Nitro-Compound Fertilizers - More Than Just Fast Fertilizer Efficiency!

Nitro-compound fertilizer is a highly efficient, eco-friendly new type of fertilizer that has developed rapidly in the past decade. With the modification of agricultural ammonium nitrate, the research and development of nitro-compound fertilizer production technology has continuously advanced. Nitro-compound fertilizers are safe, reliable, convenient to use, environmentally friendly, and high in nutrient content. They not only retain the essential properties of ammonium nitrate, providing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for crop growth with balanced nutrition and high effective content, but also meet the demand of the traditional fertilizer market.

1. Properties and Characteristics

Nitrogen fertilizers can be divided into different types according to the form of nitrogen they contain: ammonium, nitrate, amide, as well as modified long-acting and slow/controlled-release types:

Type	Main Varieties	Nitrogen Form	Characteristics
Ammonium Fertilizers	Liquid ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride	NH₄⁺, NH₃·H₂O	Adsorbed by soil colloids, low mobility, less leaching. Slower than nitrate fertilizers but longer-lasting.
Nitrate Fertilizers	Potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, nitro-phosphate, calcium ammonium nitrate, nitro-compound fertilizers	NO₃⁻	Easily soluble, highly mobile, fast absorption, not suitable as base or seed fertilizer. Hygroscopic, flammable, explosive.
Amide Fertilizers	Urea [(NH₂)₂CO], calcium cyanamide	-CONH₂	Easily soluble, neutral in solution, prone to caking in warm, humid conditions. Suitable as base/topdressing, but biuret makes it unsuitable for seed fertilizer.
Long-acting Nitrogen Fertilizers	Urea formaldehyde, isobutylene diurea, oxamide	NH₄⁺, -CONH₂	Low solubility, slow nutrient release, reduced losses, stable and long-lasting efficiency.
Slow/Controlled-release	Sulfur-coated urea, resin-coated urea	-CONH₂	Release synchronized with crop needs, reduced losses, supports full growth cycle supply.

1.2 Differences in Uptake: Nitrate vs. Ammonium Nitrogen

• Ammonium (NH₄⁺): Adsorbed by soil colloids, main loss is volatilization. Inside plants, must quickly combine with organic acids to form amino acids/amides. Accumulation can be toxic.

• Nitrate (NO₃⁻): Found in soil solution, lost mainly via leaching and denitrification. In plants, partially reduced to ammonium, rest stored in vacuoles. Main feature: fast efficiency.

1.3 Core Advantages of Nitro-Compound Fertilizers

• Produced with ammonium nitrate as nitrogen source, plus P and K, yielding N + P₂O₅ + K₂O > 40%.

• Dual nitrogen forms (ammonium + nitrate), plus effective phosphorus.

• Compared to traditional compound fertilizers: faster effect, higher absorption, reduces soil compaction.

• Compared to urea: less nutrient loss (urea must convert before uptake, causing loss/pollution).

• Suitable for various soils and crops, as both base and topdressing fertilizer.

2. Production Technology: Mainstream Methods

2.1 Method Comparison

Method	Core Principle	Advantages	Application
Solid Granulation	Mixing solid ammonium nitrate with P, K raw materials, then granulating	Simple, low investment	Small-scale, low-concentration products
Partial Slurry	Part of ammonium nitrate made into slurry, mixed with solid P, K	Better particle uniformity	Medium-scale, medium-high concentration
Melt Granulation	Molten ammonium nitrate (92%) + P, K + additives → granulated	Low energy, no waste, >95% pass rate	Large-scale, high-concentration

2.2 Advantages of Melt Granulation

1. Cost Reduction: Avoids transport/grinding, lowers energy use 20–30%.

2. Clean Process: Uses molten heat, <1% water, no drying, no waste discharge.

3. Product Quality: Smooth, non-caking, uniform (<2% variation), allows 20–30% N content.

4. Safety: With anti-explosion additives (e.g., ammonium sulfate, MAP), explosion risks are controlled.

2.3 Process Flow (3 Stages)

1. Neutralization & Concentration → 92% AN melt

2. Mixing & Granulation → blend with MAP, K sources, additives → cooled granules (2–5mm)

3. Screening & Packaging → 25kg, 50kg, or bulk bags

3. Main Types of Nitrate Fertilizers

No.	Fertilizer	N-P₂O₅-K₂O	Notes
1	Potassium nitrate (KNO₃)	13-0-48	Dual N+K fertilizer, also raw material for gunpowder, compound fertilizers
2	Ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃)	34-0-0	Fertilizer/oxidizer; stable under normal conditions but explosive under extreme triggers
3	Calcium ammonium nitrate	27-0-0 (gray) / 15.5-0-0 (white)	Fast-acting N+Ca+Mg fertilizer, more complete nutrition than AN
4	Nitro-phosphate	Varies	Binary N+P fertilizer, partly water-soluble and partly citrate-soluble P
5	Nitro-compound fertilizer	>40% NPK	High-concentration NPK compound, dual nitrogen forms

4. Usage Notes: Key Precautions

6 Avoidances:

1. Avoid paddy fields / rainy areas → leaching risk

2. Avoid mixing with organic fertilizer → denitrification losses

3. Avoid seed fertilizer → risk of burning seeds/seedlings

4. Avoid over-irrigation application → root injury risk

5. Avoid use within 20 days before harvest → nitrite accumulation

6. Avoid mixing with alkaline fertilizers → volatilization losses

Application Recommendations:

• Crops: economic (fruits, vegetables, cotton) + field (corn, soybeans, potatoes)

• Methods: base (10–15 days before sowing) + topdressing; foliar spray with potassium nitrate (1% solution)

• Rates: 20–30 kg/mu for field crops, 30–50 kg/mu for economic crops

5. Market Outlook

• Global Market Size: USD 28 billion (2023), projected USD 36 billion by 2028, CAGR 5.2%.

• Regional Trends:

  • Europe: Mature (30%+ share), demand for high-concentration + microelement products.

  • North America: Focus on controlled-release, high environmental standards.

  • Asia: Fastest growth; China, India, SE Asia. China shifts from urea to nitro-compound.

  • South America: Brazil, Argentina major markets, high K formulations preferred, import dependence 60%+.

Development Trends:

1. Product Upgrade: Higher concentration, addition of Ca, Mg, B.

2. Technology: Melt granulation more efficient, safer.

3. Market Penetration: China’s share (currently ~5%) expected to rise to 15–20% in next decade.

Conclusion

Nitro-compound fertilizer, with its dual nitrogen forms (nitrate + ammonium), delivers faster efficiency (3–5 days quicker than urea), higher nutrient use efficiency (+15–20%), improved soil structure, and lower nitrogen loss (<10% vs. urea’s 30%). It is especially effective in arid and saline-alkaline soils.

As agriculture globally seeks higher efficiency and eco-friendly inputs, nitro-compound fertilizers will continue upgrading toward higher concentration and multi-functionality. With broad application prospects, they are set to play a vital role in upgrading fertilizer practices and supporting global food security.