Sail across the sea

Chapter 485 Then everyone fell silent.

In layman's terms, phosphate fertilizer is a compound containing phosphate ions. Phosphate ions include dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, and phosphate, which are anions in the molecule. The difference between different types of phosphate fertilizer lies in the cations in their molecules.

The active ingredient in both superphosphate and ordinary superphosphate is calcium superphosphate, and the cation in the molecule is calcium. Another type of phosphate fertilizer that uses ammonium as a cation includes monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate, collectively known as ammonium phosphate.

Superphosphate contains both superphosphate and calcium sulfate, resulting in a lower effective phosphorus content, typically between 12-20%, classifying it as a low-concentration phosphate fertilizer. Triple superphosphate, on the other hand, generally contains 42-50% effective phosphorus, placing it in the high-concentration phosphate fertilizer category.

Ammonium phosphate is also a high-concentration phosphate fertilizer. Monoammonium phosphate has 60% available phosphorus, and diammonium phosphate has 46%, which is higher than that of superphosphate.

High-concentration fertilizers are certainly better than low-concentration fertilizers, but the selection of phosphate fertilizers is not based solely on the effective phosphorus concentration; other factors must also be considered.

Superphosphate, a low-concentration phosphate fertilizer, still dominates the phosphate fertilizer market in the new century, largely due to its high calcium sulfate content, making it ideal for sulfur-deficient soils in southern regions. While people generally refer to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as fertilizers, elements like sulfur and magnesium are also essential for plants. Superphosphate and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizers are excellent choices for sulfur- and magnesium-deficient soils.

Another selection factor is the soil's pH level. Tricalcium phosphate is slightly acidic and suitable for alkaline soils. Diammonium phosphate is slightly alkaline and suitable for acidic soils. Monoammonium phosphate is weakly acidic and has relatively strong adaptability to various soil types.

Strictly speaking, each type of phosphate fertilizer has its applicable occasions, and it's not accurate to simply say which phosphate fertilizer is better. However, Gao Fan knows that, in terms of market acceptance, ammonium phosphate is superior to calcium carbonate.

There are several reasons for this. First, ammonium phosphate is a compound fertilizer containing both phosphorus and nitrogen, supplementing both phosphorus and nitrogen. Second, ammonium phosphate has better soil adaptability than calcium carbonate, especially in acidic soil areas in the south, where calcium carbonate must be applied with lime to adjust the pH, increasing the burden on farmers.

The third reason is somewhat frustrating: China's domestic production technology for heavy calcium carbonate is relatively backward. In the 80s, the high-concentration phosphate fertilizers imported from abroad were mainly ammonium phosphate, and many farmers had formed a habit of using them, so they inevitably had some resistance to heavy calcium carbonate.

The initial plan for the Fanjiawan project was also to produce ammonium phosphate, something Gao Fan had heard Hu Dongming mention. However, for some unknown reason, it was later changed to heavy calcium carbonate. Gao Fan only learned of this from Wu Zhefu when he boarded the train to Muyang, which surprised him somewhat.

When Wu Zhefu spoke to Gao Fan about this matter, he was somewhat dissatisfied. He stated that as a representative of the Ministry of Chemical Industry, it was inappropriate for him to raise this issue with Muyang Province, and he hoped that Gao Fan could, in a civilian capacity, "speak" about it with the officials of Muyang Province.

Wu Zhefu didn't explain what "talk about" meant. The heavy calcium carbonate production facility, worth tens of millions of dollars and imported from France, was already completed; Gao Fan certainly didn't have the ability to persuade Mu Yang to switch to an ammonium phosphate plant with just his silver tongue. But surely "talking about it" could work?

Upon hearing Gao Fan's question, Hu Dongming gave a wry smile and said, "The initial plan was indeed 50 tons of ammonium phosphate. The agricultural supply companies in various cities and counties of Muyang all sell imported ammonium phosphate from the United States, and the leaders naturally know that ammonium phosphate is a good thing."

"But when it came to designing the project, a problem arose: there were no large-scale synthetic ammonia plants in Linji. It was unrealistic to import synthetic ammonia from other places, and building a large-scale synthetic ammonia plant would require an additional investment of one or two hundred million yuan."

"So you decided to switch to heavy calcium carbonate?"

"It wasn't us who changed it, it was..."

Hu Dongming pointed upwards, clearly indicating that this was the intention of the higher-ups.

"Didn't you explain the difference between ammonium phosphate and superphosphate to your superiors? Lao Hu, don't tell me you don't understand this." "Back then, I was just a lowly clerk. How could I have a say? Even now, I'm a division chief, which is considered an official, but when it comes to projects of this scale, I only have the right to sit and listen. I do whatever my superiors tell me to do. How could I dare to offer any opinions?"

"You're a disgrace to Peking University."

"You're not shameful at all. Why don't you go talk to the head of our Planning Commission about this?"

"What's it to me?" Gao Fan cursed, then said, "Even if you can't speak up, there must be people who can and understand these things, right? I don't believe that your province hired a bunch of laymen when it finalized this project."

Hu Dongming sighed, "Who can say for sure about this? I later heard that someone did raise this issue at the meeting, believing that the market for heavy calcium carbonate is quite limited. We suddenly went up to a scale of 62 tons, and if we can't digest it, it will become a problem."

"At that time, a leader said that when he was working at the Northeast Farm, the farm used heavy calcium carbonate imported from the Soviet Union, and it worked perfectly."

"Farmers in Muyang are not currently accustomed to using heavy calcium carbonate. If the agricultural technology department increases its publicity and promotion efforts, I believe the farmers will accept it. Some areas in Muyang also have alkaline soil, so using heavy calcium carbonate is perfectly fine there."

"and then?"

"Then everyone fell silent."

"..."

Gao Fan remained silent; there was truly nothing that could be done about this.

It's conceivable that in that meeting, not everyone was aware that the leader's idea was problematic. Those who realized this might not even have been his subordinates, but rather officials of the same rank who were fully qualified to discuss the matter with him.

But what business is it of mine whether to produce superphosphate or ammonium phosphate? The comrades below said that both fertilizers are good, each with its own applicable range, and it is impossible to say which is better or worse. In this situation, if someone stands up to support superphosphate, and you oppose it, you are not giving them face and will offend them.

Is it worth offending your colleagues over such a small issue as choosing which technology to use for a project?
The answer is of course no.

Even Wu Zhefu, who saw the problem, said it was inconvenient to interfere, and even asked Gao Fan, an outsider, to "speak up".

This is not to say that there is no error correction mechanism in government decision-making. If the party holding the wrong view is not so assertive and is only proposing an idea, others can refute it in a very tactful way, and the other party can usually realize their mistake in time and abandon the claim.

The situation Hu Dongming described was likely due to the leader's overly stubborn and self-willed pronouncements, leaving no room for others to maneuver. Since no one felt comfortable refuting him, the decision was passed rather haphazardly.

Indeed, it's only 23 billion yuan, is it worth fussing over it like that?
(End of this chapter)