-2003

Refers to combustible substances, explosion-proof.

They are produced in packaged form (bags, BIG-BAGS) and without packaging (in bulk). Stored in closed dry warehouses.

Transportation is allowed by all means of transport, except for air, in accordance with the rules for the carriage of goods in force for this type of transport.

The stabilized form of ammonium nitrate is of great importance in terms of safety and greatly simplifies the purchase of this fertilizer.

Producer: Novomoskovsk joint-stock company Azot OJSC, Nevinnomyssky Azot OJSC.

APPLICATION

The fertilizer creates optimal conditions for plant nutrition with nitrogen, and the content of calcium and magnesium carbonates makes calcium nitrate especially effective when used on acidic soils.

The main method of applying fertilizer is surface, with or without incorporation into the soil. Under vegetable crops, they are applied randomly or in a band way, as well as when sowing / planting in small doses (7-15 kg N / ha) in rows or holes.

Under spring cereals, the main fertilizer with nitrogen is carried out shortly before sowing. Most of the nitrogen fertilizers are applied as top dressing. The recommended application rates are 10-30 kg N/ha for the first application and 15-40 kg N/ha for the second application. The timing of top dressing is determined in strict accordance with the phases of plant development. The application rate for silage crops varies from 40 to 90 kg N/ha and depends on the application of organic fertilizers. To increase the protein content in sunflowers, a top dressing of 30 kg N/ha is given during the period of intensive growth.

According to the Stavropol Research Institute of Agriculture 2005-2007. the average increase in crop yields from the use of lime-ammonium nitrate is: for winter wheat on ordinary chernozem 3.4-7.1 c/ha, on chestnut soil - 4.0-6.1 c/ha; under spring barley - 2.5-3.7 c/ha and 6.2-7.3, respectively; under corn for silage - 28-63 q/ha; under sunflower - 0.8-1.3 q/ha. Feeding the second winter wheat with lime-ammonium nitrate increased the content of raw gluten in the grain by 2.5% compared to ordinary nitrate. A higher quality of gluten was also noted than when other types of nitrogen fertilizers were applied. The use of lime-ammonium nitrate for corn on a high phosphorus background (P 60) increases the responsiveness of the crop to fertilizers applied by more than 4 times.

ANNOTATION

The review article discusses methods for obtaining calcium ammonium nitrate (IAS) and provides information about its agrochemical characteristics. IAS can be stored and transported unpacked. In warehouses, this nitrogen-calcium fertilizer does not cake in the autumn-winter period and retains 100% friability for 7 months. IAS with a high content of CaCO 3 almost does not acidify the soil environment and therefore is used on acidic soils. IAS with a lower content of CaСO 3 and a higher content of nitrogen is recommended for use on soils with a neutral and alkaline reaction. When limestone or chalk is used as the starting material for the production of AAS, it contains two nutrients, nitrogen and calcium. But when dolomite is used, magnesium also appears in its composition. These three elements play a very important role in plant life. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all plants. Calcium is found in all plant organs. The lack of calcium, first of all, affects the development of the root system. Cabbage, alfalfa, clover consume the most calcium. Magnesium plays an important physiological role in the process of photosynthesis. Potatoes, sugar and fodder beets, tobacco, legumes and legumes absorb the greatest amount of magnesium.

ABSTRACT

In overview article it was considered ways of the preparation of carbonate ammonium nitrate (CAN) and was given some information about its agricultural chemistry properties. CAN can be kept and carried in unpacking form. In addition, this nitrogen calcium fertilizer in autumn and winter seasons does not packed in the storages and reserves 100% friability for 7 monthes. CAN with high contents of CaCO 3 nearly do not acidize the soil ambience and is therefore used on acidic soils. CAN with smaller contents of CaCO 3 and large contents of the nitrogen are recommended use on ground with neutral and alkaline reaction. When as source material for production CAN is used limestone or chalk, it contains two nourishing elements - a nitrogen and calcium. But when is used dolomite, in its composition appears and magnesium. These three elements play a very greater role in lifes of the plants. The nitrogen is the most important nourishing element of all plants. Calcium is contained in all vegetable organ. The defect calcium, first of all, tells on development of the root system. Most of all, calcium comsume the cabbage, lucerne, dutch clover. The magnesium plays the important physiological role in the process of the photosynthesis. The most amount of magnesium absorbs the potatoes, sugar and stern beet, tobacco, legumes and bob herbs.

