fertilizer formulation

1. Chapter 6: Fertilizer Formulation,
Storage, and handling
 Three systems available:
– Bulk Blend or Prescription mix nutrients.
– Direct application of homogeneous product.
– Fluid fertilizer (from clear liquid solutions to
suspensions

2. Bulk Blend or Prescription mix
nutrients
 May use homogeneous products as part of the
blend, along with other granular, prilled, or
crystalline fertilizer materials to meet desired
nutrient requirements.
 Should use uniformly sized products to
minimize segregation in storage & handling.

3. Direct application of homogeneous
product.
 Benefit is that each pellet has the same
chemical make up.
 Can be in bulk form or ordered in bagged form.

4. Fluid fertilizer
 Its main benefits are the ease of handling,
uniform composition, and compatibility with
crop protection chemicals.
 Suspension can have a twice the nutrient
content than clear.
 Large amounts of secondary nutrients and
micronutrients can be used in suspensions.

5. Formulations
 Bulk/Bagged Blends
– Are physical mixes of two or more dry products.
– Examples of products used are: ammonium nitrate,
ammonium sulfate, urea, diammonium phosphate,
monoammonium phosphate, potassium materials,
and elemental sulfur.

6. Bulk/Bagged Blends Problems
 Segregation or separation of one component or
raw material from another.
 Segregation may happen when storing finished
products in cone shape piles or when loading
in a truck or trailor.

7. Homogeneous product problems
 One problem is that specific grades are not
produced to meet every soil or plant condition.

8. Fluid fertilizer problems (Clear)
 Although high N-P grades can be produced,
the addition of other fertilizer material raises
the salting-out temperature, thus limiting the
nutrient content.
 As the salting-out temperature is raised. The
solution becomes unstable.

9. Fluid fertilizer problems
(Suspension)
 Applications can be hampered by the clogging
of the nozzles
 Failure to agitate the tank

10. Storage and Handling
Refer to Table 6-3 for humidity and temperature
data on each fertilizer.

11. Storage and Handling
Ammonium nitrate
 Keep it away from open flames
 Avoid contaminating it with foreign matter.
 Sweep up & dispose of all contaminated
material.
 Do not store it in close proximity to steam pipes
or radiators.
 Keep it separate from other materials stored in
the same warehouse, especially combustible
organic materials and urea.

12. Urea
 Keep it away from open flames
 Avoid contaminating it with foreign matter.
 Sweep up & dispose of all contaminated
material.
 Do not store it in close proximity to steam pipes
or radiators.
 Keep it separate from other materials stored in
the same warehouse, especially combustible
organic materials and ammonium nitrate.

13. Why keep the two apart?
 Urea is less hygroscopic than ammonium
nitrate. It will absorb moisture at 18% relative
humidity if stored with ammonium nitrate.

14. Ammonium sulfate
 Easy to store due to its high critical relative
humidity of 79% at 860F
 It is corrosive, so store in concrete or wood
structures.

15. Phosphorus and potassium
materials
 By the most part they require no specialized
storage.
 Use common sense.
 It is corrosive, so store in concrete or wood
structures.

16. Fluid Materials
Anhydrous ammonia
 Potentially hazardous due to the high
pressures that it is stored under.

17. Aqua ammonia
 Since ammonia vapor is constantly leaving the
solution a pressure-vacuum relief value must
be installed on storage tanks.

18. Urea-ammonium nitrate solutions
 Store in mild steel or poly tanks with
appropriate secondary containment.
 Brass, copper, or galvanized materials should
not be used for handling systems.

19. Ammonium nitrate solution
 Store in mild steel or poly tanks with
appropriate secondary containment.
 ***NOTE that this is more corrosive to mild
steel.
 Brass, copper, or galvanized materials should
not be used for handling systems.

20. Urea solutions
 Store in mild steel or poly tanks with
appropriate secondary containment.
 Brass, copper, or galvanized materials should
not be used for handling systems.
 Have a higher salt-out temperatures.

21. Phosphoric & superphosphoric
acids
 Corrosive acids that require rubber or plastic
lined stainless steel or plastic tanks and
plumbing are required.
 A silica-gel breather should be installed to
prevent moisture from entering the tank due to
superphosphoric when it absorbs moisture
produces a more corrosive acid.

22. Cont.
 External jacketing or steam tracing will prevent
freezing in long lines.
 Prevent contact with skin and eyes due to the
fact that it is a strong dehydrating agent that
can cause blistering.

23. Clear liquid & fluid suspensions
 If neutral solutions – mild steel or poly storage
can be used.

24. Sulfuric Acid
 Storage tanks must be vented to maintain the
tanks atmospheric pressure.
 When added to water it becomes more
corrosive and the use of non-reactive liners are
suggested.
 Should not be stored near other organic
materials. It may cause ignition.

25. Urea-acid combinations
 Storage tanks must be vented to maintain the
tanks atmospheric pressure.
 When added to water it becomes more
corrosive and the use of non-reactive liners are
suggested.
 Should not be stored near other organic
materials. It may cause ignition.

26. Sulfur materials for formulation of
liquids
 These types of fertilizers are corrosive. Thus
one should use storage facilities that are not
degraded when they come in contact with
these substances.