Serious Question for Ric

[Aproct]

Ric,

Let me start me introducing myself, I have recently filed and been accepted as an S-Corp and have filed with my state for my business license. I am studying to take the Fert test with the state and have been reading different articles about chemicals and so forth. In a recent article in Turf Magazine they have a 4 part article, this month discussing about Nitrogen. The article goes on about different things, how plants absorb N and how they can't absorb N. Anyway, they discuss Urea, and how it is the cheapest and most common source of N. Okay, fine. Then they go on and say how Urea should be applied to only dry foilage. If you apply Urea to wet foilage, you run the risk of "burning" . Okay, I am fine with these two statements. But then they go into saying that Urea is a great broadleaf killer when applied wet? Did I miss something here? I am assuiming that you can only apply this to areas that has no turf if you are going to use it as a weed killer? That's my first question.

Second question: The article goes on about how Urea is water soluable and that it is the most common product used? If I use this in H2O and Urea has CO(NH2)2, and they previously mentioned that Urea should not be used on wet foilage, then why would I use the water soluable solution to put Nitrogen into the soil to stimulate a greener turf and increase growth? I am assuming, that the H20 chemcial base mixed with the Urea would create a base product with just nitrogen that will not burn the foilage.

I am ready to get ripped on this one. But I have read this article twice and just need some guidance on this one.

Thanks!

[Ric]

Andy

First of all I only rip those with stupid questions.

The article goes on about different things, how plants absorb N and how they can't absorb N.

Nitrogen comes in many forms Urea is only one form. Urea must break down into Nitrite and then Nitrate to be used by any plant. I wish I knew how to post a picture here because the Nitrogen Cycle would help you understand it better.

they discuss Urea, and how it is the cheapest and most common source of N.

Yes Urea is real cheap and Russia has flooded the world market with it because of the large supply of natural gas they have.

they go on and say how Urea should be applied to only dry foliage.

Correction on this question I answered it for spray fert not granule. Next answer is for granules. I will leave This answer.
Since plants absorb only a limited amount of liquids, Wet foliage would not absorb as well as Dry. Foliar fertilization must be liquid to be absorbed. What runs off and falls to the ground may be absorbed by the roots and this is called Fertigation.

Then they go on and say how Urea should be applied to only dry foliage. If you apply Urea to wet foliage, you run the risk of "burning"

Yes if you apply a granular to wet turf you can burn it because it releases too high a Salt content at one place only. When you water granules in you are still spreading the fertilizer.

then they go into saying that Urea is a great broad leaf killer when applied wet?

Yes wet broad leaves will hold more fertilizer prill and therefore burn. However I would not try and use this idea. One thing that I should mention here is the "soft Leave Hard Leave thing" Hard leaves have a waxy covering that makes them not ab sort as easy as soft leaves.

I will answer your second question in the next post.

[Ric]

Andy

Question Number 2

Urea is is fact a organic chemical compound because it has Carbon. Any Compound that has Carbon is considered Organic. 90% of the chemical compounds that make up the world are organic. Just because a fertilizer has carbon in it does not make it a Organic fertilizer. Urea is a synthetic fertilizer because it it manufactured by man.

Now Between phone calls and retail customer it is taking me way too much time to type this.

Ok lets go back and look at why Urea Granules burn wet turf. "To much product on one spot." The water causes a reaction on the granule and the turf is burned. How when we Mix Urea into a tank of water the reaction takes place in the tank and you can sense this reaction because the tank water drops in temperature. Now just like Rain or irrigation the Urea is now at a lower percentage and will not burn.

Liquid Fertilizer can only be aborts so much by the leaves. Most turf grasses can only absorb about 0.10 lbs of Nitrogen per Thousands. The rest is washed into the ground where it is taken up by the roots or leaches away. The excess that is put down and absorbed by the roots is call Fertigation. Yes TrueGreen Fertigated more than they Foliar fertilize.

Now getting back to what form plants use fertilizer. Urea is aborted by the plant but it must be converted to Nitrite and then Nitrate in order to be used.

Now Urea is cheap and works fast But Ammonium Sulfate is faster and Ammonium Nitrate is almost instant, because it doesn't have to be broken down by Microbes. Ammonium Nitrite would be a good choice for Quick green up in cooler weather because it does not require Microbial Activity. However it has a high salt index and therefore can burn very easy.

Now plants like to eat Light and Frequent just like we do. Slow releases fertilizer is the answer to that problem. Straight Urea is not a fast release so Manufacture Coat it with many different things to make it release slower.

Now all 24-5-11 are not the same. Sure they all have to have a minim of 24% Nitrogen. However What is the source of that Nitrogen?

Ok Francis and Trout it is your turn.

[Aproct]

Ric,

Thank you! You have cleared up my confusing. The Urea in the water, I should have thought of that one better. That makes total sense. For some reason I am thinking a one to one mixture. I guess it was to early in the morning when I was reading the article. I should have thought about the mixture parts ratio and so forth.

[mariner]

Ok Francis and Trout it is your turn.[/QUOTE]

Retardo,
You do nothing but make me laugh. You might know what you are talking about but your attitude stinks. YOUR FIRED!

[Ric]

Retardo,
You do nothing but make me laugh. You might know what you are talking about but your attitude stinks. YOUR FIRED!

Francis

Thank you for the kind words. I sure you are Health and Wealth.

[Ric]

Straight Urea is not a fast release so Manufacture Coat it with many different things to make it release slower.

Mistake in the above paragraph Should read Urea is not a SLOW release. or, Urea is a fast release.