What are the differences between slow-release fertilizers and controlled-release fertilizers?
Release Date:
2019-06-14
Agriculture is constantly evolving, and research into fertilizers continues to make groundbreaking advances. Today, we see a wide variety of fertilizer products, allowing for highly targeted selection. Yet many people still debate whether slow-release fertilizer and controlled-release fertilizer are the same thing and what, if any, differences exist between them. To shed light on this topic, today Humic Acid Manufacturer Nongda Fertilizer Industry will provide a detailed explanation.
What are the differences between slow-release fertilizers and controlled-release fertilizers?
Agriculture is constantly advancing, and research on fertilizers continues to make groundbreaking progress. We now see a wide variety of fertilizer types, allowing for targeted selection. However, many people still debate whether slow-release fertilizer and controlled-release fertilizer are the same product and what differences, if any, exist between them. So today… Humic acid manufacturer Nongda Fertilizer Industry is here to provide an explanation.
From the perspective of nutrient release rates, both are relatively slow, resulting in a long-lasting fertilizing effect; in this respect, they are very similar. However, when we examine the mechanisms underlying nutrient release, the resulting outcomes differ.
Slow-release fertilizers have their nutrient release rate moderated by external factors such as soil pH, microbial activity, soil moisture, and soil type. In contrast, controlled-release fertilizers are formulated by coating water-soluble nutrients with a polymeric membrane; when the fertilizer granules come into contact with moist soil, nutrients are released gradually. Soil moisture permeates the membrane, dissolving a portion of the fertilizer. The resulting water‑soluble nutrients then diffuse outward through the membrane’s micropores in a slow, continuous manner. Higher soil temperatures accelerate both the dissolution of the fertilizer and the rate at which the membrane is breached, while thinner membranes permit faster permeation.
Secondly, they differ in their nutrient composition. Slow-release fertilizers are typically single‑nutrient products with very low solubility in water. After application to the soil, under the influence of chemical and biological processes, the fertilizer gradually breaks down, releasing nitrogen slowly to meet the crop’s nitrogen requirements throughout its entire growth period. In contrast, controlled‑release fertilizers are N‑P‑K compound or complete‑nutrient fertilizers that also contain micronutrients. When applied to the soil, the release rate of controlled‑release fertilizers is governed solely by soil temperature. However, soil temperature significantly affects plant growth rate as well: within a certain temperature range, as soil temperature rises, the release rate of the controlled‑release fertilizer accelerates, plant growth speeds up, and the demand for fertilizer increases accordingly.
In addition, the nutrient release rate of slow-release fertilizers is uneven, and it does not necessarily align with the crop’s nutrient requirements. By contrast, the nutrient release rate of controlled-release fertilizers matches the plant’s nutrient demand, thereby meeting the nutritional needs of crops at different growth stages.
However, in practice, determining fertilizer release rates based on temperature does not seem scientifically sound. After all, during the hottest part of summer, many plants are often more vulnerable and do not require fertilization. The most accurate approach may be to schedule the application of slow-release fertilizers according to the length of the fertilization period.
Controlled-release fertilizer http://www.sdndfy.com
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