Introduction. Ammonium nitrate (AN) is one of the most effective and most widely used nitrogen fertilizers in the world. It can be used on all types of soil and under all crops. It is applied as the main fertilizer and in top dressing. In Uzbekistan, three large industrial enterprises JSC "Maxam-Chirchik", "Navoiazot" and "Ferganaazot" produce it for agriculture. The total capacity of these three plants is 1.7 million tons of saltpeter per year.

But this fertilizer has two very serious drawbacks - this is its caking during storage and increased explosiveness. If they learned to deal with caking by introducing various additives into saltpeter, then the problem of explosiveness has not been completely solved. To eliminate the caking of saltpeter, sulfate, sulfate-phosphate, sulfate-phosphate-borate additives, caustic magnesite and other substances are introduced into it in a small amount (up to 0.5%). But the best of them was caustic magnesite.

Pure ammonium nitrate is known to be an oxidizing agent capable of sustaining combustion. Under normal environmental conditions, AS is a stable substance. When it is heated in a closed space, when the products of thermal decomposition cannot be freely removed, nitrate can explode under certain conditions. It is also capable of detonating when subjected to a strong shock load or when initiated by explosives.

As substances - additives that reduce the level of potential hazard of ammonium nitrate-containing fertilizers, the following are used in large quantities:

Substances containing the ammonium cation of the same name: ammonium sulfate, ammonium ortho- and polyphosphates;

Other ballast substances that do not carry a payload, but determine only the mechanical dilution of the AU (gypsum, phosphogypsum and others).

Strengths of calcium carbonate as an additive to AC:

Allows regulation of the ratio of limestone: NH 4 NO 3 in a wide range with a decrease in the content of NH 4 NO 3 to 60-75%; after all, it has already been proven that the explosive properties of the AU are reduced by bringing the nitrogen content in it to 26-28% by introducing various inorganic additives into its composition;

Obtaining agrochemically valuable fertilizers containing a structure-forming agent and a soil deoxidizer along with the main nutrient component;

Cheapness and availability of the material (large-scale production of natural limestone).

And the weaknesses of this supplement:

Requires appropriate hardware design of the process and virtually eliminates the use of typical equipment for the production of traditional AU;

Weak influence of the carbonate-containing additive as a mechanical component on the distinctive properties of the AU (thermal stability, conditions for the transition of allotropic modifications);

The need for strict control of the impurity composition of the carbonate-containing component;

Despite the noted weaknesses of the lime additive to AS, it is very widely used in the world with the production of the so-called lime-ammonium nitrate (IAS). All over the world, such nitrate with a nitrogen content of 20-33% is produced and supplied by 42 companies. Of these, 31 firms are in Europe: in Germany - 6, Belgium - 4, Spain - 5, England - 3, Greece - 2, Holland - 3. The rest of the firms are located in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. The share of IAS capacities is estimated at about 7%. In Belgium, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, IAS is used instead of AS. In recent years, Russian plants: Angarsk plant of mineral fertilizers, Kuibyshev Azot, OJSC Dorogobuzh, OJSC Nevinnomyssky Azot and Novomoskovsk AK Azot began to produce IAS with a nitrogen content of 32%.

Methods for the production of lime-ammonium nitrate. The essence of the IAS production process consists in mixing finely ground calcium carbonate (limestone, chalk) with ammonium nitrate melt and granulating the mixture in screw granulators or granulation towers.

