Manufacturing of CAN fertilizer
Calcium ammonium nitrate is designed to provide crops with a balanced supply of nitrogen and
calcium. CAN contains approximately 27% of the nitrogen that exists as nitrates or ammonium
compounds. The form containing nitrates provides agricultural plants with an immediate source of
nitrogen required by photosynthesis and growth. At the same time, the form containing ammonia
releases nitrogen slowly ensuring continuous nutrition during a longer period. Finally, adding a small
amount (6-8%) of calcium makes cell walls stronger in plants, offering disease resistance as well as
improving fruit quality.
Understand Calcium Ammonium Nitrate
Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) is widely used as a nitrogenous fertilizer in agriculture. It is not
like other nitrogen fertilizers because it has a unique composition and manufacturing method that
provides special benefits for optimal plant nutrition and soil health.
Chemical Composition
To produce calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate is blended with either calcium carbonate or
limestone. The average CAN contains about 27% nitrogen which is divided among nitrates and
ammoniums and roughly 20% calcium. This combination ensures that the nutrients are available to
plants immediately while improving the physical properties of the soil.
Comparision with Other Nitrogenous Fertilizers
Unlike urea or single ammonium-based fertilizers, CAN incorporates both fast-acting nitrate nitrogen
and longer-lasting ammonium nitrogen into its structure. Such a dual source of nitrogen promotes
balanced growth throughout plant development. Also, The presence of calcium marks a significant
difference between this nitrogenous fertilizer and others commonly used. It stabilizes soil structure,
improves water permeation, and decreases soil salinity which cannot be done by those products
containing only nitrogen.
Advantages of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate in Agriculture
Calcium ammonium nitrate is a versatile fertilizer that has numerous benefits to agricultural practices.
It promotes both immediate and sustained growth improvement, as well as enhances soil health due to
its dual nutrient content.
Improvement of Crop Yield
It contains fast-acting nitrate nitrogen necessary for quick plant growth, photosynthesis, and protein
synthesis. The nitrogen is readily available and can be quickly taken up by plants leading to fast leaf
development and greening. This is in contrast with the slower release rate of ammonium nitrogen
which provides nutrients continuously over the long term to sustain plant growth.
Benefits of Different Types of Crops
Leafy Vegetables: Examples are lettuce and spinach. For such crops, calcium ammonium nitrate
results in vigorous leaf development and richer coloration that is desirable for market attractiveness,
and nutritional value.
Fruiting Plants: In the case of tomato or pepper plants it ensures fruit set improves fruit size and
quality by providing essential nutrients required for fruit development.
Root Crops: Such crops like carrots and potatoes develop strong roots because they grow well under
the application of calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizers thereby increasing yield and also improving
storage qualities.
Soil Health Improvement
Role of Calcium in Altering Soil Properties: Calcium plays a crucial role in enhancing soil structure.
Through soil particle aggregation this element helps to improve aeration as well as drainage important
for sound root development. This property modification particularly applies to clay soils which often
become compacted.
Impact on Soil pH and Nutrient Availability: Soil pH: Calcium contained in calcium ammonium
nitrate can neutralize acids found in acidic soils hence gradually raising the pH towards neutrality
levels. Such alteration enables more nutrients other than those held tightly by low PH levels to be
made available within the ground.
Nutrient Availability: Better soil structure combined with pH balance enhances the soil’s ability to
maintain important nutrients and makes plants take them in easily. Consequently, applying the
fertilizer more efficiently and reducing the need for extra soil amendments.
Manufacturing Process
Production Overview:
Calcium ammonium nitrate results from a chemical reaction where nitric acid is neutralized through
ammonia forming ammonium nitrate which is then mixed with finely ground calcium carbonate to get
a granulated form of CAN.
The detailed description of the production process for Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) fertilizer,
including the chemical reactions is given as follows
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃) + Nitric Acid (HNO₃) → Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂)
Ammonia (NH₃) + Nitric Acid (HNO₃) → Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃)
Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂) + Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃) → Calcium
Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
Concentration and Granulation → Cooling and Condi oning → Packaging →
CAN Fertilizer
Step-by-Step Manufacturing Process of CAN Fertilizer
1. Ammonia Oxidation to Produce Nitric Acid
Reaction: Ammonia (NH₃) is oxidized with air (O₂) to form nitric oxide (NO), which is
further oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). This nitrogen dioxide is absorbed in water to form
nitric acid (HNO₃).
4 NH3 + 5 O2 → 4 NO + 6 H2O
2 NO + O2 → 2 NO2
3 NO2 + H2O → 2 HNO3 + NO
2. Neutralization Reaction to Produce Calcium Nitrate
Reaction: Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) reacts with nitric acid (HNO₃) to produce calcium
nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water (H₂O).
CaCO3+2 HNO3 → Ca(NO3)2+CO2+H2O
Explanation: This step involves the neutralization of nitric acid with calcium carbonate, resulting in
the formation of calcium nitrate, which is a crucial component of CAN fertilizer.
3. Ammonium Nitrate Production
Reaction: Ammonia (NH₃) reacts with nitric acid (HNO₃) to produce ammonium nitrate
(NH₄NO₃).
NH3+HNO3 → NH4NO3
Explanation: Ammonium nitrate is produced by reacting ammonia with nitric acid in an exothermic
reaction, which releases heat.
4. Mixing of Calcium Nitrate and Ammonium Nitrate
Process: Calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂) and ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) are mixed in the
desired ratio to produce Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN).
Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂) + Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃) → Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
Explanation: The mixture of calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate forms a stable and
effective fertilizer with balanced nitrogen content from both ammonium and nitrate forms.
5. Evaporation and Concentration
Process: The mixture is concentrated by evaporating excess water to achieve the desired
concentration of CAN solution.
Explanation: Evaporation ensures that the mixture reaches the appropriate concentration for
further processing.
6. Granulation
Process: The concentrated CAN solution is granulated to form solid granules.
Explanation: Granulation involves spraying the concentrated solution into a granulator where
it forms uniform, solid granules. This process ensures that the fertilizer is easy to handle,
store, and apply.
7. Cooling and Screening
Process: The granules are cooled and screened to obtain the desired size.
Explanation: Cooling helps in solidifying the granules, while screening ensures uniform
granule size. Oversized and undersized granules are recycled back into the process.
8. Coating and Conditioning
Process: The granules may be coated with an anti-caking agent to prevent them from
clumping together.
Explanation: Coating improves the storage and handling properties of the fertilizer.
9. Packaging
Process: The final CAN granules are packaged into bags for distribution.
Explanation: Packaging protects the fertilizer from moisture and contamination, ensuring its
quality during storage and transport.
