Ammonium sulphate is the preferred fertilizer for:
- Potato: Lowers soil pH to prevent potato scab disease and supplies sulfur.
- Paddy: Rice plants prefer the ammonium form of nitrogen under flooded (reduced) conditions to prevent denitrification losses.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Different crops have specific nutrient requirements and preferences for the chemical form of nitrogen they absorb.
Selecting the appropriate fertilizer carrier can improve both crop yield and quality. Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze why ammonium sulphate is highly recommended for potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivation: Dual Nutrient Supply: Ammonium sulphate (\( (\text{NH}_4)_2\text{SO}_4 \)) contains \( 6\% \) nitrogen and \( 24\% \) sulfur.
Potato is a sulfur-loving crop.
Sulfur is essential for the synthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine), which are crucial for protein and starch synthesis in tubers.
Applying sulfur improves tuber size, starch content, and overall quality. Soil Acidification Effect: Ammonium sulphate is a physiologically acid-forming fertilizer.
When applied to the soil, the nitrification of ammonium releases hydrogen (\( \text{H}^+ \)) ions, reducing the soil pH in the root zone.
Potato thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH \( 5 \text{ to } 5 \)).
Maintaining an acidic soil pH also helps suppress Streptomyces scabies, the soil-borne pathogen responsible for potato scab disease. Ammonium Preference: During early growth stages, potatoes can utilize the ammonium form of nitrogen effectively, which is held on the soil's exchange complex and is less susceptible to leaching than nitrate.
Therefore, ammonium sulphate is highly advisable for potato crops. Step 3: Final Answer:
Ammonium sulphate fertilizer is advisable for Potato.
