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Nitrogen Fertilizer -Calcium Ammonium Nitrate
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| Importance of the Fertilizer | Calcium ammonium nitrate is a light brown or grey granular fertilizer. It is commercially prepared from ammonium nitrate and ground limestone. It is almost neutral and can be safely applied even to acid soils. Half of this total nitrogen is in the ammoniacal form and half is in nitrate form. |
| Amount of Available Nutrients | Calcium Ammonium Nitrate contains 20.5/25 % Nitrogen. |
| Compatibility in fertilizer mixtures |
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate can be mixed with Ammonium Sulphate, Sodium Nitrate and Calcium Carbonate. But it may be mixed only prior to application with Murate of Potash, Potassium Sulphate, Urea, Super Phosphate and Ammonium Phosphate. It can’t be mixed with basic slag. |
| Reaction of the Fertilizer in Soil | Calcium Ammonium Nitrate when applied in soil will form calcium, ammonium and nitrate ions which can be taken by the plant. Ammonium and Nitrate which are not taken by the plant lost as fixation by soil, uptake by soil micro organism, leaching losses, volatilization as ammonia in alkaline soil. |
| Situations where Recommended | CAN is suitable for neutral alkaline soils. CAN is preferred to urea in alkaline soils with low rainfall since ammonia may be lost by volatilization in alkaline condition. |
| References | 1. Yawalkar, K. S., Agarwal, J. P., and Bokde, S., (1996) Manures and Fertilizers, Agri-Horticultural Publishing House, Nagpur |