How important is uniform application of NH3?
It has been known for years that NH3 pressure reducing systems have variances of 3 to 4 times shank to shank. This was not a big deal when NH3 was $100 per ton. This is a big problem at $500 per ton and climbing. However if yield is considered it was still a problem at the old price. The NH4 molecule does not move horizontally. So each corn row is really growing from one placed band of NH3. The same is true for wheat. The most accurate pressure reducing NH3 system has only one shank. Ridge till farmers that apply NH3 in alignment or index with the corn rows will tell you that NH3 does not move horizontally. Pinch rows or short corn ear rows are often observed at harvest due to poor nitrogen application uniformity. The variance that is set up by the pressure reducing NH3 system is due to gas state and liquid state NH3 flowing through the system. You know this is true because the lines freeze indicating gas state flow. Slopes and poor knife condition also makes the problem even worse. Th
