Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer

Benefits of Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer

Regulates pH Levels in Soil
Ammonium sulphate has a pH of 5.5. When ammonium sulphate is applied to soil, this compound will release ammonium ions which contribute to lowering the pH value in the soil. This advantage is generally expected when farmers are dealing with alkaline soil. Determining optimal pH levels is generally close to neutral or in the range 6.5 to 7.5. In general, macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) are not too affected by soil pH. However, there are types of elements that are not available when the soil pH is too acidic or too wet. Let’s take the example of the element phosphorus (P). In soil conditions that are too acidic, phosphorus will react with aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) and create less soluble compounds. If the soil pH is too alkaline, phosphorus will react with magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) and create a less soluble compound.

High Nitrogen Levels
Nitrogen is a component of the chlorophyll molecule which has the function of capturing sunlight and providing energy to plants. The energy produced is directly proportional to the growth of the plant. Ammonium sulphate has advantages thanks to its high nitrogen content. Research states that a nitrogen level of 40 ppm is needed to be considered sufficient. To optimally determine whether additional nitrogen is needed in the soil, a soil test can be carried out between late fall and early spring.

Prevention of Sulphur Deficiency
Sulfur (S) is an important element in plant growth. The uses of sulfur include supporting nitrogen metabolism, enzyme activity, and oil and protein synthesis. In general, plants that lack sulfur will experience morphological changes. These changes are yellowing leaves and short, thin stems. In other cases that occur in canola plants that lack sulfur, the plants experience changes such as young leaves being purple and curling upwards, flowering being delayed and prolonged, flowers are pale, and the pods are fewer and smaller. Sulfur deficiency can be overcome by using ammonium sulphate which contains sulfur.

Good Solubility
The good ingredients in a fertilizer will be useless if the fertilizer is unable to dissolve in water. Water has a very vital role in plant growth. Water acts as a ‘vehicle’ for plant nutritional elements to be absorbed by the plant roots. Ammonium sulphate , on the other hand, has excellent solubility of 70.6 g/100ml. Ammonium sulphate has very good solubility in water because the ions contained in this compound are Nh4+ (ammonium) and SO42- (sulphate ). Ammonium ions have a positive charge and can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules which have a partially negative charge on oxygen and hydrogen. Sulfate ions can also form hydrogen bonds with water. Although sulfate has a negative charge, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding allow its solution in water.

Does not Contain Chloride
In fact, chlorine (Cl) is a nutrient in plants, but excessive amounts of chlorine will hurt plants that are sensitive to chlorine. Agricultural commodities that are sensitive to chlorine are potatoes, pineapples, oranges, chilies, tomatoes, cabbage, grapes, shallots, strawberries, mangoes, peppers, apples, durian, tobacco, avocados, melons and cocoa. High chloride content can cause low chlorophyll content in leaves (yellowing leaves) and low sugar content in fruit. Ammonium sulphate is a suitable choice to overcome this risk because there is no chlorine content in this compound.

Applications of Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer

Difference Between Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer And Urea

Precautions for the use of ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer:

For base fertilizer: When ammonium sulfate fertilizer is used as base fertilizer, it should be deeply applied and covered with soil to facilitate crop absorption.

For topdressing: Ammonium sulfate fertilizer is most suitable for topdressing. The amount of ammonium sulfate fertilizer for topdressing needs to be determined according to different soil types. For soils with poor water and fertilizer retention performance, topdressing should be applied in stages, and the amount should not be too much each time; for soils with good water and fertilizer retention performance, the amount can be appropriately more each time.

The amount of soil moisture also has a great influence on the fertilizer effect, especially in dry land. When applying ammonium sulfate fertilizer, it is important to pay attention to timely watering. As for paddy fields, when topdressing, they should be drained first, and it should be noted that they should be applied at the same time as plowing and harrowing. In addition, there are obvious differences in the application of ammonium sulfate fertilizer to different crops. For example, when used for fruit trees, it can be applied in furrows, rings or holes.

For seed fertilizer: It should be mixed dry as seed fertilizer, and sowed as it is mixed. When mixing seeds, it can be mixed with decomposed organic fertilizer in a certain proportion and then mixed with seeds to avoid excessive local salt concentration and affect germination.

Transformation in the soil: After ammonium sulfate fertilizer is applied to the soil, it dissociates into NH4+ and SO42- in the soil solution, which can be absorbed by crops or adsorbed by soil colloids. Due to the selectivity of crop roots in nutrient absorption, the amount of NH4+ absorbed is much greater than that of SO42-; at the same time, during the nitrification process of NH4+ being converted into NO3-, each NH4+ will release 2 H+, causing soil acidification. In calcareous soils, the Ca2+ on the colloid is replaced by NH4+ and reacts with SO42- to form calcium sulfate, which is deposited in the soil pores, which can easily cause soil compaction. To eliminate this hazard, organic fertilizers should be applied in combination.