In order to carry out a normal granulation process using granulator screws, it is necessary to maintain a constant moisture content and temperature in the granulator in order to work in the optimal zone. Too wet or too dry granulation results in larger or smaller granules, respectively. To obtain 1 ton of 25% nitrogen IAS, it is necessary to feed about 750 kg of a 95-96% solution of AS, 250 kg of limestone (with a moisture content of about 0.5%) and 3 tons of dry recycle (with a moisture content of 0.1-0 ,5%). To evaporate moisture, warm air is supplied to the granulator.

The main difficulty in granulating the IAS melt in the grantower is the frequent clogging of the granulator holes with solid particles. Filtration prior to the granulation process is in many cases not possible, as the suspensions are an integral part of the fertilizer. Works are devoted to improving the process of granulating the IAS melt in towers. As a result of these works, the causes of failures in the operation of a centrifugal granulator (clogging of holes with solid particles) were established, constructive methods for their elimination were patented, an algorithm for calculating a centrifugal granulator was proposed, and a new centrifugal granulator was created in which holes were no longer clogged with solid particles of the ammonium nitrate-limestone melt.

Ammonium nitrate in the molten state decomposes markedly according to the equation:

NH 4 NO 3 \u003d NH 3 + HNO 3 - 41.7 kcal

and acidity gradually increases. Therefore, when calcium carbonate is mixed with an ammonium nitrate melt, the reaction proceeds

2NH 4 NO 3 + CaCO 3 \u003d Ca (NO 3) 2 + (NH 3) 2 CO 3

At a relatively high mixing temperature of the components, ammonium carbonate decomposes into NH 3 , CO 2 and water. Therefore, the reaction of calcium carbonate with an ammonium nitrate melt is as follows:

2NH 4 NO 3 + CaСO 3 \u003d Ca (NO 3) 2 + 2NH 3 + CO 2 + H 2 O.

Due to this reaction, part of the bound nitrogen is lost in the form of gaseous ammonia and a certain amount of calcium nitrate appears in the mixture, the presence of which has a significant effect on the physical properties of the resulting IAS, increasing its hygroscopicity.

Inhibitors of the formation of calcium nitrate during the fusion of limestone with ammonium nitrate are also sulfuric acid, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, iron sulfates, sodium, potassium and ammonium silicofluorides, diammonium and dicalcium phosphates introduced into limestone in small quantities. The paper states that the introduction of some inorganic additives into lime-ammonium nitrate can significantly reduce the amount of Ca(NO 3) 2 , which is the cause of an increase in the hygroscopicity of nitrate and its caking. The most effective is the addition of 1% NaH 2 PO 4 . Good results were obtained with the introduction of MgSO 4 into the saltpeter, especially in the case of its preliminary mixing with CaCO 3 . The addition of ammoniated superphosphate reduces the hygroscopicity of saltpeter, but increases its tendency to caking.

The paper proves that the use of dolomite additive instead of limestone in the production of fertilizers based on ammonium nitrate not only does not harm, but in some cases leads to an increase in yield compared to lime-ammonium nitrate obtained in the usual way. Dolomite was crushed similarly to the limestone used. Melt temperature 155-160°C. The results of the experiments showed that the amounts of water-soluble calcium and magnesium in samples obtained with dolomite are significantly less than in samples with limestone. When using dolomite instead of limestone, nitrogen losses are reduced, since NH 4 NO 3 reacts with dolomite more difficult than with limestone. These positive properties of dolomite are due to the difference in the crystal structure of limestone and dolomite, the latter forming a double salt complex.

Studies of the properties of lime-ammonium nitrate have shown that when used as an additive, dolomite reduces the loss of nitrogen in the form of NH 3 during the production, storage, transport and use of fertilizer. Due to the higher hygroscopic point, the product does not cake during storage.

