Ammophos

Experienced gardeners know that if, when planting potatoes, add 2 g (1/2 teaspoon) of ammophos to each well, then not only the yield will increase, but the tubers will also turn out to be crumbly, starchy.

Ammophos is a source of the most important substances for plant nutrition throughout the growing season. Nitrogen is responsible for rapid growth, and phosphorus is responsible for the development of the root system. Ammophos is a more effective fertilizer than simple nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, because it is more evenly distributed in the soil and contains nutrients in an accessible form.  

This fertilizer can be used on all soils, except for highly acidic ones. 

What is ammophos

Ammophos or ammonium phosphate is a complex complex nitrogen-phosphorus mineral fertilizer highly soluble in water. Phosphorus in it is in high concentration, but in a readily soluble form. It is produced in the form of powder and granules of light gray or white color. Granular fertilizer is covered with a shell that prevents moisture absorption and caking, but does not interfere with dissolution in water.

The chemical formula of the fertilizer is NH₄H₂PO₄ + (NH₄)₂HPO₄.

This fertilizer allows you to increase the yield and immunity of plants. Due to the low nitrogen content, with a deficiency of phosphorus in the soil, top dressing can be carried out in the second half of summer.

Ammophosa composition

Ammophos is a complex fertilizer that contains up to 12% nitrogen and up to 52% phosphorus 

Ammophos properties

The fertilizer is designed to be applied to the soil. Provides plants with nitrogen and phosphorus, promotes the growth of green mass, the development and strengthening of the root system, improves the survival rate of seedlings and seedlings, increases their vitality. 

In addition, ammophos increases the number of flowers and fruit set. Increases the quality and quantity of the crop, increases the shelf life. Increases plant immunity and resistance to stress caused by temperature fluctuations. 

Top dressing with ammophos leads to an increase in fiber and proteins in vegetables and cereals, vegetable fats in seeds and nuts.

Improves soil quality, reduces its acidity 

The use of ammophos in the garden and vegetable garden 

Ammophos is recommended for growing potatoes on any soil, vegetable crops in greenhouses, as well as on soils depleted and poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. The exception is strongly acidified soils.

making Dates

Fertilizer is most effective when applied in the spring during soil preparation and planting, as well as for summer top dressing. Fertilizer is also used in the autumn preparation of the soil.

In the spring, ammophos is applied as top dressing, in the fall – to improve the quality of the soil. 

Dosage of application

Doses of ammophos application depend on the purpose of application and culture:

• to improve the soil – 15 – 30 g (1 – 2 tablespoons) per 1 sq. m for digging to a depth of 6 – 8 cm;
• when planting seedlings of vegetable crops – 1 g (at the tip of a knife) per hole;
• when planting potatoes – 2 g (1/2 teaspoon) per well;
• for feeding fruit trees – 15 – 20 g per 1 sq. m near the trunk circle;
• when planting grapes – 400 g (2 cups) per 10 liters of water per planting pit;
• for feeding grapes before bud break – 150 g (5 matchboxes) per 10 liters of water in the trunk grooves;
• for feeding berry and ornamental shrubs – 30 g (2 tablespoons) per bush;
• when planting and sowing flowers and lawn – 20 g (4 teaspoons) per 1 sq. m, 
• for feeding flowers and lawn – 5 g (1 teaspoon) per 1 sq. m.

Application methods

Granular fertilizer is used locally, introduced into planting pits and grooves, into tree trunks. Ammophos in the form of a powder is used mainly for feeding the lawn and preparing the soil for planting.

Before digging, ammophos is scattered on the surface of the soil. For top dressing, dry fertilizer is embedded in fertilizer pits and grooves, but it is more efficient to use aqueous solutions. (3). To prepare the solution, ammophos is first poured with warm water in a ratio of 1: 3, thoroughly stirred, allowed to settle, drained from the sediment, and only then adjusted with cold water to the desired volume. If the precipitate is large, then it can be poured with warm water again, stirred, allowed to settle and combined with the first part of the solution.

When top dressing, it is important to follow the rule: fertilizer should not fall directly on the roots.

Popular questions and answers

We asked about ammophos agronomist Oleg Ispolatov – he answered the most popular questions of summer residents.

Sources of

1. State catalog of pesticides and agrochemicals approved for use on the territory of the Federation as of July 6, 2021 // Ministry of Agriculture of the Federation https://mcx.gov.ru/ministry/departments/departament-rastenievodstva-mekhanizatsii-khimizatsii- i-zashchity-rasteniy/industry-information/info-gosudarstvennaya-usluga-po-gosudarstvennoy-registratsii-pestitsidov-i-agrokhimikatov/
2. Mineev V.G. Agrochemistry (textbook, 2nd edition, revised and supplemented) // M.: MGU Publishing House, KolosS Publishing House, 2004.
3. Yagodin B.A., Zhukov Yu.P., Kobzarenko V.I. Agrochemistry (edited by B.A. Yagodin) // M.: Kolos, 2002.