Ammonium Sulfate For Grass Advantages and Disadvantages

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This water-soluble fertilizer comes with 24% sulfur and 21% nitrogen by weight. You can feed your lawn with this fertilizer as a top dressing of sulfur and nitrogen using a broadcaster or drop-type spreader.

Ammonium sulfate is very useful, especially in those areas where soil pH is high. The sulfur constituent of ammonium sulfate lowers the soil pH level.

Watering of the treated area is needed as like with other fertilizers applications.

It is best option to use ammonium sulfate when your lawn needs a high dose of nitrogen for example in the case of Bermuda grass where this grass type wants high nitrogen during late summer or late spring for growth-boosting. Its application is not recommended in late fall.

According to Texas A & M University Extension Service:

  • There is usually enough nitrogen for adequate growth through several mowing.
  • First apply a complete fertilizer
  • Then ammonium sulfate can be used with intervals of 45 to 60 days.
  • The University extension service also recommends use of slow release fertilizer in mid of the summer.
  • Avoid application of ammonium sulfate in the fall to curtail the chances of development of different lawn diseases as well as winter kill.

Ammonium sulfate is a quick way of feeding your lawn with sulfur and nitrogen. This fertilizer supports your lawn to achieve a lush green look in quick frame of time especially helpful in cold soils. It is inexpensive when compared to other fertilizers formula.

This fertilizer comes with ability to burn your lawn if it is applied in excessive amount. So according to Clemson University Extension Service when you use this fertilizer without soil testing the following rates are recommended;

  • For high maintenance lawn it is recommended to apply 1lb. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. feet
  • While for low maintenance lawn the rate is ½ lb. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. feet

Note*: 5 lb. of ammonium sulfate provides your lawn with 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 sq. feet. While 2.5 pounds of it ammonium sulfate provides your lawn with ½ pound of nitrogen per 1000 sq. feet.

Benefits of Ammonium Sulfate For Grass

Ammonium sulfate comes with longer storage life when compared to extreme explosive nature of ammonium nitrate. This formula comes with 24% sulfur; an important nutrient your lawn plants need for healthy growth.

It prices are stable; and wouldn’t fluctuate with prices increase of natural gas, as this product is the byproduct of other industrial processes. Ammonium sulfate prices are lower than organic fertilizer. It is also cheaper than slow release fertilizer products.

You can easily mix it with other nitrogen products for example urea, so you can easily make a stable and dry lawn fertilizer.

It reduces soil pH levels in alkaline gardens.

You can easily store this product; it stays stable in even in high humidity and doesn’t melt like ammonium nitrate.

It is safe and not inflammable.

Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer Advantages and Disadvantages

Side Effects of Ammonium Sulfate For Grass

Ammonium sulfate main disadvantage being as lawn fertilizer is its ability to increase acidity of soil to very high level. According to Ohio State University Extension Agronomist Jay W. Johnson “ the acidic environment created by ammonium sulfate is more severe and it needs two to three times more lime for its neutralization when compared to acidity formed by other common N (nitrogen) carriers.

Lawn soil with excessive acidity curtails the activity of important and useful microorganism in the soil. These microorganisms serve the important function of breaking down organic matter and so creating nitrogen naturally.

Too much application of this fertilizer can result in unwanted amount of growth. There is also more chances of grass burning when compare it with slow release fertilizer types.

It is very important to check your lawn pH regularly if you use ammonium sulfate as lawn fertilizer.

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