Agrochemical efficiency of lime-ammonium nitrate. IAS is produced in the form of granules with a content of 21-28% nitrogen and a different ratio of ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate. For example, a fertilizer containing 21% nitrogen contains 60% NH 4 NO 3 and 40% CaСO 3, with 26% nitrogen - 74% NH 4 NO 3 and 26% CaСO 3, respectively. IAS with a high content of CaCO 3 almost does not acidify the soil environment and therefore is used on acidic soils. IAS with a lower content of CaСO 3 and a higher content of nitrogen is recommended for use on soils with a neutral and alkaline reaction. The presence in IAS of two forms of nitrogen - nitrate and ammonium - make it more effective than calcium nitrate and urea, not to mention anhydrous ammonia.

When limestone or chalk is used as the starting material for the production of AAS, it contains two nutrients, nitrogen and calcium. But when dolomite is used, magnesium also appears in its composition. These three elements play a very important role in plant life.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for all plants. It is part of such important organic substances as proteins, nucleic acids, nucleoproteins, chlorophyll, alkaloids, phosphatides and others. Nucleic acids play an important role in the metabolism in plant organisms. They are also carriers of the hereditary properties of living organisms. Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the role of nitrogen in these vital processes in plants. In addition, nitrogen is the most important component of chlorophyll, without which the process of photosynthesis cannot proceed, and therefore, the most important organic substances for human and animal nutrition cannot be formed. It should also be noted the great importance of nitrogen as an element that is part of the enzymes - catalysts of life processes in plant organisms. Nitrogen is included in organic compounds, including the most important of them - the amino acids of proteins. Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur, together with carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, are the building blocks for the formation of organic matter and, ultimately, living tissue. Academician Dmitry Nikolaevich Pryanishnikov spoke very well about the importance of nitrogen: “Assimilated soil nitrogen, unless special measures are taken to increase its content, is currently the main limiting factor of life on earth.”

Calcium has a multilateral positive effect on the plant. In nature, plants rarely lack this element. It is necessary on strongly acidic and alkaline soils, which is explained by the saturation of the absorbing complex in the first case with hydrogen, in the second with sodium. Calcium is found in all plant organs. The lack of calcium primarily affects the development of the root system. Root hairs cease to form on the roots, through which the bulk of nutrients and water enters the plant from the soil. In the absence of calcium, the roots become slimy and rot, their outer cells are destroyed, the tissue turns into a slimy structureless mass.

Calcium also has a positive effect on the growth of aboveground plant organs. With a sharp lack of it, chlorotic leaves appear, the apical bud dies off and the growth of the stem stops. Calcium enhances the metabolism in plants, plays an important role in the movement of carbohydrates, influences the conversion of nitrogenous substances, and accelerates the consumption of seed storage proteins during germination. One of the important functions of this element is its influence on the physicochemical state of protoplasm - its viscosity, permeability and other properties on which the normal course of biochemical processes depends. Calcium also affects the activity of enzymes. Soil liming significantly affects the biosynthesis of vitamins.

Crop plants tolerate varying amounts of calcium. Most calcium is consumed by cabbage, alfalfa, clover, which are highly sensitive to high soil acidity.

Magnesium is part of chlorophyll, phytin, pectin, it is found in plants and in mineral form. There is more of it in seeds and young growing parts of plants, and in grain it is localized mainly in the embryo. The exceptions are root and tuber crops, most of the legumes, which have more magnesium in the leaves. Magnesium plays an important physiological role in the process of photosynthesis. It also affects redox processes in plants, activates many enzymatic processes, especially phosphorylation and regulation of the colloid-chemical state of cell protoplasm. Magnesium deficiency inhibits the synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds, especially chlorophyll. An external sign of deficiency of this element is leaf chlorosis. In cereals, a lack of magnesium causes marbling and banding of the leaves; in dicotyledonous plants, the leaf areas between the veins turn yellow.

Magnesium deficiency manifests itself primarily on soddy-podzolic acidic soils of light granulometric composition. The lighter the soil in terms of granulometric composition and the more acidic they are, the less they contain magnesium and the more acute the need for magnesium fertilizers. Potatoes, sugar and fodder beets, tobacco, legumes and legumes absorb the greatest amount of magnesium. Hemp, millet, sorghum, corn are sensitive to the lack of this element.

