DEF for low-cost nitrogen fertilizer

[beenthere]

Just learned that DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) is just urea and water. Will likely give it a try next time I spray the yard and see how well it works mixed in with 30 gal of water. 

[doc henderson]

I guess you could just pee in the tank.  

[chevytaHOE5674]

Your DEF supplier must be cheap. Your buying 67.6% water when your buying DEF. Even way UP here in the wilderness other forms of fertilizer are much cheaper than buying DEF.

[beenthere]

What are those other forms of nitrogen that are cheaper? 

[Corley5]

Granular 46-0-0 at a local co-op should be way cheaper than DEF fluid.

[chevytaHOE5674]

Locally DEF is $12 per gallon. There's 1.36lb of N in 1 gallon. So that's $8.63 per lb of actual N if I'm thinking correctly.

Locally you can by a 33lb bag of 34-0-0 for ~$30. So there's 11.22lb of actual N in that bag. So once again if my math is correct that's $2.63 per pound of N.

[doc henderson]

you can take 55-gallon plastic barrels and get it by the skid steer bucket load.  been a while but very cheap.  they have potassium and phosphate also most places.  (the PO4 is getting harder to get due to overuse and run off pollution).

[beenthere]

Thanks for the info. 

[thecfarm]

I can buy 46-0-0 for about $25.

[Ianab]

 

 

Urea granules from the garden centre. Bulk cost is about NZ$900 per ton, but of course you pay a bit more for handy "lawn" sized packs. $10.82 (NZ) currently for this 750gram bag. 

Overuse of fertiliser is an issue and leads to water quality issues downstream. The local fertiliser companies are getting better with soil testing services and developing plans for farmers, using different schedules and products for different areas of a farm.