[Arid_gardener] Re: 21-0-0

[Dick Gross]

Something outa whack here, Lou.

Amonium Sulphate is indeed 21-0-0 and the Nitrogen content does indeed green-up the foliage but in my 70 years of gardening I have never heard it referred to as anything other than a fertilizer. The information about using 21-0-0 for citrus here came from the lips of the U of A Horticultural Agent, Terry Mikel at the U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. We have Alkaline soils and the sulfur content of Ammonium Sulfate, helps to neutralize some of the Alkalinity from the high salt content in our desert soil. Ammouium Nitrate is 33-0-0 is also effective without sulfer and but will burn the heck out of plants if used carelessly in excess.

It is my understanding that virtually every other element crucial to growth (except organic compounds), nitrogen, occurs in our soil in abundance but the alkalinity makes those nutrients inaccessable to the plants..
 
Ammonium sulfate is by far the most common fertilizer used in this area and I have never heard it referred to as anything else-but any plant food should green-up foliage, I would expect. You can purchase "Fertilizer Food" but I have never used it.

Someone have the kindness to correct me if my chemistry and facts are wrong or if I've been misinformed.

Ask the HD clerk guy where he got his PhD.

I repeat, Lou, on sound advise, I have not used anything except 21-0-0 on citrus in the Salt River Basin for thirty five years. It is also, I believe, the least expensive.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: loujo 
  To: Dick Gross 
  Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 2:39 PM
  Subject: 21-0-0


  A few week's ago, if I remember correctly you stated that the only thing you used for citrus fertilizer was Ammonia Sulfate or 21-0-0.
  I was in Home Depot this morning and spotted a pile of Ammonia sulfate.   The only thing that I could make out was that it was a greener, and not a fertilizer. I also asked the help and they had never heard of it being used as a fertilizer.
  Did I miss read something in previous e mails or is the use of 21-0-0  a big secret.
  Lou 85226
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