A Preliminary Analysis of Polymer-Coated Controlled-Release Fertilizers
Release Date:
2019-11-10
Compared with conventional fertilizers, controlled-release fertilizers are less likely to be leached by rain and less prone to volatilization. In fact, these characteristics depend on their polymer coating. Next, a biofertilizer manufacturer will explain the primary principles behind this polymer coating.
A Preliminary Analysis of Polymer-Coated Controlled-Release Fertilizers
Compared with conventional fertilizers, controlled-release fertilizers are much less likely to be leached by rain and less prone to volatilization. In fact, these advantages all stem from their polymer coating. Next, Biofertilizer manufacturer Please introduce the main principles of polymer coating.
Controlled-release fertilizer is a type of fertilizer coated with a polymer. The micropores in this coating typically measure only a few hundred nanometers, making it impermeable to liquid water; water can enter the coating only in the form of individual water molecules. Consequently, while water molecules can freely pass through the coating, the fertilizer granules remain completely isolated from the external environment, and nutrients are released from the coating via osmotic pressure.
Therefore, the rate of nutrient release depends solely on the mobility of water molecules and the pore size of the membrane’s micropores. Once a controlled-release fertilizer is applied to the soil—assuming the micropores have already been set—it is governed only by the speed of water molecule movement, which in turn is determined by temperature. Factors such as soil microorganisms and pH have no influence on the fertilizer’s release kinetics.
When conventional fertilizers are applied to the soil, their rapid release in the early stages leads to nutrient excess. Plants cannot fully absorb these nutrients in the short term, resulting in substantial accumulation in the soil—where they may volatilize, be leached away by rainfall, or become immobilized by the soil. Consequently, the average fertilizer use efficiency is only about 35%, while nutrient deficiencies emerge later. Controlled-release fertilizers, by contrast, conserve the nutrients that would otherwise go unused in the initial phase and make them available to plants over time, while minimizing losses through leaching, microbial decomposition, and soil fixation. This approach effectively provides a steady, sustained supply of nutrients to the plant. As a result, fertilizer use efficiency can reach around 70%, and when applied close to the roots, it can exceed 80%.
When using controlled-release fertilizers, the polymer coating ensures higher nutrient-use efficiency, with plants absorbing more and wasting less, while nutrient supply remains consistent.
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