Causes and Prevention Actions to Curbing Caking in Granule Fertilizer

Nitrates will absorb moisture readily from the air. The caking from my experience is due to moisture absorption from the air by the nitrate. The solution is to use bulk storage with dry air purge or at least not readily exposed to the air. If this isn't possible see if it is possible to have the nitrate coated to reduce its moisture absorption. Dave

1.thanks dave.such a good and helpful answer.besides coating, what are other contributing factors?i already coat the granule with wax and caking still happens but in lesser degree. or can you guys suggest me to conduct a research about other coating agents if possible?who knows theres a better coating agent than wax?

2.how does moisture absorption lead to caking?

my opinion:

what comes to my mind now is that to find the optimum packing temperature.caking is mainly dependant on temperature. with temperature, water soluble compound will absorb moisture. if coating agent coats properly the granule, it won't absorb moisture either. but when we control approppriately the temperature,water soluble component won't absorb moisture as well. it is because ambient, packing and product temperatures are lower than melting point of the most volatile component.

thank you so much dave k. you are very helpful