Further I'm surprised you can buy it. That's the explosive stuff.

"...ammonium nitrate can be used in fertilizer mixes where the nitrate portion of the mix constitutes a minor part of the total nitrogen in the mix and the soil pH is below 5.3.
Ammonium nitrate can also be used for very light (20 pounds per acre or less) applications of nitrogen where a small amount of nitrogen is needed. On soils where the pH is on the high end of the range for blueberries (above 5.0), use more acid forming fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate."

This is from a UGA Extension publication by Krewer and NeSmith (Blueberry Fertilization in Soil).

You can't even buy urea in this state (SC) without the agricultural exemption.

That's a good link. It looks like ammonium sulfate should be limited to no more than one gram per liter. I'll need to convert that to teaspoons per gallon when I get my scale working. I'll cut that rate in half and fertilize more frequently when pushing growth.

The main reason I use ammonium sulfate over other fertilizers is it's highly acidifying.

For micros a small amount of a product like Axilo Mix 5 can be added and that takes care of the micros.

You won't get agreement from me regarding your assessment of N-P-K, trace elements or plant needs. My focus is geared more toward soil fertility and tilth as opposed to feeding plants directly. Feed the soil, and the plants will be fed. Potted plants are a different story and I'm less excited about them as a result.

This may be a first but we agree. One of my favorite sayings is feed the soil and ignore the plant. I started here with snow white fine sand we call sugar sand, loks just like the stuff in an hourglass.......I apply a dozen or so utility truck loads of wood chips per year, 10" of it a year to my plants and now have dark healthy soil.

The problem is I don't have just a handful of plants on a postage stamp lot...I have so many fruiting plants I have to be realistic. I could spend $100 a year for 6 51# bags of ammonium sulfate or I could spend $10,000 for the same kick from a fully organic fertilizer. The AS gives the plants a nice boost for the growth and production I want with no negative aspects.

I only grow in ground.

Not only that but ammonium sulfate can be added directly to food as an ingredient.

Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Opinion: Ammonium sulfate
The GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Database allows access to opinions and conclusions from 115 SCOGS reports published between 1972-1980 on the safety of over 370 Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) food substances. The GRAS ingredient reviews were conducted by the Select Committee in response to a 1969 White House directive by President Richard M. Nixon.

Ammonium sulfate
SCOGS-Report Number: 34*
Type Of Conclusion: 1
ID Code: 7783-20-2
Year: 1974
21 CFR Section: 184.1143
SCOGS Opinion:
Ammonia and the ammonium ion are integral components of normal metabolic processes and play an essential role in the physiology of man. Although there have been no significant feeding studies specifically designed to ascertain the safety threshold of ammonium compounds as food ingredients, numerous metabolic studies have been reported in the scientific literature. Extrapolation of these findings to the concentrations of ammonium compounds normally present in foods does not suggest that there would be untoward effects at such levels. In the light of the foregoing, the Select Committee concludes that: There is no evidence in the available information on ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide, mono and dibasic ammonium phosphate, and ammonium sulfate that demonstrates, or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect, a hazard to the public when they are used at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in future.

To others that might be on the fence, I suggest reading the storage directions, potential health effects and other cautions from the MSDS.

If the AS caused harm I think we would have heard about it by now:) I'm sure you have eaten food grown with it your entire life as we all have..

Read the MSDS on Phosphoric acid, that one is ten times worse yet people drink it every day directly in soda:)

Or the MSDS on citric acid, deadly stuff and organic.

Wait read this one!!!!

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Hazardous in case of skin
contact (corrosive, permeator), of eye contact (corrosive). Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue damage particularly on
mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin contact may produce burns. Inhalation of the spray mist may
produce severe irritation of respiratory tract, characterized by coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. Inflammation of the
eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or,
occasionally, blistering.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available.
MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. TERATOGENIC
EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance may be toxic to kidneys, mucous
membranes, skin, teeth. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated
p. 2
or prolonged contact with spray mist may produce chronic eye irritation and severe skin irritation. Repeated or prolonged
exposure to spray mist may produce respiratory tract irritation leading to frequent attacks of bronchial infection.

What is it? Vinegar:)

Again though, nice try.

You are buying and storing 51lb bags of ammonium sulfate and recommending that others do the same. You may be storing more than one bag at a time and are either unaware of the MSDS for the chemical or choose to ignore it. You at least make light of it. Florida and some other states regulate AS (it says so in the MSDS). Folks might want to dig a little deeper before they jump into this blindly.

Again, I'm not trying to talk anybody into or out of anything, just trying to bring another point of view and some balance to these heavy-handed and one-sided discussions.

Florida regulates AS? That is news to me....do you have a link proving that? I see no mention of Florida in the MSDS. Sure you are not confusing ammonium sulfate with ammonium nitrate?

