Being a pressurized liquid, special handling and application equipment are needed. Additionally, extensive safety precautions need to be followed to avoid injury. Anhydrous ammonia has a great affinity for water and can injure the mucous linings of the nose, throat, and lungs if inhaled. The following is a summary of some considerations for anhydrous ammonia use and its effects on the soil. Soil retention Anhydrous ammonia is applied in oval or teardrop-shaped bands beneath the soil surface.
Diffusion is more upward than down with the width of the band increasing as the rate increases.
Most bands are 2 to 5 inches in diameter depending upon application rate, soil type, and soil moisture. Anhydrous ammonia reacts quickly with soil moisture to form ammonium cations which are held tightly to soil particles and are subject to little loss until converted to the nitrate form of N. Loss of ammonia as a gas can be significant if proper application techniques are not followed or soil conditions are too dry or wet. The latter condition is a common problem on Fond du Lac County soils where pre-plant applications are made in the early spring. Too much soil moisture prevents the soil from sealing behind the applicator knives. Research shows that an application depth of at least six inches is needed to inhibit loss.