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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SLGuUErYMRRNWyz/vIbn6W78PpEYfCFHwdX9lQUrH54VDm/GsEQMvII6PV12Ma2I
 wlbSZqlUAb5//Ayh/aSjrA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-10-063810.txt : 20101221
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-10-063810.hdr.sgml : 20101221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101221204641
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-10-063810
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101221

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879575
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE CHEMICALS [2870]
		IRS NUMBER:				731389684
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 PARKWAY NORTH, SUITE 400
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(847) 405-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 PARKWAY NORTH, SUITE 400
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TERRA NITROGEN Co
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20100721

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950324

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Terra LP Holdings LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001477600
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES [6189]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-43007
		FILM NUMBER:		101267009

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 6000
		CITY:			SIOUX CITY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			51101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(712) 277-1340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 6000
		CITY:			SIOUX CITY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			51101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879575</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TNH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001477600</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Terra LP Holdings LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4 PARKWAY NORTH, SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4732621</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9465242</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On December 17, 2010, the reporting person entered into a Contribution and Assumption Agreement (the &quot;Contribution Agreement&quot;) with Terra Nitrogen Corporation (&quot;TNC&quot;), a Delaware corporation of which the reporting person is a wholly owned subsidiary. Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, TNC contributed 4,732,621 Common Units to the reporting person. The contribution by TNC to the reporting person was made as a contribution to the reporting person's capital.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Douglas C. Barnard, VP and Corporate Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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