Slow release Nitrogen Fertilizer Types and Advantages

Advantages of Slow release Nitrogen fertilizer

• Excellent alternative to soluble fertilizers as nutrients are released throughout the season without or with little waste by leaching.

• Convenient, less frequent application is required .

• Application rate varies as per type and brand.

• These are categorized into groups based on nutrient release rate.

Slow release Nitrogen fertilizers are of following types :

1. Pelletized :

• It consists of relatively insoluble nutrients in pelletized form.

• As the pellet size increases, it takes longer time to break down.

• Examples : MagAmp ( Magnesium Ammonium phosphate)
  

2.Chemically altered :

• A fertilizer may be chemically altered to render a portion of it water insoluble.

(a) Urea (soluble) + Aldehyde ----> Ureaform

• Ureaform contains 38% N2 which is 70% water insoluble.

• There will be less fertilizer breakdown in acid soil with poor aeration.

• More dependent on microbes.

(b) IBDU (Iso Butylidene Diurea)

• It contains 32% N2 with 90% WIN (Water insoluble Nitrogen) .

• It acts as Lawn fertilizer.

• Less dependent on microbial activity .

• Break down increases in acid and moist soil.

3.Coated Fertilizer :

(a) Osmocote :

• Presence of semi permeable membrane.

• Release rate depends on temperature, moisture & thickness of the coating.

(b) Sulphur Coated Urea (SCU) :

• Coating of molten sulphur over hot urea and sealing with polyethylene oil or crystalline wax.

• Rate of release depends in thickness of coating. It occurs more rapidly in warm temperature and dry soil.

(c) Nutricote:

• Coating of nitrate compound fertilizer with special resin.

• The duration of nutrient release is controlled by porosity of the resin coating.

• With increase in temperature release rate increases but not significantly affected by soil moisture (or) pH.

(d) Polymer Coated Fertilizer (PCF) :

• Technologically advanced.

(e) Meister Products :

• Thermoplastic resin as coating material.

• Surfactants & release controlling agents like ethylene vinyl acetate are used to obtain desired diffusion characteristics.

(f) Reactive Layer Coating (RLC) :

• Combination of two reactive monomers are simultaneously applied to the fertilizer substrate and these form thin layer on the fertilizer.
  

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