Calcium Ammonium Nitrate vs. Ammonium Nitrate: Which Fertilizer Wins for Yield, Safety & Soil Health?
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) is Ammonium Nitrate coated with calcium carbonate; both are nitrogen fertilizers, but CAN is engineered to be safer and less acidic.
Farmers often grab the bag labeled “nitrate” without noticing the extra calcium. The confusion starts at the store: similar names, similar blue granules, yet one can detonate and the other can’t. It’s a $200-per-ton decision that shapes yields, insurance premiums, and soil pH.
Key Differences
Ammonium Nitrate packs 34% N but is explosive and acidifies soil. CAN delivers 27% N, non-explosive thanks to 20% calcium carbonate, and raises pH slightly. CAN also releases nitrogen slower, cutting leaching by 30%.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Ammonium Nitrate only if local law allows and you need rapid, high-N top-ups. Pick Calcium Ammonium Nitrate for safer handling, sustained feeding, and long-term soil health, especially in high-rainfall or pH-sensitive regions.
Can CAN explode like Ammonium Nitrate?
No. The calcium carbonate coating absorbs heat and prevents the oxidation chain reaction that makes Ammonium Nitrate explosive.
Does CAN cost more per unit of nitrogen?
Yes, about 15–20% more upfront, but lower losses and liming value often make it cheaper per kilogram of crop produced.