What is Single Super Phosphate?

Single super phosphate (SSP) is a popular phosphate fertilizer used extensively in agriculture worldwide. Single super phosphate supplies phosphorus in form of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) ranging between 16-20 %. Now, it is high time to enlighten with some general details about specific single super phosphate, how it is prepared and why this kind of fertilizer is so beneficial and crucial in the present world.

What is Single Super Phosphate Fertilizer?

Single super phosphate fertilizer which is the common fertilizer in the market is prepared by reacting rock phosphate with sulfuric acid. The phosphorus in rocks becomes more soluble and available to plants in the form of soluble poly phosphate through this process as compared to raw rock phosphate. The chemical formula of single super phosphate is Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O + CaSO4·2H2O.

SSP also contains calcium and sulfur, providing additional nutrients. The typical composition of single super phosphate fertilizer is:

16-20% available phosphorus (P2O5)
12% sulfur
21% calcium

What is Single Super Phosphate Fertilizer Wiki?

According to Wikipedia, single super phosphate is “a fertilizer produced by the action of concentrated sulfuric acid on powdered phosphate rock.” The process was discovered in the year 1840s and as a result of it, the SSP was the first mineral fertilizer that was sold in the market.

Of all the phosphorus fertilisers, single super phosphate has remarkably sustained as one of the most frequently used phosphorus fertilisers because of the cheapness and efficiency that characterise it in the provision of phosphorus to crops. It is common for grains, oilseeds and fruits and vegetables among other produce.

What is the Use of Single Super Phosphate?

The main use of single super phosphate is to provide plants with phosphorus, which is essential for root development, photosynthesis, energy transfer, and flower/fruit production. Phosphorus supports plant growth, especially early in the season.

Some key uses and single super phosphate benefits include:

Supplying phosphorus to correct P deficiencies in soil
Providing readily available phosphorus to promote early root development
Improving flowering, fruit set and crop yields
Providing sulfur and calcium as secondary nutrients
Suitable for use in granular blends with urea and potash

How is Single Super Phosphate Made?

Single super phosphate manufacturing process involves mixing powdered rock phosphate with sulfuric acid in a reactor. The acid transforms the insoluble phosphates to the plant available monocalcium phosphate. The reaction also gives off gypsum, which is a calcium sulfate, as a bar by-product as verified by the following experiment.

Here is the basic process of how to make single super phosphate:Here is the basic process of how to make single super phosphate:

In the reactor a concentrated sulfuric acid (60-70% H2SO4) is added to the finely ground rock phosphate.
It is still carried out at a temperature of 80-120°C for 1-4 hours with the help of stirring.
The product produced is the slurry that is directly discharged, cooled and usually undergoes a 4-6 weeks’ curing period for the free moisture level to reduce to below 4%.
The material is then dried after which the hard mass is milled to powdered SSP fertilizer.
The well defined crystalline structure of SSP may be further compacted into granules for mechanical application.
It also has to be strictly monitored to get the right amount of P2O5, the hardness and the right amount of moisture of the granules. The gypsum by-product assist in granulation process and control of moisture.

What is the Function of SSP?

The main need of the Plants is presented by the delivery of phosphorus and prepared in the form most accessible for use by the plants themselves. The chemical reaction that occurs with the addition of SSP to moist soil is that the monocalcium phosphate dissolves rapidly and releases phosphate or phosphates H2PO4- and/or HPO4-2 ions in the soil solution. These ions can be absorbed directly by plant root hairs and incorporated into a plant’s metabolic processes where they are most needed.

Phosphorus plays several key roles in plants:Phosphorus plays several key roles in plants:

It encourage early root initiation and development.
It enhances flowering as well as ripening of seeds
Enhances root nodule numbers and size in legumes
Enhances the straw strength especially in cereals
Encourages nutrient acquisition and distribution
A part of the constituent of nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP

Single super phosphate assists in the enhancement of all aspect of plant health, growth and yield due to its provision of phosphorus. Adjusting with SSP corrects phosporus deficiencies and yields good performance for crops.

Why Do We Need SSP?

We need single super phosphate because many soils around the world are deficient in plant available phosphorus. P is widely distributed in most of the soil but in forms which are firmly fixed with the insoluble minerals and out of the reach of the plant roots. These P forms are made soluble and plant accessible by the use of fertilizers such as SSP.

Phosphorus is also relatively immobile in soils, and roots can tap readily soluble P in the rhizosphere and so, frequent supplementary applications of phosphate fertilizers such as SSP are required in order to have steady and balanced supply of P throughout the growth cycle.

