Full explanation
Ammonium nitrate is the workhorse of spring topdressing for winter wheat, barley, and rapeseed in Ukraine. Both N forms are plant-available without prior transformation, so even in a cool spring (low soil urease activity), the crop takes up N immediately. First-topdressing rate 100–150 kg/ha physical weight (34–52 kg N/ha) at BBCH 22–25, second dose 100–200 kg/ha at BBCH 30–32. Producers: OSTCHEM (Cherkasy Azot), Sumykhimprom; imports restricted because AN is classified as an explosive precursor. Storage: dry, never mix with granular urea (reaction risk). Spring 2026 price: UAH 18 000–19 000/t [VERIFY]. Trade-off: more expensive per kg N than urea (~UAH 550/kg N vs ~UAH 450/kg N for urea), but more effective in cool spring conditions and for surface application without incorporation.