Bag of Urea gone solid

Wildsurfer

Have a bag of Urea that has gone solid... It was left over since Jan application and water must have got it, it's turned brown which I presume is a reaction to water. So any suggestions what to do with it that I might get some of value from it. I presume throwing it into slurry is a no no with denitrification an issue, so is breaking it up on dungstead the best option?

freedominacup

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Have a bag of Urea that has gone solid... It was left over since Jan application and water must have got it, it's turned brown which I presume is a reaction to water. So any suggestions what to do with it that I might get some of value from it. I presume throwing it into slurry is a no no with denitrification an issue, so is breaking it up on dungstead the best option?

Get someone with a bredal spreader to spread it for you. Plenty of room once you get it into it to break it up. Open the door a bit more than usual to account for the lumps.

Bass Reeves

If I have a bag like that I break it into the slurry tank. I break it through the slats. Not much point in paying someone to spread it.

Waffletraktor

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Have a bag of Urea that has gone solid... It was left over since Jan application and water must have got it, it's turned brown which I presume is a reaction to water. So any suggestions what to do with it that I might get some of value from it. I presume throwing it into slurry is a no no with denitrification an issue, so is breaking it up on dungstead the best option?

Anyone near by with a grain depot?
Let loose with a large loader against a solid wall, polished floors and a good loader operator will require a few kg needing to be swept up.

Bullocks

Open the bag on concrete and break it up with sledge and the back of the shovel , and spread away then . I used have to do it when the old boy would get a few cheap bags thrown in that would have been left over since last year . Them good old days are gone thankfully

pedigree 6

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Have a bag of Urea that has gone solid... It was left over since Jan application and water must have got it, it's turned brown which I presume is a reaction to water. So any suggestions what to do with it that I might get some of value from it. I presume throwing it into slurry is a no no with denitrification an issue, so is breaking it up on dungstead the best option?

I'd be inclined to put it on the slats and wash it into the slurry with a volume washer.
I don't think denitrification will be a problem with it this way as my understanding is it'll turn into ammonium hydroxide when washed into the slurry not ammonium carbonate.

Wildsurfer

pedigree 6 wrote: »

I'd be inclined to put it on the slats and wash it into the slurry with a volume washer.
I don't think denitrification will be a problem with it this way as my understanding is it'll turn into ammonium hydroxide when washed into the slurry not ammonium carbonate.

Yeah this is what I've done with CAN in the past but its never happened me with Urea so wasnt sure. Thanks for the suggestions, balls of a job whatever I do but at least I spotted it before I opened it into spinner!

kk.man

I had something silimular ...but dangerous..when lifting bid bag off the trailer handle snapped...i got it on a pallet and put the pallet with the bag lying flat on 2 rotten bales of silage cut the big bag open and bucket it into the spreader...not easy work....IF THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGERS OF THOSE BIG BAGS I'D BE HAPPY

patsy_mccabe

Sam Kade

It must've been hard before January. When did you buy it? If you bought it this year take it back to the co op and get them to replace it for a ftesh bag.

CloughCasey1

Sam Kade wrote: »

It must've been hard before January. When did you buy it? If you bought it this year take it back to the co op and get them to replace it for a ftesh bag.

Or buy a few bags tomorrow and come back with that one on tuesday to swap.

Water John

Oh Casey, you naughty boy.

Sam Kade

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Or buy a few bags tomorrow and come back with that one on tuesday to swap.

That would be another way around it if you bought it last year

Wildsurfer

Ha I'd be too honest for that;) It was delivered in early Jan and those bags were ok so that's why I'm guessing water got in in the intervening time. It is gone fair hard though I'd say some of it would hardly break up. I did get a pallet replaced a few years ago alright, the co op sent a rep from fertilizer company out to look at it and in fairness he took responsibility.

Sam Kade

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Ha I'd be too honest for that;) It was delivered in early Jan and those bags were ok so that's why I'm guessing water got in in the intervening time. It is gone fair hard though I'd say some of it would hardly break up. I did get a pallet replaced a few years ago alright, the co op sent a rep from fertilizer company out to look at it and in fairness he took responsibility.

If water got into it it wan't sealed properly in the first place which is all the more reason you'd be entitled to take it back.

freedominacup

Sam Kade wrote: »

If water got into it it wan't sealed properly in the first place which is all the more reason you'd be entitled to take it back.

Every fertiliser pallet has a warning on it about not storing outdoors. Just for this sort of situation.

Good loser

It will liquefy in water if you have the patience to break it up.

Otherwise a sledge and back of a shovel. In a bucket a lump hammer is effective in break up. If it has got hard recently it will be easier to smash.

A big bag will hardly go fully solid.

Sam Kade

freedominacup wrote: »

Every fertiliser pallet has a warning on it about not storing outdoors. Just for this sort of situation.

Did you ever see co ops storing it indoors? Fertilizer will not turn solid from moisture in two months.