Preserving liquid fertilizer quality requires maintaining storage tanks that provide the best opportunity to maximize product shelf-life while meeting most state and national guidelines.

“All liquid fertilizers are different, but can be managed appropriately. Retailers should be careful not to use liquid storage tanks originally designed for oil or water. Such tanks will not handle a full fill with the weight (specific gravity) of most fertilizers,” said Brian Hasselbring, Midwest project manager, The Heartland Tank Companies, which builds field-erected liquid fertilizer storage tanks for 100,000 to four million gallon capacities.

“We recommend stainless steel, carbon steel or fiberglass tanks for smaller quantities of most starter fertilizers,” he said. Heartland also provides containment systems and tank inspection services. “For larger, fielderected storage tanks, we recommend API 650 welded steel tanks with internal PVC flexible liners. Internal liners meet containment rules in most states and provide corrosion protection.”

Hasselbring recommends retailers have API 653 tank inspections completed every five years, as recommended by The Fertilizer Institute, to insure structural integrity for all tanks. Retailers should check leak monitors weekly on tanks with internal liners.

“In some cases, you may see condensation, which isn’t a problem unless you detect fertilizer,” he said.

Hasselbring reminds retailers to try and fill liquid nitrogen large tank storage before temperatures freeze to help reduce the amount of salt out. “Larger tanks retain heat from the ground under the tank better than smaller diameter tanks,” he said. “Painting nitrogen storage tanks a dark color can make an 8- to 10-degree difference in product stored.”