Nitrogen fertilizers: types and names, their meaning and home use

The use of nitrogen fertilizers helps to achieve excellent results in growing plants. Such funds are of great importance for the saturation of plants with nutrients. Nitrogen is considered the main building material of plants. Thanks to its use, the aerial part of the culture develops, and its green mass grows. Therefore, fertilizers with the addition of this element are most often used at the beginning of the growing season.

What is nitrogen fertilizer

Nitrogen fertilizers are substances that contain nitrogen compounds.Their main purpose is to increase the level of this element, which ultimately leads to an increase in yield parameters. Plants need nitrogenous substances for proper growth and development.

Nitrogen fertilizers contain different amounts of the main component. They may also include additional ingredients. Single-component dressings are divided into 5 groups. This classification is based on the presence of different chemical forms of the active ingredient. To choose the optimal fertilizer and use it correctly at home, you need to determine which group it belongs to.

What do plants need them for?

Nitrogen supplements are of great importance for plants. They help achieve the following results:

• stimulate the growth of vegetative organs of crops;
• saturate the plant with amino acids;
• increase the level of water content in tissues;
• increase cell volume and reduce cuticle and sheath thickness;
• accelerate the rate of mineralization of additional components that are introduced into the soil;
• improve the ratio of nitrogen and carbon in the soil structure;
• increase compensatory abilities that are responsible for the reaction of cultures to traumatic factors;
• significantly increase yield parameters.

Varieties of nitrogen fertilizers

All nitrogen products are divided into 5 important categories. This classification is based on the form of the nitrogenous compound. So, experts distinguish the following types of fertilizers:

1. Nitrate - this category includes calcium and sodium nitrate.
2. Ammonium - these include ammonium sulfate and chloride.
3. Ammonium nitrate - they include ammonium nitrate.
4. Amide - urea is considered the main top dressing from this group.
5. Liquid Ammonia - This category includes ammonia water and anhydrous ammonia.

Amount of nitrogen in various forms

Depending on the type of feeding, the amount of the main component also differs. This allows you to choose the best option based on your needs.

Mineral

This category of nitrogen fertilizers is divided into simple and complex. The first group includes 1 main chemical component and several additional ones. Complex preparations can include up to 3 main ingredients and several additional ones.

Popular simple top dressings include:

1. Ammonia. So, liquid ammonia includes 82.3% nitrogen, aqueous - 17-21%, ammonium chloride - 24-25%, ammonium sulfate - 20.5%.
2. Nitrate. These include sodium and calcium nitrate. The first preparation contains 16.4% nitrogen, the second - 13.5-15.5%.

The complex compositions include ammonium nitrate. Among the most common representatives of this group are:

• ammonium nitrate - includes 34-35% nitrogen;
• ammonium sulfonate - includes 25.5-26.5% nitrogen;
• calcium ammonium nitrate - contains 20.5% of the main substance.

Phosphoric

Means that include nitrogen and phosphorus are called nitrogen-phosphorus. They can be two- or three-component. The first group includes the following substances:

• ammophosphate - contains 45-46% phosphorus and 6% nitrogen;
• azotophosphate - includes 33% nitrogen and 3-5% phosphorus;
• ammophos - contains 11-12% nitrogen and up to 50% phosphoric acid;
• diammonium phosphate - it contains 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphate;
• nitrophosphate - includes 32-33% nitrogen and 1.3-2.6% phosphorus.

Popular three-component products include:

• nitrophoska - it contains 12-17% of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium;
• superfos-NS - includes 12% nitrogen, 25% phosphoric acid and sulfur each;
• ammofoska - it contains 12% nitrogen, 15% phosphorus and potassium, 14% sulfur;
• diammofoska - includes 10% ammonium form of nitrogen, 26% each of phosphoric acid and potassium.

Carbamide

This drug is also called urea. The level of nitrogen in it is 46%. The substance is not recommended for use in the fall, as it is highly acidic. To achieve the maximum effect from the use of this tool, it should be combined with organic matter.The composition does not provoke leaf burn and is well suited for foliar application.

