Ammonium nitrogen fertilizers are common quick-acting fertilizers that supply nitrogen in the form of ammonium ions.

Ammonium nitrogen fertilizer refers to nitrogen fertilizer in which the nitrogen exists in the form of ammonium ions or ammonia, and it is one of the nitrogen fertilizer types commonly used in agricultural production. Common varieties include ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride and ammonia water, etc. Most of them are readily soluble in water and can be directly absorbed and used by crop roots, so they belong to quick-acting fertilizers.

One obvious characteristic of this type of fertilizer is that after being applied to the soil, ammonium ions can be adsorbed by soil colloids and are not easily lost with water, so the fertilizer effect is relatively lasting. However, when applied on the surface of calcareous or alkaline soil, ammonium nitrogen is easily converted into ammonia gas and volatilized, causing nutrient loss. At the same time, microorganisms in the soil can also gradually convert it into nitrate nitrogen, a process called nitrification.

When using ammonium nitrogen fertilizer, deep application with soil covering is generally recommended; applying the fertilizer into the soil layer and then covering it with soil can reduce ammonia volatilization and improve utilization. Be careful to avoid directly mixing it with alkaline substances such as plant ash and lime, otherwise nitrogen loss will be accelerated. Chlorine-containing varieties such as ammonium chloride should not be used on chlorine-sensitive crops such as tobacco, potatoes and sweet potatoes, so as not to affect product quality.

In home flower growing, ammonium nitrogen fertilizer, after being fully diluted, can promote the growth of branches and leaves and make the leaves dark green, so it is relatively suitable for foliage plants. However, flowers should be given less nitrogen fertilizer before they set buds; at this time, applying too much nitrogen fertilizer easily leads to only leaf growth without flowering, so it should be flexibly adjusted according to the plant's growth stage. In addition, applying ammonium nitrogen fertilizer in paddy fields usually has a good effect, and this is also a major application scenario for it in agricultural production.