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*Urea + temperatures above 85⁰ may cause ammonization of spray solution*

This is a problem for anyone using urea-based fertilizers and is completely independent of Holganix use.

Symptoms of Ammonization

• High pH levels can bleach grass, leaving lawns a temporary yellowish or white color that can last until the grass pushes it out. 

• Mixed fertilizer product smells of ammonia. 

• pH level of mixed product is higher than 8. 

• Users of urea must take care when temperatures exceed 85⁰.

Recent observations

Lawn care applicators must understand that when using liquid fertilizer, a strong ammonia smell is a sign that something is not right and product should not be applied until the cause of the odor is resolved.

Holganix has noticed that some users that mix urea with Holganix are not using the full batch within a 12-hour period. When temperatures are above 85⁰, the urea can start to ammoniate causing a rise in pH to unacceptable levels and may bleach a lawn. It is best to mix and use urea daily.

Best Practices

• Mix your urea and use it daily; no overnight storage of urea mixture. 

• If you do store the urea mixture overnight, before spraying, smell it from 12 feet away from the opening. 

• If you get a strong ammonia smell, it is best to not spray.

• This is a characteristic of urea and is independent of Holganix.

• For the hot summer months, reduce or completely eliminate your urea usage to avoid potential problems.

• We can help rectify the situation if you give Holganix or your local distributor a call for assistance. There are products that may restore your mixed batch pH balance.

Urea Has The Potential To Ammoniate

Urea have the potential in hot weather to ammoniate, which causes high pH in the spray mixture and could damage the grass.

Mixing the spray tanks in the morning and spraying them out completely every day should eliminate this from occurring. Leaving the tank lids off overnight and recirculating the spray hose back into the tank in the morning are also good practices. However, if product is left in the tank overnight and the spray technician smells an ammonia smell, this should be addressed.

The pH should be tested and if it is above 8, action needs to be taken. Adding a pH reducer such as citric acid can rectify the problem.

If the tank needs to be refilled or topped off, correct the high pH batch before filling up the tank.

Another solution is to switch from the quick release urea to methylene urea or other forms of slow release nitrogen fertilizer.

We strongly recommend Holganix Blue Sky, which contains 60% slow release (methylene urea and triazone), 40% quick release (urea) and biological food sources. It provides the benefits of a slow release fertilizer with a fast release fertilizer and boosts the soil food web by providing food sources for the soil ecosystem's living beneficial microorganisms. For additional information on Holganix Blue Sky, check out our blog here.