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Ammonium Sulphamate (also known as ammonium sulfamate)is a white crystalline chemical compound that is easily dissolved in water. Perhaps its best known use is as a safe, broad spectrum herbicide that is particularly useful in controlling tough woody weeds, tree stumps and brambles. Its extremely low toxicity to humans and animals makes it ideal for both amateur home garden, professional and forestry uses. It is considered the most environmentallly friendly and one of the safest weedkillers to use on plots of land that will be used for growing fruit and vegetables intended for consumption. Once applied it is slowly converted in the soil to the useful fertilizer Ammonium Sulphate (Ammonium Sulfate). Several years ago the Henry Doubleday organisation, standard bearers for the organic gardener published an article on Ammonium Sulphamate after a successful set of trials. Though clearly not approved for use by organic growers it does seem to be the one preferred when all else has failed!
Ammonium Sulphamate is widely used to effectively control the following problem weeds / plants:- Japanese Knotweed*, Marestail, Horsetail, Ground Elder, Rhododendron, Brambles, Brushwood, Ivy, Ragwort, felled Tree Stumps and most other tough woody specimens. A typical treatment would be as a foliar spray of 1 kilogram in 5 litres of water over 10 square metres ( 2lbs in 1 gallon over 100 square feet). The addition of a small amount of washing up liquid to the spray solution helps cut though the natural oils on the foliage. Children and animals need not be excluded from treated areas.
- Japanese Knotweed is subject to legal controls in the UK and Ammonium Sulphamate is one of the few products that will provide effective treatment.
Ammonium Sulphamate has been sucessfully used in several major projects by organisations like the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, English Heritage, National Trust,various railway, canal and waterways authorities.
Within industry Ammonium Sulphamate is used as a flame retardant,a plasticiser and in electro-plating. Within the laboratory it is used as a reagent.
The author would be pleased to know of other uses, background studies or any general information about this chemical.