Advances in Controlled Release Fertilizers: Cost‐Effective Coating Techniques and Smart Stimuli‐Responsive Hydrogels

Abstract

To meet the needs of a rapidly expanding global population, farmers will need more fertilizers than ever before to maintain a steady supply of affordable, nutritious food. The formulation of controlled release fertilizers (CRF) to synchronize nutrient release according to the demand of plants has emerged as a viable solution to the current problems associated with the poor nutrient usage efficiency of fertilizers. Yet, the greatest obstacle that still stands in the way of broad use of CRF in agriculture is their expensive manufacturing costs. The first section of this analysis focuses on broad topics related to CRF. Afterward, the differences between several cost‐effective raw materials and some of the production techniques used to make CRF are examined. Furthermore, the emerging field of “smart” coating materials, such as stimuli‐responsive coatings, which can accurately tailor nutrients delivery to the demands of the vegetation, is discussed, and the most important research work that could lead to their extensive use in agriculture is pointed out. The purpose of this review is to provide a strong assessment of CRF's development over the past several years by highlighting innovations and providing in‐depth analysis of prevailing patterns to better understand the future of agriculture.

Biobased Materials as Promising Tools for the Slow-Release of Urea

“…This in order to allow the production of fertilizers with higher performances respect to neat urea and so able to compensate the higher costs. Details on economic consideration can be read in the manuscript written by Mansouri and co-workers . In summary, the research community is in strong agreement with the fact that controlled release-based materials present better performances respect to classic products but the actual high cost make their use possible only in specific situations.…”

“…Details on economic consideration can be read in the manuscript written by Mansouri and co-workers. 115 In summary, the research community is in strong agreement with the fact that controlled release-based materials present better performances respect to classic products but the actual high cost make their use possible only in specific situations. But in the next years, national or international laws can limit the use of urea, and so an engineering solution, like the use of these devices, could finally obtain an extraordinary economic success.…”

Prospects of 2D graphene nanomaterials in plant-based agriculture and their fate in terrestrial soil: a critical review

“…, zeolite) or polymer ( e.g. , cellulose) based materials as a coating material for controlled release fertilizer, 151,152 and there is still a need to further research on utilizing GNMs as an efficient coating material for fertilizer.…”

“…Thus, this low adsorbent (GNMs) to adsorbate (nutrient) ratio in the soil root zone, may limit the usefulness in employing GNMs for this purpose. Over the years, much emphasis has been only put on inorganic (e.g., zeolite) or polymer (e.g., cellulose) based materials as a coating material for controlled release fertilizer, 151,152 and there is still a need to further research on utilizing GNMs as an efficient coating material for fertilizer.…”

Optimizing Sustainability in Malting Barley: A Practical Approach to Nitrogen Management for Enhanced Environmental, Agronomic, and Economic Benefits

“…In this context, a method to reduce GHG emissions from agricultural fields and enhance nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) involves the utilisation of controlled-release fertilisers (CRFs). These products are specially designed to purposefully release the active nutrients in a controlled manner to coincide with and match the specific nutrient demand during plant growth [28,29]. CRF granules are commonly coated with inorganic, mineral-based coatings such as sulfur and organic coatings using polymers, thermoplastics, or resins [28,30].…”