Page 57 - Nutrient Management Planning Guide

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Chapter 2.3

To help avoid over-application of nutrients, •

fertilizers can be custom blended to produce nutrient proportions based on soil test fertilizer recommendations. Manure has an imbalanced nutrient profile relative to what most crops require. This can lead to over or under-application of nutrients and increase environmental risk or reduced yield, depending on the nutrient.

All nutrient applications have nuisance concerns •

such as odour, dust and noise. Unlike manure, odour is not an issue with fertilizer application. Fertilizers are a more concentrated source of •

nutrients on a weight basis. Higher nutrient concentration reduces product bulk. This reduces transportation costs per weight unit of nutrient and facilitates easier storage.

Table 2.3.2 Characteristics of Fertilizers Commonly Used in Western Canada

Fertilizer % N-P

2

O

5

-K

2

O (S)

Forms of Key Nutrients

Comments Anhydrous Ammonia

82-0-0 NH

3

/NH

4

+ Highest N content of all N fertilizers. •

Ammonium Sulphate

21-0-0-24S NH

4

+ , SO

4

2-

Most common S fertilizer used in Alberta. •

Urea 46-0-0 NH

3

/NH

4

+

Most popular form of granular N fertilizer •

used in Alberta. Urea-Ammonium Nitrate

28-0-0/32-0-0 NH

3

/NH

4

+ , NO

3

-

Most common liquid N fertilizer. • Half of the N is from urea and half is from •

ammonium nitrate. Monoammonium Phosphate

12-51-0

NH

4

+ , HPO

4

2- or H

2

PO

4

-

Most popular P fertilizer used in Alberta. • Often blended with potash. • Ammonium Polyphosphate

10-34-0

NH

4

+ , HPO

4

2- or H

2

PO

4

Most common liquid P fertilizer. •

Muriate of Potash

0-0-60 K + , Cl - Saskatchewan is the world leading •

producer of potash. Urea-ammonium Sulphate

34-0-0-11S NH

3

/NH

4

+ , SO

4

2-

Not common in western Canada. •

Ammonium Phosphate-sulphate

16-20-0-14S and 17-20-0-15S

NH

4

+ , HPO

4

2- or H

2

PO

4

, SO

4

2-

Primarily a home and garden fertilizer. •

Sulphur Bentonite

0-0-0-90S S 0 /S 2-

Contains 10% bentonite clay. • Can be blended with most other fertilizers. • To be plant available, microorganisms must •

oxidize elemental S.

Gypsum 0-0-0-18S SO

4

2- , Ca 2+

Lower solubility than ammonium sulphate. •

Supplies Ca • 2+ .