During the cooler winter months Nitrate and Ammonium Nitrogen found in Calcium Ammonium-Nitrate (CAN) offer a quicker uptake and reduced losses compared to Urea Nitrogen.

Therefore, you can apply less N and grow more grass for less cost with CAN. Read below to find out more:

What is the difference between the Nitrogen in CAN and Urea?

CAN is made up of Ammonium and Nitrate Nitrogen. Ammonium and Nitrate Nitrogen are able to be up taken directly by plants and are less susceptible to losses compared to Urea (Amide) Nitrogen.

Urea contains Nitrogen only in Urea (Amide) form. Urea Nitrogen relies on the process of Hydrolysis to be first broken down into Ammonium Form. Hydrolysis is undertaken by soil enzymes breaking down the Urea Nitrogen and can take between 1 – 10 days depending on soil conditions.

So why does CAN out perform Urea in Cooler Temperatures?

Nitrate Nitrogen in CAN is highly mobile in the soil and is rapidly up taken by plants with minimal leaching and atmospheric losses.

Ammonium Nitrogen in CAN binds to clay particles in the soil and is slowly released to plants. Plants will either uptake the Ammonium Nitrogen directly or the process of Nitrification will transform the Ammonium Nitrogen into Nitrate Nitrogen which will then be rapidly up taken by plants.

Urea Nitrogen must first be broken down by the process of Hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is slow in cooler soil temperatures as soil enzymes are less active exposing the Urea Nitrogen to increased losses from leaching. Hydrolysis also increases the soil PH around the Urea granule which strongly promotes Ammonium Volatilisation losses. Click here to find out more about the losses associated with Urea Nitrogen.

Place Your Order

To improve your Nitrogen response this winter and to grow more winter feed at less cost call us today to order your shipment of Calcium Ammonium-Nitrate. 0800 4 DICKIE (0800 43 42 54).