Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Nitrogen Fertilizers, NUE, Nitrogen and the EnvironmentAmmonium Nitrate 
Nitrogen Use Efficiency
 

Nutrient Content, %

Source N P2O5 K2O CaO MgO S Cl Form Cost/lb N
Ammonium nitrate 33.5             solid  


From Havlin, Beaton, Tisdale and Nelson (1999)

Ammonium Nitrate NH4NO3
Fertilizer-grade NH4NO3 contains between 33 and 34% N and is a more popular fertilizer in Europe than in North America. In 1995 about 1.7 million metric tons of NH4NO3 were used in the United States. The N03- and NH4+ components of NH4NO3 are readily available to crops, and thus this N fertilizer is widely used in cropping situations in which growing crops are topdressed with N. NH4NO3 has some disadvantages, which include

I .Very hygroscopic; care must be taken to prevent caking and physical deterioration in storage and handling.

2. High risk of fire or even explosions unless suitable precautions are taken; intimate contact with oxidizable forms of C such as fuel oil produces an explosive mixture that is widely used as a blasting agent.

3. Less effective for flooded rice than urea or NH4+ fertilizers

4. More prone to leaching and denitrification than NH4+ products.