Calcium Ammonium Nitrate CAN

Calcium ammonium nitrate provides balanced nitrogen and calcium for crop growth.

Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) is a widely used inorganic fertilizer known for supplying both nitrogen and calcium to plants. It is a granular substance that is safer to handle and less acidifying to soil than pure ammonium nitrate. 

Key Properties and Composition
CAN is typically a blend of ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate (limestone or dolomite), appearing as a white to gray granular or crystalline solid. Its key properties include: 
Nutrient Content: Fertilizer-grade CAN contains approximately 21-27% nitrogen and about 8% calcium.
Nitrogen Forms: It provides nitrogen in both immediately available nitrate (NO₃⁻) and longer-lasting ammonium (NH₄⁺) forms, ensuring a steady supply of nutrients to plants throughout their growth cycle.
Solubility: It is a water-soluble, hygroscopic material that absorbs moisture from the air.
pH Effect: CAN has a near-neutral effect on soil pH, making it suitable for all soil types, especially acidic soils, as it doesn’t increase acidity further over time.
Safety: The addition of calcium carbonate makes CAN significantly less explosive than pure ammonium nitrate, improving its safety profile during storage and transport. 

Primary Uses
The main application for CAN is in agriculture, but it also has other uses: 
Agriculture (Fertilizer): It is primarily used as a highly effective, versatile fertilizer for a wide range of crops, including cereals, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. It is particularly effective as a top-dressing fertilizer.
Blossom-End Rot Prevention: The calcium content helps prevent calcium deficiency disorders in crops like tomatoes and peppers, such as blossom-end rot.
Soil Health Improvement: The calcium improves soil structure and enhances the uptake of other essential nutrients like potassium and magnesium.
Industrial Applications: It can be used in some instant cold packs due to its endothermic dissolution in water and has been used as a component in improvised explosives (after reprocessing to extract pure ammonium nitrate).