The Facts on Strawberries and Ammonium Nitrate

About Ammonium Nitrate

• Ammonium nitrate is a nitrogen derivative. Nitrogen is found in the air we breathe and is one of the primary components of life on the planet. The majority of plants, however, cannot make use of the nitrogen in the air, so it is converted into a form that plants can use for energy and growth -- ammonium nitrate.

Ammonium Nitrate as Fertilizer

• As a fertilizer, ammonium nitrate can help make plants greener and yield more crops. Nitrogen is a significant element in chlorophyll, which helps plants convert sunlight into energy. Giving ammonium nitrate fertilizer to plants boosts their energy intake, thus allowing them to grow more vigorously, produce more crops and develop stronger roots.

Strawberries and Ammonium Nitrate

• Strawberries can benefit from the energy-boosting qualities of ammonium nitrate when given the fertilizer at a particular point in their cultivation cycle. Generally, strawberry plants should receive ammonium nitrate fertilizer (33-0-0) sometime between mid-August and mid-September. The recommended amount of fertilizer is 1 1/2 pounds per 100 feet of row of strawberries.

How Fertilizer is Applied

• Ammonium nitrate fertilizer should be applied as a topdress to strawberries. Topdress refers to scattering the fertilizer over the plants as opposed to working it into the soil. Ideally, the foliage of the plants should be dry for fertilization. The strawberry plants should also be swept or raked with a leaf broom immediately following the fertilization process.