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

Nutrient Content, %

Source N P2O5 K2O CaO MgO S Cl Form Cost/lb N
Ammonium chloride 25-26           66 solid  


From Havlin, Beaton, Tisdale and Nelson (1999)

Ammonium Chloride NH4CI
Fertilizer-grade NH4Cl usually contains 25% N. About two-thirds of the world capacity for manufacture of this material is located in Japan, with the remaining one-third situated in India and China. Most of it is produced by the dual-salt process, in which NH4CI and (Na) 2CO3 are formed simultaneously. Another production method is the direct neutralization of NH3 with HCI.  Some of its advantages include a higher N concentration than (NH4)2SO4 and superiority over (NH4)2SO4 for rice. Ammonium chloride is an excellent source of both N and Cl- for coconut, oil palm, and kiwifruit, which are Cl responsive crops. Ammonium chloride is as acid forming as (NH4)2SO4 per unit of N, and this effect is undesirable in acidic soil, especially if liming costs are excessive. Other shortcomings are its low N analysis in comparison to urea or NH4NO3, and its high Cl- content limits its use to tolerant crops.