Ammonium Nitrate to Treat Nitrogen Deficiency in Soil

Nitrogen cycle

• Plants use nitrogen in its organic and molecular form but they also need two other compounds of the element. Bacteria in the soil modify some of the nitrogen to a form of ammonia and also ammonium nitrate. Both are taken up by the plant through a symbiosis with the bacteria. As scientists began understanding the process of plant growth and nutrition they came to understand that providing ammonium nitrate to the soil directly can make the feeding process quicker and less dependent upon the climate and soil moisture.

Nitrogen needs

• Insufficient nitrogen in the soil causes weak plants a poor root system and yellowing leaves starting out with the older ones and continuing to new leaves. The plants begin to lose leaves early. Nitrogen deficiency may be caused by soil that have been heavily planted for years with no renewal. Another problem is that many garden vegetables have been bred for larger and more fruit, which creates a need for nitrogen from soil that otherwise would be adequate for most other plants.

Ammonium Nitrate

• Commercial ammonium nitrate fertilizer comes from a chemical process that starts with combining hydrogen from natural gas with atmospheric nitrogen. The University of Florida reported in a study in 2009 that many of the ammonia producing plants in America have closed because of the instability of natural gas prices and production around the country. Because of the volatility of ammonium nitrate and security problems surrounding shipping it the University writes that the future supply of the fertilizer is "... in doubt."

Alternative Nitrogen Source

• Ammonium sulfate is an alternative for ammonium nitrate and has the extra benefit of being a secondary source of sulfur, which is also necessary for plant growth. The chemical is produced during steel making and when some synthetic fibers are produced so the production has not been affected by the natural gas problems. Ammonium sulfate can make the soil more acid than it should be for most plants, so using it in combination with other material such as powdered limestone may be necessary.