From an agrotechnical point of view, IAS is practically neutral, does not acidify the soil, as happens when using ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, and its systematic use does not require supporting liming. IAS with a nitrogen content of 20% is considered an alkaline fertilizer, about 23% - neutral, with 26% or more - slightly acidic. It consists of half fast-acting nitrate (nitrate nitrogen) and half slow-acting ammonium nitrogen with a long aftereffect; ammonium nitrogen in the soil binds to organic and clay fractions. IAS can be applied in autumn and spring for all crops, as well as top dressing during the growing season.

IAS has taken a strong place in the range of nitrogen fertilizers in Western and Eastern European countries. In Germany, for example, its share in the total amount of nitrogen fertilizers exceeds 50%, in the Netherlands - 70%, and in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it completely replaced ammonium nitrate. This is explained by the fact that the soils in these countries are mostly acidic. The negative properties of acidic soils include:

High acidity of soils;

Insufficient content of mobile forms N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O;

Poor agrochemical, agrophysical and physical properties;

Increased content of mobile forms of aluminum;

Low biological activity of the soil;

The negative effect of a high concentration of hydrogen ions on the physicochemical state of the protoplasm, the growth of the root system, and the metabolism of plants;

Active development of such forms of fungi as penicillium, fusarium, trichoderma;

Active mobilization of toxic heavy metals.

High acidity of the soil is a scourge for the crop. This is what neutralizes calcium carbonate, which is part of the lime-ammonium nitrate.

With the main introduction of IAS under cereal crops on weakly cultivated acidic soils [pH (KCl)< 6] урожаи зерна, как правило, выше, чем при применении мочевины (на 2-3 ц/га) или сульфата аммония (на 3-4 ц/га), а на окультуренных почвах с рН 6,5-7,2 – такие же, как и при использовании аммиачной селитры или сульфата аммония, и выше, чем мочевины. Это хорошо иллюстрируется данными таблицы 1, где сравнивается эффективность ИАС и мочевины в двух нормах по азоту на почвах с разными уровнями кислотности .

Table 1

Grain yield of spring wheat (c/ha) on soils of different acidity with the use of IAS and urea (fertilizers were applied randomly without incorporation

pH(KCl)			Urea
pH(KCl)

The decrease in the effectiveness of urea on neutral and alkaline soils is explained by the increased gaseous loss of ammonia as a result of fertilizer hydrolysis. The classification of soils according to the degree of acidity is given in Table. 2.

table 2

Soil grouping according to the degree of acidity, determined in the salt extract

Acidic soils are common in Western and Eastern Europe, Belarus and in the non-chernozem zone of Russia. Soil acidification also occurs in Ukraine. Among the arable lands of the CIS countries, there are about 45 million hectares of soils with high acidity, and more than 60 million hectares in need of liming. These are mainly soddy-podzolic and light gray forest soils. Some acidic soils are found among marsh, gray forest soils and red soils.

In relation to soil acidity, field crops are divided into groups:

Group I - beets (sugar, fodder), red clover, alfalfa, mustard; the most sensitive to soil acidity, require a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction (pH 6.2-7.0) and respond very well to liming;

Group II - corn, wheat, barley, peas, beans, turnips, fodder cabbage, Swedish clover, foxtail, bonfire and pelushka, vetch; need a slightly acidic and close to neutral reaction (pH 5.1-6.0), respond well to liming;

Group III - rye, oats, timothy, buckwheat, tolerate moderate soil acidity (pH 4.6-5.0), respond positively to high doses of lime;

Group IV - sunflower, potatoes, flax easily tolerate moderate acidity and require liming only on strongly and moderately acidic soils;

Group V - lupine and seradella; insensitive to increased soil acidity.

In table. 3 shows the pH ranges favorable for the development of various crops.

