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Subject: Re: ammonia for fertilizer
From: "Bill Robinson" <roseguy@gte.net>
Organization:
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 00 18:35:11
Message-ID: <MOD$000813.17123@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



TX posted that he had seen an article in the
paper about the use of ammonia as a "natural"
fertilizer and asked is anyone had heard of such
a concoction.

When lightening goes through the air, some of the
nitrogenous materials in the air are converted into
ammonia type materials. When nitrogen fixing bacteria
in the soil do their thing on materials containing
nitrogen they produce ammonia type materials. Farmers
have been using ammonia on their crops for many
years. . . there is nothing new to this concoction
but it is still not a complete fertilizer nor a safe
fertilizer. It's just cheap.

Nitrogen, like all of the essential plant nutrients,
can "burn" when applied in access. A 1/3 "store bought"
ammonia plus 2/3 water is much to much and will burn
the lawn for sure.

Plants need more than just nitrogen. . . there are
a number of essential nutrients, including a number
of essential trace elements, and the ammonia mix would
be lacking in everything but the nitrogen.

Your best lawn fertilizer is still going to be a layer
of compost, composted manure, or an organic meal. Any
of these materials are safer and contain a fuller range
of the needed nutrients. An end-of-the-hose application
of fish emulsion is an easy way to go and when watered
in well does a good job but not in this summer's heat!

Bill

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