Safe storage offertilizers
The safe storage of fertilizers
Fertilizers, as a crucial input in agricultural production, require safe storage and preservation. Proper storage methods can not only ensure the quality and effectiveness of fertilizers but also are essential for the safety and sustainable development of agricultural production.
Environmental requirements for the safe storage of fertilizers
Dry Environment
The Importance of Moisture - proofing
Some fertilizers are hygroscopic. When fertilizers get damp, caking will occur. This not only affects the even spreading during fertilization but also may lead to nutrient loss.
Storage Measures
Fertilizers should be stored in a dry warehouse. A moisture - proof pad can be laid on the ground or pallets can be used to raise the fertilizers, avoiding direct contact between the fertilizers and the ground. The roof and walls of the warehouse should be well waterproofed to prevent rainwater from seeping in.
Cool and well-ventilated
The Influence of Temperature and Ventilation
High temperatures can accelerate the chemical reactions of fertilizers, resulting in the volatilization or deterioration of nutrients. Good ventilation can reduce the humidity and the concentration of harmful gases in the warehouse, minimizing the potential safety hazards caused by the accumulation of gases volatilized from fertilizers.
Storage Measures
The warehouse should be located in a cool place, away from direct sunlight. At the same time, install ventilation equipment such as exhaust fans and conduct regular ventilation to keep the air circulating.
The differences in storage between barreled fertilizers and bagged fertilizers
Barreled Fertilizers
Sealing Advantages and Inspections
Barreled fertilizers generally feature good sealing performance, which can effectively prevent fertilizers from absorbing moisture and volatilizing. However, before storage, it is necessary to carefully inspect whether the barrel lids are tightly sealed and check for any damage, cracks, or other issues to ensure the integrity of the barrel body and prevent leakage.
Storage Measures
Barreled fertilizers are relatively large in volume and heavy in weight. When storing, a flat and solid ground should be selected to prevent tipping. If stacking is required, attention should be paid to the stacking height to avoid the rupture of the bottom - layer barrels due to excessive pressure. Meanwhile, sufficient space should be reserved for easy handling and inspection.
Bagged Fertilizers
Moisture-proof and Anti-damage
The moisture-proof property of bagged fertilizers is inferior to that of barreled fertilizers. When storing, it is essential to ensure a dry environment. When stacking, use pallets or cushion plates to raise the fertilizers to avoid direct contact with the ground. At the same time, prevent sharp objects from cutting the packaging. Once damage is found, repair or replace it in a timely manner to prevent the fertilizer from dispersing and getting damp.
Storage Measures
Bagged fertilizers should be stacked neatly and in a standardized manner, arranged in a specific way for easy counting and access. The stacking height should be reasonable to prevent the bottom - layer bags from bursting due to excessive pressure. Different types and specifications of fertilizers should be stored in separate areas to avoid confusion. The distance between stacks should be no less than 50 centimeters to facilitate ventilation and inspection. Sufficiently wide passages should be set up in the warehouse to facilitate the passage of handling vehicles and avoid damage to fertilizer bags during handling.
Specific Measures and Precautions for Fertilizer Storage
The Site Selection and Construction of the Warehouse
Site - selection Principles
The fertilizer warehouse should be built in areas with high terrain and good drainage, far away from residential areas, water sources, and fire sources to prevent environmental and residential hazards caused by fertilizer leakage. Meanwhile, transportation convenience should be taken into account to facilitate the transportation and loading/unloading of fertilizers.
Warehouse Construction
The interior ground of the warehouse should be hardened and well - moisture - proofed. The height should be appropriate for ventilation and cargo stacking. The roof should have excellent heat - insulation and waterproof properties.
Regular inspection and maintenance
Inspection Frequency
Regularly inspect the stored fertilizers. Generally, conduct inspections at least once a month. Under adverse weather conditions such as high temperature and high humidity, the number of inspections should be increased.
Inspection Content
Check whether the packaging of fertilizers is intact and whether there are phenomena such as caking, mildew, and volatilization. For fertilizers with problems, corresponding treatment measures should be taken in a timely manner. For example, crush the caked fertilizers and air - dry the damp fertilizers.
