Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Turf and Landscape - Know Your Soluble Fertilizers 5

This is the fifth in a series on soluble fertilizers for use in turf and landscapes. This post is on ammonium phosphates, phosphorus fertilizers that also contain nitrogen.

Monoammonium Phosphate is gray granular material containing a range of N and P2O5 levels, from 11-48-0 to 13-54-0. The most typical analysis is an 11-48-0. This material has very good physical properties and a salt index of 0.49. The phosphate portion of this product is almost 100% water soluble. Because of its ammoniacal N content, this product acidifies the soil upon nitrification. This material is produced in small granular form and can be used as a P source in turf and landscape fertilizers.

Diammonium Phosphate is a gray granular material whose most typical analysis is an 18-46-0. The P in this material is almost 100% water soluble and its salt index is 0.64. This material is almost as acidifying as ammonium sulfate. It is used in general fertilizer blends for turf and landscapes.

Adapted from "Selected Fertilizers Used in Turfgrass Fertilization" by J.B. Sartain & J.K. Kruse, University of Florida Cooperative Extension.

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