Numerous studies of the agrochemical efficiency of urea and a solution of urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN), carried out in the last decade in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, have shown that these fertilizers are equal in effect or slightly inferior to UAN when incorporated into the soil for winter wheat and rye, spring barley and oats, potatoes and sugar beets. When applied randomly, urea is inferior to IAS, primarily on sandy and calcareous soils, where nitrogen losses during volatilization are especially high.

Table 3

pH intervals for crop development

culture	pH interval	culture	pH interval
fodder beans
		walnut
		Parsnip
Grape
		Sunflower
Blueberry		woodpile
		Tomatoes


Cocksfoot
strawberries
Cauliflower
cabbage
leafy cabbage		lettuce
Potato
		Sugar beet
		Celery

Corn

		Cotton
		tea bush

Solutions of urea with ammonium nitrate are convenient for foliar feeding of grain and row crops. Experiments have shown that the effectiveness of such top dressings is inferior to the effect of dry IAS: when top dressing sugar beets, the quality of root crops was lower than when presowing the entire dose of nitrogen in the form of calcium ammonium nitrate. Late top dressing of winter crops with solutions of urea and carbamide with nitrate acted much worse than the surface application of IAS, especially in dry weather.

IAS, especially modern varieties with a high nitrogen content (26-28%), does not solve the problem of physiologically acidic fertilizers (ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate). When using it, there remains the need for periodic application of lime materials.

With all methods of introducing IAS, gaseous losses of nitrogen on alkaline soils are minimal. With surface application randomly, depending on the content of exchangeable calcium in the soil (1.8-18.7 meq per 100 g) and clay (8-50%), nitrogen volatilizes 7-23 kg/ha at an application rate of 120 kg/ha. At the same time, when plowing under a plow, losses are reduced to 3-12 kg/ha, with local application - up to 1-5 kg/ha. Under identical conditions, 20-48, 16-39 and 9-24 kg/ha of ammonium nitrogen volatilize from 120 kg/ha of applied nitrogen from urea.

The loss of nitrogen from the IAS does not depend on the size of the granules if the particle diameter does not exceed 6.3 mm. There is no dependence on the rate of fertilizer application. From urea, at high rates on sandy loamy soils, 15 days after surface application, up to 20% of nitrogen is lost.

Thus, IAS remains not only an economical, but also an environmentally friendly fertilizer, especially when applied locally.

IAS can be stored and transported unpacked. In warehouses, this nitrogen-calcium fertilizer does not cake in the autumn-winter period and retains 100% friability for 7 months. Dry fertilizer mixtures of lime-ammonium nitrate, ammophos and potassium chloride with a ratio of N: P 2 O 5: K 2 O = 1: 1: 1 are resistant to segregation.

Conclusion. In order to eliminate the disadvantages of AS, a technology was developed for obtaining IAS by introducing lime materials into the ammonium nitrate melt. Granulation of the ammonium nitrate melt with limestone flour is carried out either in a screw granulator or in a granulation tower. In the production of IAS, limestone or chalk can be replaced by dolomite. Its use not only does not harm, but leads to an increase in yield compared to calcium-ammonium nitrate obtained in the usual way. When limestone or chalk is used as the starting material for the production of AAS, it contains two nutrients, nitrogen and calcium. But when dolomite is used, magnesium also appears in its composition. These three elements play a very important role in plant life.

IAS is more hygroscopic than pure ammonium nitrate. And its caking is 2.4-3.0 times less than the caking of saltpeter. IAS with a high content of CaCO 3 almost does not acidify the soil environment and therefore is used on acidic soils. IAS with a lower content of CaСO 3 and a higher content of nitrogen is recommended for use on soils with a neutral and alkaline reaction.

