How ammonium nitrate differs from urea: a professional explains – no more questions left

18.04.2024 16:42

Both ammonium nitrate and urea are nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

The difference, according to the expert of the online publication BelNovosti, scientist-agronomist, landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , is that nitrogen in fertilizers is present in different forms.

Thus, urea can be called a more complex fertilizer, in which the nitrogen content is higher - it can reach up to 46% of the total mass of the fertilizer.

Ammonium nitrate, in turn, is less concentrated, since the nitrogen content in it does not exceed 30%.

It is believed that the introduction of ammonium nitrate can cause burns to the root system of plants, while urea has a softer effect on them. This is probably why urea can also be used for foliar feeding.

Garden
Photo: © Belnovosti

When urea gets into the soil, it decomposes into ammonia and carbon dioxide, for which it requires microorganisms, which, however, are not active in cold soil, so it is not recommended to use urea in early spring.

Conversely, ammonium nitrate can be used as an early spring nitrogen fertilizer.

The last difference we would like to mention is that ammonium nitrate is not suitable for use on acidic soils.

Earlier, the expert told where in the garden you need to plant cherries .

Elena Shimanovskaya Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Editor of Internet resources

Anastasia Kovrizhnykh Expert: Anastasia KovrizhnykhExpert / Belnovosti