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Precautions on the Use of Anhydrous Ammonia Applicators in Research Plots¹

Use of anhydrous NH₃ presents certain difficulties not encountered in research involving solid fertilizers. Little information is available concerning the problem of obtaining uniformity of distribution of anhydrous NH₃ among injection blades of applicators used in field-research studies. The influence of orifice size, and flow-equalizer manifold sleeves on distribution of different NH₃ flows from a pressure-regulator device (John Blue Nitrolator) by a rafial manifold was investigated. The work was done with four and seven-blade applicators with blade spacings of 76 and 30.5 an, respectively, by collecting released NH₃ in water. Variability in distribution was affected by choice of manifold outlet, orifice size, and NH₃-flow rates. Particularly high variability was generally encountered with excessively low, <0.35 kg/ cm², and excessively high, >3.5 kg/cm², manifold pressures. Optimal performance for commonly used fertilizer rates was obtained with 0.635 and 0.119-cm orifices for the four and seven-blade units, respectively. Uniform spacing of manifold outlets around a radial manifold was efficacious. Some problems commonly encountered when using anhydrous NH₃ in experimental work are described and discussed. Researchers using anhydrous NH₃ should calibrate applicators for both total quantity of NH₃ applied per unit area and uniformity of distribution among injection units.

Key Words: Nitrogen fertilizer • Fertilizer experiments • Small grains • Row crops • Calibration of anhydrous ammonia applicators

² Professor of soils.

Received for publication April 30, 1979.