Comparison · fertilizer
Nitrogen fertilizers: urea vs ammonium nitrate vs ammonium sulfate vs CAN
Compare common straight nitrogen fertilizers by grade and class.
| Dimension | Urea | Ammonium nitrate | Ammonium sulfate | Calcium ammonium nitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Fertilizer | Fertilizer | Fertilizer | Fertilizer |
| Class | mineral-nitrogen | mineral-nitrogen | mineral-nitrogen | mineral-nitrogen |
| Typical grade (N-P₂O₅-K₂O) | 46-0-0 | 34-0-0 | 21-0-0-24S | 27-0-0 |
Methodology
Grade/class read from each entry. No application rate or product recommendation is given.
Limitations
- Educational comparison — not a fertilizer or application-rate recommendation.
- Handling and environmental behaviour are context-specific.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- [1]IFA — International Fertilizer Association (opens in a new tab)Moderate
International Fertilizer Association (IFA)
- Type:
- Standards body
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12