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Slow Release = Controlled Release eg CRN = Controlled Release Nitrogen Why Use Slow Release Fertilizers? More uniform growth response
No growth surge
Longer growth response
Less chance of burn
Less leaching of nitrate
Labor saving Uncoated Slow Release Fertilizers Urea formaldehyde (UF)
Methylene urea (MU)
Isobutylidene diurea (IBDU)
Natural organics Ureaform and Methylene Urea Very similar materials chemically
Mostly granular, some liquids
about 40% N, 70% WIN (28% N for liquids, all soluble)
Formed by reacting urea and formaldehyde = chains of alternating C and N
Main difference is chain length, and as a result, mineralization rate Products Formolene 30-0-2
FLUF 18-0-0
Nitro 26 CRN 26-0-0
Nitroform (Powder Blue, Blue Chip) 38-0-0
CoRoN 28-0-0 (25% of total N is urea) Different Chain Lengths Methylene Urea N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N Urea Formaldehyde N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N-C-N Ureaform and Methylene Urea Designed to release N for 8-12 weeks
Contains unreacted urea, fast greening
Requires soil microbial activity
temperature sensitive, soil at 78o F is four times as active as soil at 42o F
moisture sensitive
Seasonal response Mineralization The decomposition of complex, N-containing organic molecules and the resulting release of NH4 MU, UF Chain Length Determines Solubility The longer the chain, the less soluble it is, and the slower it will be mineralized. Some may be so long that they are essentially insoluble, and won’t break down. N Release from UF, MU Determined by Solubility Test Water soluble vs Water insoluble fractions:
CWSN, cold water soluble N, is soluble at 25o C, is quickly available to the turf. Includes unreacted urea and short chain molecules
CWIN, cold water insoluble N. What remains insoluble at 25o C. Longer chain, N is released slower, over a period of several weeks
HWIN, N insoluble at 100o C. Longest chain, N released over months or years 100 grams
CRN in Stir 71 grams
out How Much Dissolves at 25o C? 100 - 71 = 29 grams (29%) CWSN
and 71 grams (71%) CWIN 71 grams
CRN in Stir 22 grams
out How Much Dissolves at 100o C? Thus, in 100 g of CRN, there are 22 g HWIN Activity Index, AI Basically the fraction of CWIN that goes into solution in hot water. It estimates the slow-release value of the fertilizer
CWIN - HWIN CWIN
Fertilizers with a higher AI have increased N solubility, better slow-N release characteristics.
UF should have an AI of > 40% X 100% Summary CWSN - 29%
CWIN - 71%
HWIN - 22%
Activity Index = CWIN - HWIN CWIN = 71% - 22% 71% X 100% X 100% = 69% CRN Sources* Vary Which Will Give Longer Response? Formolene
38-0-0 Nutralene
40-0-0 71%
HWIN 36%
HWIN 11% urea 51%
CWIN 18%
CWIN 13% urea *Both from
Agrevo WSN vs WIN % WIN must be stated on label
Expressed as % of the product, not the nitrogen
Example: FLUF contains 18% N, and 4.5% WIN. This means that 18-4.5=13.5% of the N is WSN. What % of the N is WIN? 4.5/18=25% IBDU Urea is reacted with isobutyraldehyde
Only a single chemical product is formed, not a bunch of different molecules. 31% N, 90% WIN
Different sized granules available
N release depends on solubility and hydrolysis (IBDU molecule reacts with water and breaks apart), releasing urea.
No free urea in IBDU, may need to add IBDU start here Urea breaks down quickly to NH4
IBDU is relatively insoluble, so only small amounts are available at any one time
Release sensitive to soil moisture, temperature
Release also depends on granule size and contact with soil. Smaller granules release N faster than larger granules Liquid Slow Release Fertilizers Chemistry similar to UF, MU
Micro-suspension of MU (FLUF)
CoRoN, N-Sure; 28%N, 7% as urea and 21% as short chain MU or small ring structure.
Get quick and slow release
Foliar application?
Is slow release slow enough? Liquid Slow Release Fertilizers Easily handled, applied
Can be formulated with P and K
Some have short storage life
Require specialized delivery system
Volume of liquid used in application is not enough to move the material down into the root system - must irrigate in Coated Slow Release Fertilizers SCU, sulfur coated urea
Polymer coated urea Sulfur Coated Urea Solid urea core, coated with sulfur and wax
30-38% N, depending on coating thickness
Coating is not always perfect, having cracks, thin spots, holes, etc.
Release determined by 7 day dissolution test; 25-35% are typical figures Polymer Coated Urea Solid urea or other nutrient core, coated with various polymers (“plastics”)
Coatings are tough, resist damage, thin
Coating chemistry affects membrane properties, release rate
Release is due to controlled diffusion, which is fairly constant over time
Release depends on coat thickness, chemistry, temperature, moisture Polymer Coatings Remain Intact Water Dissolved
Urea Dissolved
Urea Water Dissolved
Urea Complete
Release *Or other nutrient Sulfur Coatings Break Down Solid
Urea Solid
Urea Sulfur
Coating H2O Dissolved
Urea SCU Contains Intact and Breached Particles, Thin and Thick Coatings IBDU Releases N Based on Solubility Urea NH4 H2O Urease Root Release Depends on Granule Size Small Granules Release Faster, Shorter
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