fertilizer

bweb · Apr 7, 2021

I have several bags of 12-12-12 fertilizer that are 5-6 years old. Will fertilizer go bad? It's in plastic bags and is feels pretty lumpy. Don't want to spread it if it's going to kill the grass. Thanks

john in la · Apr 7, 2021

Granular fertilizer will keep for years.
The only exception is some fertilizer that has a weed or insect killer mixed in.
The fertilizer will still be good but the weed insect killer may be past its prime.

rustred · Apr 7, 2021

its normal for it to get hard and lumpy once sitting. just smash it up and use it. not going to hurt the grass unless u leave lumps of it.

Charlie M · Apr 7, 2021

When I worked in a feed mill back in the early 70's we sold bagged fertilizer. Stuff that had set for a couple of years would get so hard even a bobcat wouldn't break it up. I don't see that with bagged fertilizer today. Maybe because of the different packaging.

rustred · Apr 7, 2021

wasnt it bagged in paper bags then? just dont remember. i used to get bagged stuff in the 90's but have not seen bagged stuff for years for the field.

Charlie M · Apr 7, 2021

Yes it was a paper bag so probably moisture got through it eventually. I'm usually buying fertilizer for 3-4 acres so I still use bagged fertilizer and its a plastic bag these days. Bagged fertilizer costs an arm and a leg but if you only need small amounts that's the only good way to do it around here.

rustred · Apr 7, 2021

yes, that would explain it. now with these grain prices up i hate to see fertilizer price.

Michael Soldan · Apr 7, 2021

I've used fertilizer that had hardened and gone lumpy. Nothing wrong with it , I just took a hammer to it and dumped it in my spreader. The spreader broke up the rest and it went on hay fields. I'm with you on this one.

paul · Apr 7, 2021

Its possible the N will flush away. That would be the first 12. So it is possible it isnt as strong in N.

It will not be harmful to your crops, as in, it wont go bad at all.

Since fertilizer is salty, if you throw the hard big chunk lumps out, its possible they will melt and then over salt a spot and could speckle your grass.

If you crush up the lumps into small bits, all will be fine. It will be good fertilizer still.

Paul

showcrop · Apr 7, 2021

(quoted from post at 11:52:03 04/07/21) Its possible the N will flush away. That would be the first 12. So it is possible it isnt as strong in N.

It will not be harmful to your crops, as in, it wont go bad at all.

Since fertilizer is salty, if you throw the hard big chunk lumps out, its possible they will melt and then over salt a spot and could speckle your grass.

If you crush up the lumps into small bits, all will be fine. It will be good fertilizer still.

Paul

Nitrogen in the form of solid urea is volatile, however vaporization is totally dependent on the exposure to the air which is minimal in bags.

Texasmark1 · Apr 7, 2021

Pick it up and drop it on the ground a few times. What that didn't break up the stirrer in the broadcast spreader will take care of....oh and when you open the bag, turn your head the other way......fumes.

fertilizer

bweb

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john in la

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rustred

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Charlie M

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rustred

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Charlie M

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rustred

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Michael Soldan

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paul

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showcrop

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Texasmark1

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