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Equipment to Mix Chemical Additives with Anhydrous Ammonia during Application to Soil¹

Etridiazole (5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-l,2-4-triadozole) effectively reduces leaching and denitrification losses of ammoniacal N by inhibiting nitrification; however, it is not soluble or stable in anhydrous ammonia (NH₃). Many other potentially beneficial agricultural chemicals are not soluble in or compatible with NH₃. To overcome the need for a separate application of some nitrification inhibitors, trace elements, and plant growth regulators, a simple device was constructed to facilitate the simultaneous application of low volume solutions with NH₃. This device consists of an adjustable positive displacement pump operated off the tractor electrical system and a black iron injection pipe positioned between the N flow regulator and distributor (NH₃ manifold). The additive is carried from its reservoir to the pump and from the pump to the injection pipe in Tygon or plastic NH₃ discharge hose. In this arrangement, potentially corrosive additives bypass expensive valves and flow devices, and are mixed in the NH₃ stream just prior to injection into soil. Advantages include direct placement of the chemical additive with NH₃, reliability, adaptability to most existing field equipment, simple design, and ability to partially treat a field. This equipment was tested by adding nitrapyrin [2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine] and etridiazole (nitrification inhibitors) to the NH₃ stream and measuring the total recovery of materials and their distribution between several applcator knives. Recovery of the inhibitors was 96 to 100% with distribution between knives on the applicator ± 7.7%. Simultaneous application of these nitrification inhibitors with NH₃ applied to field soil cropped to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) demonstrated the effectiveness of the equipment in adding the nitrification inhibitors to NH₃.

Key Words: Nitrification inhibitors • Nitrapyrin • Minor elements • Plant growth regulators • Etridiazole • Wheat

² Associate professor and research associate, Botany and Plant Pathology Dep.; plant pathologist, USDA, SEA-AR; and professor, Agronomy Dep., Purdue Univ.

Received for publication September 22, 1980.