Effectiveness of ammonium nitrate and CAS-32 fertilizer in cultivation of corn

V.N. Bagrintseva, I.N. Ivashenenko

---

Abstract: Ammonium nitrate is a highly effective nitrogen fertilizer that can be used to feed the roots of corn. However, the use of this fertilizer is limited due to its high price. An alternative to ammonium nitrate could be the fertilizer KAS-32, which is a urea-ammonia mixture. the cost of which is lower and the application costs are also lower.
Aim. The research aims to determine the most efficient application of ammonium nitrate and CAS-32 fertilizer for root-zone fertilization of corn plants. The experimental variants includes: 1) control (no fertilizers); 2) ammonium nitrate (Naa) at 100 kg/ha in physical weight applied during the 6-leaf stage + 8-leaf stage; 3) ammonium nitrate (Naa) at 100 kg/ha during the 6-leaf stage + CAS-32 (107 kg/ha) during the 8-leaf stage; 4) CAS-32 (107 kg/ha) applied during both the 6-leaf and 8-leaf stages. The effectiveness of nitrogen fertilization was studied on the corn hybrid Mashuk 390 MV (FAO 390). The study was conducted in the Stavropol Krai from 2022 to 2024.
Results. After double fertilization with ammonium nitrate, the plant height during the flowering phase increased by an average of 10 cm over the 2022–2024 period. When ammonium nitrate and CAS-32 are combined, plants grow 12 cm taller. Fertilization with CAS-32 alone resulted in an increase in plant height of 9 cm. Root-zone fertilization with ammonium nitrate at a rate of 100 kg/ha during the 6-leaf and 8-leaf stages resulted in an average grain yield increase of 0.71 t/ha (11.8%) over three years. The combination of ammonium nitrate applied at the 6-leaf stage and CAS-32 at the 8-leaf stage increased grain yield by an average of 0.81 t/ha, or 13.4%. Double fertilization with liquid nitrogen fertilizer CAS-32 at the 6- and 8-leaf stages increases grain yield by an average of 0.71 t/ha (11.8%). The lowest costs (an average of 4,535.09 rubles/ha for 2022–2024) were observed when using liquid CAS-32 fertilizer at a rate of 107 kg/ha, while the highest costs (4973.96 rubles/ha) are associated with the application of ammonium nitrate. The highest return on investment (4754.52 rubles/ha) was achieved with ammonium nitrate applied during the 6-leaf stage and CAS-32 during the 8-leaf stage, yielding 1.04 rubles for every ruble spent.
Conclusions. Due to its high efficiency and low cost, it is recommended to fertilize corn plants during the 6-leaf stage with ammonium nitrate (Naa100 kg/ha), followed by a second application of KAS-32 fertilizer during the 8-leaf stage with 107 kg/ha, or alternatively, KAS-32 can be used as the sole fertilizer for both applications.

Keywords: corn, fertilizers, ammonium nitrate, CAS-32, grain yield, costs, profitability

For citation. Bagrintseva V.N., Ivashenenko I.N. Effectiveness of ammonium nitrate and CAS-32 fertilizer in cultivation of corn. News of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2025. Vol. 27. No. 5. Pp. 191–199. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2025-27-5-191-199

References

1. Demin E.A., Barabanshchikova L.N. Removal of nutrient elements by corn grown for green forage using grain technology in the forest-steppe zone of the Trans-Urals. Bulletin of
   Michurinsk State Agrarian University. 2020. No. 2(61). Pp. 90–94. EDN: GUNFSY. (In Russian)
2. Vasin V.G., Koshelev I.K. Yield and feed values of corn hybrids with the application of mineral fertilizers and growth stimulants. Bulletin of the Ulyanovsk State Agricultural Academy. 2018. No. 2(42). Pp. 45–53. DOI: 10.18286/1816-4501-2018-2-45-53. (In Russian)
3. Kurkina G.N. Efficiency of doses, methods, and timing of application of nitrogen fertilizers for corn. Melioratsiya [Melioration]. 2020. No. 1. Pp. 61–70. EDN: KZJRCI. (In Russian)
4. Bagrintseva V.N., Nikitin S.N., Cherkasova M.A. et al. Efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer application in growing various corn hybrids in Stavropol Krai. Agrokhimiya [Agrochemistry]. No. 10. Pp. 34–39. DOI: 10.1134/S0002188118100046. (In Russian)
5. Esaulko A.N., Garibdzhanyan G.A., Golosnoy E.V. et al. Efficiency of liquid and solid nitrogen mineral fertilizers application in early spring top dressing of winter wheat crops. Zemledelie. 2020. No. 3. Pp. 38–40. DOI: 10.24411/0044-3913-2020-10310. (In Russian)
6. Abramov N.V., Semizorov S.A., Gunger M.V. Efficiency of pre-sowing application of urea-ammonia mixture in the Northern Trans-Urals. Zemledelie. 2023. No. 4. Pp. 18–22. DOI:
   10.24412/0044-3913-2023-4-18-22. (In Russian)
7. Lazarev V.I., Lazareva R.I., Ivanova E.V., Pirozhenko V.V. Efficiency of using ureaammonia fertilizer (UAS-32) on spring wheat in the Kursk region. Plodorodie. 2019. No. 4. Pp. 8–11. DOI: 10.25680/S19948603.2019.109.03. (In Russian)
8. Milyutkin V.A., Sysoev V.N., Makushin A.N., Dluzhevsky N.G. Comprehensive support of innovative technologies for the production of agricultural crops using liquid nitrogen fertilizers UAN. Bulletin of IrGSKhA. 2022. No. 108. Pp. 19–31. DOI: 10.51215/1999-3765-2022-108-19-31. (In Russian)
9. Bagrintseva V.N., Ivashenenko I.N. Influence of weather conditions in the Stavropol Territory on the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer doses on corn. Agrokhimiya [Agrochemistry]. No. 2. Pp. 85–92. DOI: 10.31857/S0002188120020039. (In Russian)
10. Milyutkin V.A., Sysoev V.N., Makushin A.N. et al. Advantage of liquid mineral fertilizers based on KAS-32 compared to solid ones – ammonium nitrate – on sunflower and corn. Niva Povolzhya. 2020. No. 3. Pp. 73–79. DOI: 10.36461/NP.2020.56.3.018. (In Russian)
11. Bagrintseva V.N., Ivashenenko I.N., Dridiger V.V. et al. Efficiency of applying ammonium nitrate and UAN-32 to corn in the zone of sufficient moisture of Stavropol Krai. Zemledelie. 2024. No. 3. Pp. 22–25. DOI: 10.24412/0044-3913-2024-3-1-48. (In Russian)

Information about the authors

Valentina N. Bagrintseva, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Chief Researcher of the Agricultural Engineering Laboratory, All-Russian Research Institute of Corn;
14o Yermolova street, Pyatigorsk, 357528, Russia;
maize-tehno@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7116-1974
Ivan N. Ivashenenko, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Agricultural Engineering, All-Russian Research Institute of Corn;
14o Yermolova street, Pyatigorsk, 357528, Russia;
ivan-grass@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2316-1769, SPIN-code: 8961-4440