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Saltpeter names

Trivial name	Chemical formula	Systematic name	Note
ammonium nitrate	NH 4 3	ammonium nitrate	Colorless crystalline substance, hygroscopic, very soluble in water with a strong decrease in the temperature of the solution. It explodes, especially when mixed with metal powders, when using intermediate detonators from more sensitive explosives (for example, TNT), it is insensitive to shocks. When stored in large quantities, for example in the fields, there have been cases of explosion from impact when trying to loosen. When heated above 160 ° C, it decomposes with the release of mainly nitrous oxide with an admixture of other oxides. The most common nitrogen fertilizer.
Ammonium nitrate	NH 4 3	ammonium nitrate
barium nitrate	( 3) 2	barium nitrate	Colorless crystals. Colors the flame green. It is used as an oxidizing agent in pyrotechnic compositions of colored flames.
Barite saltpeter	( 3) 2	barium nitrate
Potassium nitrate	3	potassium nitrate	Colorless crystals with a rhombic or hexagonal crystal lattice. It is much less hygroscopic than sodium, therefore it is widely used in pyrotechnics as an oxidizing agent. When heated above 334.5 ° C, it melts, above this temperature it decomposes with the release of oxygen.
Indian saltpeter	3	potassium nitrate
magnesium nitrate	(3) 2 H 2 O	Magnesium nitrate crystalline hydrate
calcium nitrate	(3) 2 4 H 2 O	Calcium nitrate hydrate
lime saltpeter
Norwegian saltpeter
Chilean saltpeter	3	sodium nitrate	Usually there are impurities of halides, the main deposits are in Chile (provinces of Tarapaca and Antofagasta). Color white, yellowish, red-brown, grey. Mohs hardness 1.5-2;. Density 2.3 g/cm³. It is formed mainly due to volcanic activity or nitrogen oxidation. Hygroscopic.
soda nitrate
sodium nitrate

The use of saltpeter

Saltpeter is used as nitrogen fertilizer, while potassium nitrate is also a source of potassium necessary for plants. Potassium nitrate is also one of the ingredients in black powder. Ammonium nitrate is used to make explosives such as ammonal and ammotol. Ammonia fertilizers include: ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bicarbonate, liquid nitrogen fertilizers. Ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride are most effective on soils saturated with bases (chernozems, carbonate gray soils, chestnut soils), which have the ability to neutralize the acidifying effect of these fertilizers. Systematic fertilization with ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride acidic soils causes an increase in acidity; this shortcoming can be eliminated by liming. Ammonia nitrogen is less susceptible to leaching than nitrate, so ammonia fertilizers can be applied before sowing, in the fall. They are less suitable for surface (for winter crops) and local (in rows, holes and nests) application. An excess of chlorine in ammonium chloride adversely affects the size and quality of the crop of many agricultural crops (potatoes, flax, oilseeds, tobacco, grapes, etc.). Ammonium bicarbonate, the production of which is still limited by the volume of experimental studies, has an alkaline reaction, but undergoes nitrification in the soil (see Nitrification in soil). Among the ammonia forms of nitrogen fertilizers, liquid fertilizers are of great importance - liquid anhydrous ammonia, aqueous ammonia, ammoniates.

Characteristics and chemical formulas

Lime-ammonium nitrate is a mechanical mixture of ammonium nitrate and limestone (dolomite). A granular substance containing the following useful elements: nitrogen (28%), nitrogen in the nitrate form (14%), calcium and magnesium oxides (4 and 2%) and a very small (1.5%) proportion of water. Flowability - 100%.

Chemical formulas:

ammonia - NH4N03;
lime-ammonia - NH 4 NO 3 + CaCO 3.

Purposes of application

Lime-ammonium nitrate increases the metabolism in plants, especially during the growth period during the formation of stems and leaves. Improves the ability of plants to form chlorophyll (when the leaves of plants turn pale and turn yellow, this is the first sign of its deficiency). Promotes active development of roots (in the formation of root hairs). Increases activity in redox processes. Regulates soil acidity.

Application process

Instructions for use of ammonium nitrate is quite simple.

Lime-ammonium nitrate will show all its useful qualities under the following conditions:

placement directly at the root system;
application before the main tillage (or together with it);
top dressing, in accordance with the needs of crops in a specific period of growth, development and fruit formation.

Ammonium nitrate is used both in the main (direct) soil fertilization and in the form of dressings.

Basic application rates: