APPLICATION OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IN IMPROVING CROP GROWTH

APPLICATION OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IN IMPROVING CROP GROWTH

as the global population continues to grow and the demand for food increases, the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production becomes even more important. Among many agricultural technologies, anhydrous ammonia as a high-efficiency fertilizer has shown significant effects in improving crop growth. In this paper, the basic properties of anhydrous ammonia, its mechanism of action in crop growth and practical application cases are analyzed in detail, and the importance of anhydrous ammonia in agriculture is discussed.

Anhydrous Ammonia Basic Properties and Mechanism

Anhydrous ammonia, chemical formula NH, is a colorless, odorless gas, at room temperature and pressure for gaseous. Its main use in agriculture is as a nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen is one of the important nutrients for plant growth, which is involved in the formation of chlorophyll, protein synthesis and nucleic acid construction. As a fertilizer with high nitrogen content, anhydrous ammonia can provide sufficient nitrogen source for crops, so as to promote the growth and development of crops.

The mechanism of action of anhydrous ammonia is mainly reflected in the following aspects: it can be directly absorbed and utilized by plants, especially under the condition of wet soil, anhydrous ammonia will be rapidly converted into ammonium ions (NHCOOL) or nitrate ions (NOLCO), which are the main forms of plant absorption. Anhydrous ammonia can improve soil structure, increase soil water retention and air permeability, and provide a more suitable growth environment for crops. Anhydrous ammonia also promotes the activity of microorganisms in the soil, further decomposes organic matter, and releases more nutrients for crops to absorb.

Application of Anhydrous Ammonia in Crop Growth

Anhydrous ammonia has a wide range of applications in improving crop growth. The following are the main ways of application:

1. Increase crop yield

As an efficient nitrogen fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia can significantly increase crop yield. The application of nitrogen fertilizer can promote the photosynthesis of crops, increase the content of chlorophyll, so as to improve the utilization rate of light energy. Studies have shown that in the cultivation of major food crops such as rice, wheat and corn, reasonable application of anhydrous ammonia can increase the yield by 10%-20%. For example, in rice cultivation, the application of anhydrous ammonia can not only increase the number of rice ears, but also increase the number and weight of rice grains per ear, thereby significantly increasing the total yield of rice.

2. Enhance crop disease resistance and stress resistance

The application of anhydrous ammonia can not only promote the growth of crops, but also enhance the disease resistance and stress resistance of crops. Nitrogen is an important component of plant synthesis of disease-resistant substances, and appropriate application of anhydrous ammonia can improve crop resistance to pests and diseases. Anhydrous ammonia can also enhance the adaptability of crops to adverse environments, such as drought, salinity and low temperature. In some saline-alkali soils, the application of anhydrous ammonia can improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, reduce the damage of salt to crop roots, and thus improve the survival rate and yield of crops.

3. Promote crop nutrient absorption

Anhydrous ammonia can promote the absorption of other nutrients by crops. For example, under the application of anhydrous ammonia, the absorption efficiency of crops to other nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium will also be improved. This is because anhydrous ammonia can improve the pH of the soil and promote the release of phosphorus and potassium in the soil, thereby providing more comprehensive nutrition for crops.

Anhydrous ammonia use methods and precautions

In order to give full play to the role of anhydrous ammonia in improving crop growth, scientific and reasonable use method is very important. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Fertilization time

The optimal application time of anhydrous ammonia is usually at a critical period of crop growth, such as the sowing, tillering or flowering stage. The application of anhydrous ammonia during these periods can more effectively promote the growth and development of crops.

2. Fertilization amount

The application rate of anhydrous ammonia needs to be adjusted according to crop species, soil conditions and climate environment. Generally speaking, the application rate per mu of land is between 10-20kg. Excessive application of anhydrous ammonia may lead to soil acidification and compactness, and even cause seedling burning of crops, so the application rate needs to be strictly controlled.

3. Fertilization method

The application methods of anhydrous ammonia mainly include spreading, furrow application and hole application. Among them, the application is suitable for large areas of the field, and ditch application and hole application is more suitable for centralized fertilization. During the application process, care should be taken to avoid the volatilization loss of anhydrous ammonia, especially under high temperature and dry conditions, the volatilization loss will increase significantly.

Anhydrous ammonia in agriculture in the future

With the continuous progress of agricultural technology, the application prospect of anhydrous ammonia in improving crop growth will be broader. On the one hand, researchers are working to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly anhydrous ammonia application technologies, such as slow-release fertilizers and controlled-release fertilizers, to reduce the loss of anhydrous ammonia and improve its utilization rate. On the other hand, the compound fertilizer formulation technology of anhydrous ammonia and other fertilizers is also developing, which will provide farmers with more diversified and personalized fertilization options.

As an important agricultural input, anhydrous ammonia plays an irreplaceable role in improving crop growth, increasing yield and enhancing disease resistance. Through scientific and reasonable application methods, the application prospects of anhydrous ammonia will be brighter and make greater contributions to global food security and sustainable agricultural development.