Production, Properties, and Use of Nitrogen Solutions and Use of Anhydrous Ammonia for Direct Application

Abstract

This chapter will deal with liquid nitrogen fertilizers including nitrogen solutions and anhydrous ammonia. The properties and use of anhydrous ammonia for direct application will be described; its production was discussed in chapter VI. Nitrogen solutions include solutions of ammonia in water (aqua ammonia), solutions containing free ammonia plus ammonium nitrate or urea or both, and solutions of urea or ammonium nitrate or both without free ammonia. Solutions that do not contain free ammonia are called “nonpressure” solutions. Solutions that contain free ammonia will have some vapor pressure of ammonia although the vapor pressure may be below atmospheric (“low-pressure”) solutions. The major use for nitrogen solutions is for direct application to the soil as a fertilizer although they are also used to produce compound liquid or solid fertilizers (chapter XIX).