Lets compare Ammonium sulfate to Table salt.AS first:

Health Rating: 2 - Moderate
Flammability Rating: 0 - None
Reactivity Rating: 1 - Slight
Contact Rating: 1 - Slight
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES; LAB COAT
Storage Color Code: Orange (General Storage)

Table SALT

Health Rating: 1 - Slight
Flammability Rating: 0 - None
Reactivity Rating: 0 - None
Contact Rating: 1 - Slight
Lab Protective Equip: GOGGLES; LAB COAT
Storage Color Code: Orange (General Storage)

Lol....

You can try all you want to scare people but the facts kind of make your argument ineffective.

Section 15: Other Regulatory Information Federal and State Regulations:
Rhode Island RTK hazardous substances: Ammonium sulfate Pennsylvania RTK: Ammonium sulfate Florida: Ammonium sulfate Massachusetts RTK: Ammonium sulfate New Jersey: Ammonium sulfate TSCA 8(b) inventory: Ammonium sulfate

You are going to use AS no matter what other evidence or data is presented. You are still going to store 51lb bags of it somewhere on your property without knowing proper storage, safety precautions or your local regulations.

This is the entire section 15 of the MSDS YOU POSTED.it does not have any of what you posted in it. So like I said post a link to what you are claiming.

15. Regulatory Information

--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 1\---------------------------------
Ingredient TSCA EC Japan Australia
----------------------------------------------- ---- --- ----- ---------
Ammonium Sulfate (7783-20-2) Yes Yes Yes Yes
--------\Chemical Inventory Status - Part 2\---------------------------------
--Canada--
Ingredient Korea DSL NDSL Phil.
----------------------------------------------- ----- --- ---- -----
Ammonium Sulfate (7783-20-2) Yes Yes No Yes
--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 1\----------------
-SARA 302- ------SARA 313------
Ingredient RQ TPQ List Chemical Catg.
----------------------------------------- --- ----- ---- --------------
Ammonium Sulfate (7783-20-2) No No No No
--------\Federal, State & International Regulations - Part 2\----------------
-RCRA- -TSCA-
Ingredient CERCLA 261.33 8(d)
----------------------------------------- ------ ------ ------
Ammonium Sulfate (7783-20-2) No No No

Chemical Weapons Convention: No TSCA 12(b): No CDTA: No
SARA 311/312: Acute: Yes Chronic: No Fire: No Pressure: No
Reactivity: No (Pure / Solid)

Australian Hazchem Code: None allocated.
Poison Schedule: None allocated.
WHMIS:
This MSDS has been prepared according to the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products Regulations (CPR) and the MSDS contains all of the information required by the CPR.

Folks that really love ammonium sulfate can get an extra helping of it at Subway. They use it in their bread dough.

There are a bunch of MSDS out there for AS, try this one.

All that Florida regulates is the labeling :) Some states have rules over how chemicals are LABELED. You said Florida had a restriction on AS which it does not.

Wow subway puts AS in the food..you have convinced me, the stuff must be deadly.

The MSDS also reads:
Special Remarks on other Toxic Effects on Humans:
Acute Potential Health Effects: Skin: Causes skin irritation. Eyes: Causes eye irritation. Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation. Ingestion: When ingested, its osmolarity can draw water from the body into the bowel, acting as a laxative. However, if enough is absorbed systemically it may produce Ammonia poisoning. Symptoms may include gastrointestinal (digestive) tract irritation with nausea, vomiting, hypermotility, diarrhea. May also affect eyes (Mydriasis), behavior/central nervous system (somnolence, tremor, convulsions, muscle contraction or spasticity), and respiratory system (respiratory stimulation, dyspnea). Also, with ingestion of large doses of Ammonium Sulfate arises the possibility of sufficient absorption to produce diuresis, an excessive discharge of urine, and kidney damage (renal tubular disorder, abnormal renal function). Chronic Potential Health Effects: One Russian occupational standard study discussed chronic exposure effects which may include cardiac contraction, neurotoxicity, and hypertension. This has not been confirmed in other ammonium sulfate exposed workers.

Just because AS is deemed safe for food use doesn't mean I want to eat it, use it in my garden or store 51lb containers of it.

One post, and I'm draggin my AS out of the garage.
Next post, I'm draggin my AS back into the garage.

Back and forth so much, my AS is really draggin now.
You guys should be ashamed of what you have done to my AS.

I'm just trying to get poor Clint to do his research and stick to the facts. The real question is your AS in or out of the garage currently so we know who his winning.

Btw Clint my arguing skills allowed me to retire at 40 ;)

Salt is generally considered safe in reasonable doses, in fact, its essential to sustaining life.

Yet its MSDS indicates that it is an explosive mutagen that should not be ingested.

You've got to use some sense and not get scared by the language and formatting.

Bagged Ammonium Sulfate is concentrated. Many common and safe household substances (like organic fertilizers) can be harmful if misused in a concentrated form. No, you shouldn't eat teaspoons full of fertilizer.

My AS is back in the garage. I have no concerns about it being there. However, I have quit putting it on my breakfast cereal.