Benefits of Controlled-Release Fertilizers

Controlled-release fertilizers are coated fertilizers that consistently release nutrients throughout a specific period. The release rates are based on two important factors, coating thickness and temperature, with higher temperatures activating a faster release of nutrients. Because these coatings provide a slow release of nutrients, a handful of benefits are apparent. These benefits include ease of use, reduced environmental impacts, decreased application costs, and improved transportation and storage. Read below to learn more about these benefits.

Ease of Use

Controlled-release fertilizers are made to release nutrients to the plant at the proper rate needed when they need it. This provides accurate nutrient effectiveness and helps take the guesswork out of when to properly apply. When you compare this to a non-controlled release product, you will need to decide when to apply it throughout the growing cycle and will need to apply it multiple times rather than once. This multiple-application process makes it easier for mistakes to happen, which might cause overfertilization of nutrients. The proper amount of nutrients released when it is needed with a controlled-release product, minimizes this problem, ultimately reducing the costs of time and money on accidental overfertilization. In addition, because nutrients are constantly being supplied to the turf, it is possible for grass color to stay consistent throughout.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Controlled release is a great product to use for customers looking to reduce their carbon footprint. This is because the fertilizer applied with controlled-release coatings contains exactly what is needed and nothing more. In addition, the coating helps to control nutrient release, reducing the chances of overapplication. Because these nutrients are delivered properly the chances of environmental impacts such as leaching, volatilization, and denitrification to occur are minimized.

Reduced Application Costs

When applying a controlled-release fertilizer vs a non-controlled-release you spend less on labor. Applying fertilizer can be a timely process that can easily take away time spent on other important tasks. The nutrients provided in a single application of a controlled-release fertilizer contain everything needed during the plant’s growth cycle, meaning fewer applications throughout. Furthermore, because the proper amount of nutrients is provided to the turfgrass, the likelihood of turf overgrowth is reduced, ultimately decreasing the amount of time needed for mowing. These savings provide a benefit to both time and labor, making it possible to focus on more time-intensive parts of your business.

Transportation and Storage

The controlled release of the nutrients provided in each bag allows you to better manage what you need each year and store less. Because the nutrients are slowly released throughout the season, you won’t need to make as many applications as you would with non-controlled release fertilizers, which would take up more space or involve more transfers of product to your location. This results in cost savings from transport and storage, which can then be used to improve other areas within your business.

Controlled-release fertilizers can provide a great benefit to your business operations that help reduce costs to your business’s time and money while also minimizing impacts on the environment. BEST® Fertilizer provides a handful of controlled-release products that provide all the benefits listed above. For a complete list of controlled-release fertilizers that can help you, reach out to your local BEST® supplier or BEST® sales rep today.