Timing and recommended dosage

Nitrogen fertilizers are recommended to be applied in the spring - with the onset of warm weather. The specific timing of the use of such drugs depends on regional characteristics. Most often this is done in mid-April.

Too early to apply drugs is not worth it, because nitrogen is rapidly washed out of the soil structure. Plants do not need much nitrogen in autumn. Otherwise, the crops will go to winter with unripe young shoots.

In order for nitrogen preparations to give the maximum effect, it is worth adhering to the following sequence of their use:

1. In April, it is recommended to apply nitrogen preparations to the trunk circles. For 1 trunk, you need to use up to 150 grams of the active substance. This means that you need 200 grams of urea. It is also permissible to use 300 grams of ammonium nitrate.
2. In May, it is worth feeding bushes and trees with 100 grams of nitrogen. This amount is enough for 1 barrel.
3. In the second half of June, it is worth making preparations in the same way as in mid-May. This top dressing will help to keep the ovaries.

Starting from July, it is not recommended to apply nitrogen preparations. Otherwise, the plants will not have time to prepare for winter.

How to properly apply nitrogen fertilizers

The use of nitrogen fertilizers has some peculiarities. It is important to take into account their names. Organic products can be applied to the soil for seedlings and when digging the soil at the stage of preparing the beds.

Do not use manure with wood ash at the same time. The first substance is recommended to be applied in the fall, and the second - in the spring. Almost all organic products are alkaline. Therefore, they are forbidden to be used for the so-called acidic crops.

The use of mineral fertilizers for plant nutrition also requires compliance with a number of rules:

1. All nitrogen substances dissolve easily in water. They can be mixed with room or slightly warm liquid. However, water at a temperature of 50-60 degrees is considered the best option.
2. Liquid mineral products can be poured into already moistened ground. This will help avoid scorching young crops.
3. Carbamide is considered the most concentrated nitrogen preparation. It must be applied very carefully to avoid fattening of crops.

Liquid types and features of their application

Today there are several types of nitrogen preparations in the form of solutions:

1. Liquid ammonia is an anhydrous compound that has a maximum nitrogen content.The amount of this component reaches 82.3%. It is applied using special machines. This should be done in spring and autumn. A prerequisite is sufficient soil moisture. The composition is required to be applied to a depth of 12-15 centimeters.
2. Ammonia water - is aqueous ammonia. It is obtained by dissolving coke-chemical or synthetic ammonia in water. In the first grade of fertilizer, 21% nitrogen can be present, in the second - 17%. The substance has a pungent odor and requires strict adherence to safety precautions when applying.
3. Carbamide-ammonium nitrate - is a liquid solution of ammonium nitrate and urea. The preparation contains 28-32% nitrogen. The composition is suitable for use as a main fertilizer and foliar top dressing. It is stored in sealed pressurized tanks.

Liquid preparations are forbidden to be applied to the surface of the soil. This is due to their rapid evaporation, which is harmful to the environment. This makes the process inefficient.

Precautions

When working with nitrogen substances, it is important to strictly follow the instructions for their use. It is strictly forbidden to violate the dosage. It is also important to use closed and tight clothing to avoid getting substances on the skin and mucous membranes.

Liquid substances - ammonia and ammonia water are especially dangerous. Therefore, only people who have undergone appropriate training and a medical examination can work with them. They must use special protective clothing.

Ammonia fertilizers must not be stored or used near open flames - up to 10 meters. It is also important to consider that fine-crystalline nitrate quickly cakes. Therefore, it cannot be kept in rooms with high humidity.

Consequences of nitrogen deficiency

Lack of nitrogen negatively affects the condition of plants. The main consequences of the deficiency of this element include the following:

• crop suppression;
• atypical color of leaf plates - they turn yellow;
• drying of the tips of the leaves - indicates a severe deficiency of the substance.

Nitrogen fertilizers are highly effective and promote the active growth of cultivated plants. In order for such substances to give the desired effect, it is important to choose the right composition and strictly follow the instructions for its use.

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