Ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2 SO4] has been a fertilizer of choice for over 150 hundred years. In one configuration or other, it has served world agriculture and its economy very well. It serves needs from the common front lawn to major farm lots. Broadcast or applied as liquid or granule, it meets almost every fertilizer need. But, as agricultural application technology improves, users needs to understand its use in pop-up fertilization. As growers pursue early planting in cool soils that inhibit early root growth, they have to consider their options.

1. May Ammonium Sulfate Be Used In Pop-up
Fertilization?
ind-svcs.com/blog/may-ammonium-sulf ate-used-pop-f ertilization/
What Is Pop-Up Fertilization?
“Pop-Up” fertilization is the process of putting the fertilizer in at the time of planting the seed. The
alternative is starter fertilization, in which the fertilization is done near but not with the seed.
Ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2 SO4] has been a f ertilizer of choice f or over 150 hundred years. In
one conf iguration or other, it has served world agriculture and its economy very well. It serves
needs f rom the common f ront lawn to major f arm lots. Broadcast or applied as liquid or granule, it
meets almost every f ertilizer need. But, as agricultural application technology improves, users
needs to understand its use in pop-up f ertilization. As growers pursue early planting in cool soils
that inhibit early root growth, they have to consider their options.
Once There Was The Starter Fertilizer
The so-called “starter f ertilizers” place nutrients in bands 2-inches below and 2-inches to the
side of the seed. Starter applications place more Nitrogen (N), Zinc (Zc), and micronutrients near
the seed. Common liquid sources are ammonium polyphosphate solution and urea ammonium
nitrate solution. Dry materials include urea, ammonium sulfate, and diammonium phosphate.
Higher rates may be applied at f urther distance f rom the seed.
Now There Is The Pop-up Fertilizer
The increasingly popular “pop-up f ertilizers” are placed directly with the seed at planting. Fertilizer
placement has been engineered into the seed f armers used on more modern planters, allowing
precise placement of seed and f ertilizer. This single operation f ertilization process saves time,
energy, and f ertilizer.
There is no requirement f or a separate, specif ic, distribution opener on the planter, so
pop-up f ertilizing lowers costs by reducing the rate of starter f ertilizer.
It reduces the amount of f ertilizer handled during starter f ertilizing and the quantity of
necessary phosphorus in soils already high in phosphorus.
It suppresses weeds by not broadcasting f ertilizer near weeds.
It reduces power consumption and the need f or separate deep-band openers or planter
modif ications.
It eliminates nutrient erosion by precise placement.
However, there are some considerations regarding use of pop-up f ertilization:
There is a risk of leaching losses of N during the winter f ollowing f all pop-up f ertilization.
Pop-up f ertilization may ef f ectively override the natural organic mineralization of previous
crops.
High concentrations of nitrogen, sulf ur (S), and potassium (K) in soils with low water
content present a dander of salt or ammonia injury to the seeds. Limiting N and potassium
oxide (K2O) to 10 pounds/acre is a good bet.

2. Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer
The active ingredients of ammonium sulfate are intended to
correct the nitrogen levels in soil and the pH balance in alkaline
soils. It is an odorless, tan, water-soluble, sand-like crystal
produced by combining ammonium with sulf uric acid. Mixed with
water in the soil, it releases nitrogen f or plant growth and acid-
f orming ammonium ions f or soil alkalinity. It is a non-hazardous
and non-f lammable byproduct of nylon production.
The nitrogen is slower to release than in nitrate f orms, so
it works throughout the growth season. Its nitrogen will
produce healthy plants, but overuse may over stimulate
growth and invite disease and pests.
Alf alf a crops and soybeans produce oil and benef it f rom
the sulf ates. And, as sulf ur has been removed f rom the
atmosphere and acid rain, f armers f ind pH def iciency which
can be helped by the sulf ates in the f ertilizer.
Ammonium sulfate continues to prove indispensable, and advances in application technologies
like pop-up f ertilization will continue to require its ready accessibility.
Image Credit:
Calgary Reviews 20130305-005-of -365
CIAT NitrogenFixing1
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Industrial Services
Commonwealth Industrial Services, Inc. (CIS) is an industrial services company
located in Hopewell, Virginia. Although historically a service business, CIS’ primary
prof it center is the packaging and resale of ammonium sulf ate.
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