Liquid Fertilizer & Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric acid has played a major role in the progress of fertilizer applications, both organic and chemical. Bone meal, various phosphorus fertilizers and nitrogen fertilizers all make use of sulfuric acid treatment to alter the chemical composition so that more nutrients are available to roots when applied.
History
Bones have been used for hundreds of years to fertilize the soil for crops. But it wasn’t until 1808 that Sir James Murray of Ireland discovered that treating the bones with sulfuric acid converted the phosphorus in bones to a form that plants could readily absorb. But this fertilizer was primarily a solid form. The liquid form of phosphates came onto the market after it was discovered that liquid fertilizer could be added to irrigation lines to simultaneously water and fertilize plants.
Superphosphate
The fertilizer industry consumes most of the more than 40 million tons of sulfuric acid produced in the United States each year. A large quantity is used to produce superphosphate. Pulverized rock phosphorus is treated with sulfuric acid and water, then allowed to react and dry. For liquid superphosphate fertilizer, the miniscule superphosphate granules are remixed with water and a stabilizer.
- Sulfuric acid has played a major role in the progress of fertilizer applications, both organic and chemical.
- The liquid form of phosphates came onto the market after it was discovered that liquid fertilizer could be added to irrigation lines to simultaneously water and fertilize plants.
Applications
Phosphorus is a tricky nutrient to provide to plants. Once added to the soil, phosphate readily binds to the soil, becoming ‘fixed.’ Once fixed, it won’t leech away with rain or irrigation, but it’s also no longer in a form that plants can absorb. What little phosphorus doesn’t become fixed is available for plants, but this means that phosphorus must be reapplied, and that much of it is wasted in each application.
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is a fertilizer product that mixes sulfuric acid with urea. While sulfur is a necessary nutrient for plant growth, it is far more available in soil than nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium. Ammonium sulfate is used primarily for the nitrogen in the ammonium, which breaks away from the sulfur for plant uptake. This process can also slightly lower soil pH.
- Phosphorus is a tricky nutrient to provide to plants.
- While sulfur is a necessary nutrient for plant growth, it is far more available in soil than nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium.
Considerations
As a relatively quick-release nitrogen fertilizer, ammonium sulfate should be used with caution in liquid form. Many plants have leaves sensitive to over applications of nitrogen, and will burn when ammonium sulfate is applied. To be safe, use an ammonium sulfate liquid fertilizer with low amounts of nitrogen (less than 10 on the N-P-K label), avoid spraying on the leaves altogether, or dilute according to foliar application rates on the label.
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Writer Bio
Samantha Belyeu has been writing professionally since 2003. She began as a writer and publisher for the Natural Toxins Research Center and has spent her time since as a landscape designer and part-time writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas A&M University in Kingsville.
