List of Fertilizers Containing Ammonic Nitrogen

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The ammonic nitrogen, referring to the ammonium ion which carries a positive electrical charge (NH4+), is one of two forms of nitrogen that can be absorbed by plants. The other is the nitrate ion (NO3-) which has a negative charge. Most nitrogen fertilizers either belong to the pure ammonium type or contain nitrogen in both the ammonium and nitrate forms.

Each of the two forms of nitrogen have advantages and disadvantages over the other. The same applies to fertilizers that supply nitrogen in either or both ammonium and nitrate forms. It is therefore important to familiarize with such fertilizer types.

Below is a list of fertilizers grouped according to the form of nitrogen that they contain.  The list also provides information on common fertilizer grades, chemical formula, formulation, and other description.

Nitrogen fertilizers in which all nitrogen contained are in the ammonic (NH4+) form:

1. Anhydrous ammonia [NH₃, 82-0-0] – liquified gas; contains 82% nitrogen (N).

2. Urea [CO(NH₂)₂, 46-0-0] - dry, granular or prilled form; contains 46% N.

3. Aqua ammonia or ammonium hydroxide [NH₄OH, (20-41)-0-0] – liquid; contains 20-41% N.

4. Ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄, 21-0-0-24S] - dry, crystalline; contains 21% N and 24% sulfur.

5. Ammonium thiosulfate [(NH₄)₂S₂O₃, 12-0-0-26S] – dry, crystalline; contains 12% N and 26% sulfur.

6. Diammonium phosphate or DAP [(NH₄)₂HPO₄, 18-46-0] - dry, granular or crystalline; contains 18% N and 46% phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅, commonly referred to as phosphate) equivalent to 20% P.

7. Monoammonium phosphate or MAP [(NH₄H₂PO₄, 11-52-0] - dry, granular; contains 11% N and 52% P₂O₅ (22.7% P).

8. Ammonium polyphosphate solution [(NH₄) ₃HP₂O₇ + NH₄H₂PO₄, 10-34-0 or 11-37-0] – liquid, contains either 10% N and 34% P₂O₅ (14.8% P) or 11% N plus 37% P₂O₅ (16% P).

Nitrogen fertilizers which contain nitrogen  in the ammonic (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) forms:

1. Ammonium nitrate [(NH₄NO₃, (33-34)-0-0] - dry, granular or prilled form, contains 33-34% N; one-half nitrogen in ammonium form, one-half nitrate.

2. Ammonium nitrate solution or AN 20 [NH₄NO₃ + Water), 20-0-0] – liquid, contains 20% N; one-half of nitrogen in ammonium form, one-half nitrate.

3. Calcium ammonium nitrate solution or CAN 17 [NH₄NO₃ + Ca(NO₃)₂ + water, 17-0-0] – liquid, contains 17% N and 8.8% soluble calcium; one-third of nitrogen in ammonium form, two-thirds nitrate.

4. Urea ammonium nitrate solution or UAN [NH₄NO₃ + CO(NH₂)₂ + water, (28-32)-0-0] – liquid, contains 28-32% N; one-half of nitrogen in ammonium form, one-half nitrate.

REFERENCES

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. 2013. Table 1.2-11. Description of fertilizer materials. Penn State Extension. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2013 from http://extension.psu.edu/agronomy-guide/cm/tables/table-1-2-11.

[IPNI] INTERNATIONAL PLANT NUTRITION INSTITUTE. 2013. Nutrient source specifics. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2013 from http://www.ipni.net/specifics.

THORUP  RM. 1984. Ortho Agronomy Handbook: A Practical Guide to Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use. San Francisco, CA: Chevron Chemical Company. 454 p.

(Ben G. Bareja Jan. 2013)

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