Some other reasons why single super phosphate is needed:Some other reasons why single super phosphate is needed:

Phosphorus is an element that is washed out with the produce each time the plants are harvested, and has to be added each time.
Due to this, many soils immobilize applied P into forms that are less available for plant uptake hence frequent application is encouraged
Tri-P is useful in early plant stand establishment and root formation in the case of crops.
Application of sufficient phosphorus enhances healthy status of the plants, heat, and drought stress and disease resistance.
Single super phosphate is a viable, cheap and easily available input to fulfil the phosphorus requirement of the crops for desirable growth and yield.

What is the Aim of SSP?

The main objective of SSP is to produce highly effective phosphorus containing fertilizer that can improve the quality of crops. In this way, due to contending soluble phosphorus, sulfur and calcium, the usage of SSP promotes plant vigour and yields.

Some specific aims of single super phosphate fertilizer include:

Provide readily available phosphorus to correct deficiencies and meet crop demands
Improve early crop establishment, root development and seedling vigor
Promote flowering, fruit set, quality and yields
Allow flexible application as granules or powders
Offer an affordable phosphorus source for farmers
Support optimal soil fertility and plant nutrition

In the long run, the various strategies explained above on the utilisation of the Single Super phosphate assist farmers to enhance higher yields and profitability by appropriate phosphorus utilisation. Being one of the most accessible and effective phosphate fertilizers, SSP remains to have a significant contribution to feed the demand for crop nutrition in the global market.

What Does SSP Do?

So in summary, what does single super phosphate do? It provides plants with soluble, available phosphorus which is essential for healthy growth and development. SSP does this through the conversion of insoluble phosphate rocks to plant usable monocalcium phosphate.

When applied to soil, SSP does the following:When applied to soil, SSP does the following:

It disperses in the soil water and makes the phosphate ions in a plant usable form.
Stimulates early root development; which will enable good uptake of nutrients as well moisture.
Enhances the process of photosynthesis, the growth, flowering and fruit and maturing processes.
Being alkaline material it provides sulfur and calcium to benefit plants and improve the fertility of the soil.
Enhance crop germination, abiotic stress, product and production quality.

Single super phosphate does the important task of providing phosphorus requirement to the plant and enhance production. This is because of its efficiency and guaranteed performance thus becoming farmers’ most preferred fertilizer for more than 150 years.

SSP Price and Product Specifications

The single super phosphate price varies by location and supplier but is generally an affordable phosphorus source compared to other fertilizers. The current rate of single super phosphate is around Rs. 8,000 – 10,000 per ton in India.

SSP is commonly sold in 50 kg bags, with a typical single super phosphate 50 kg price of Rs. 500 – 2000. This works out to a cost of around Rs. 10 – 40 per kg of SSP.

The standard single super phosphate analysis or composition is:

16% phosphorus (P2O5)
11% sulfur
21% calcium

However, powder SSP may contain up to 18-20% P2O5. The exact single super phosphate composition and specifications may vary slightly by manufacturer so it’s important to check the product label.

SSP comes in the form of powder and granules depending on the specific requirement of the market it is to serve. The powder of SSP is in a smaller particle size and is more soluble in the soil while granular SSP is in a larger particle size and recommended to be spread mechanically. It is based on farmers’ preference and the way the two products are applied to the crops.

The single super phosphate chemical formula is Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O + CaSO4·2H2O which reflects the key components of monocalcium phosphate and gypsum.

Lastly, single super phosphate is one of the prominently used types of phosphorus fertilizer that has a critical importance in plant feeding. SSP contains soluble phosphorus, sulfur and calcium, which help the plant to grow and yield better.

It is necessary to take a closer look at what single super phosphate consists of, how it is produced and what its advantages and application are to make the right fertilizer choices. Whether sourcing SSP from domestic manufacturers or through single super phosphate online sales, focusing on product quality and nutrient content is critical.

Ultimately, the appropriate single super phosphate content and application rate depends on factors like soil properties, crop type, yield goals, and budget. One has to test the soils and follow the 4R nutrient management principles for optimum efficiency in the use of the SSP and maximum returns.

With a long history of use and demonstrated effectiveness, single super phosphate remains an important tool for meeting crop phosphorus needs and supporting global food production. Due to continuous relatively low cost and easy availability of SSP, it shall remain a popular input in the future among farmers.