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, Ncontaining 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 wont 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

How Much Dissolves at 25o C?

100 grams
CRN in

71 grams
out

Stir

100 - 71 = 29 grams (29%) CWSN

and 71 grams (71%) CWIN

How Much Dissolves at 100o C?

71 grams
CRN in

22 grams
out

Stir

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
X 100%
Fertilizers with a higher AI have increased
N solubility, better slow-N release
characteristics.
UF should have an AI of > 40%

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?
36%
HWIN

Formolene
38-0-0

71%
HWIN

18%
CWIN
11% urea

Nutralene
40-0-0
51%
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
Solid
Urea*

Dissolved
Urea

Water
Dissolved
Urea

Dissolved
Urea

Complete
Release
*Or other nutrient

Sulfur Coatings Break Down

Sulfur
Coating

H2O
Solid
Urea

H2O
H2O
+S

Solid
Urea

H2O

Solid
Urea

H2O
Dissolved
Urea

SCU Contains Intact and Breached

Particles, Thin and Thick Coatings

IBDU Releases N Based on Solubility

H2O

Urea
Urease
NH4

Root

Release Depends on Granule Size

Small Granules Release Faster,

Shorter