Controlled Release Fertilizers

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Controlled Release Fertilizers
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Types of Fertilizers
Soluble fertilizers Poly-Feed, Kristalon Insoluble
fertilizers Superphosphate, compound
N-P-Ks Slow release fertilizers MU, UF, IBDU,
Poly-SCU Controlled release fertilizers -
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Multicote polymer coated controlled release
fertilizer
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Typical Release Curves Multicote (8) 18-2.5-10ME
water, 21oC
90
80
70
60
P
50
release
K
40

30
20
N
10
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
time, days
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Nutrient availability to plants
Multicote steady release yields optimal
availability throughout the growing season
Granular soluble fertilizer hazardous excess at
the beginning followed by deficiency towards the
end of the growing season
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Multicote Ranges
Multicote (4) for pot-plants, bedding plants,
hanging baskets and other short term crops
Multicote (6) for pot-plants and hanging baskets
Multicote (8) for outdoor-grown containerized
nursery stock production
Multicote (12) for containerized nursery stock
production
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Multicote release longevity at different
temperatures
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Temperature effect on the release Multicote (8)
18-2.5-10ME
N-NH4 release
time (days)
8oC
21oC
30oC
40oC
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Effect of soil type and soil pH Multicote (8)
18-2.5-10ME, 30oC
100
90
Sand
80
Peat pH 4.5
70
Limed peat
60
Water
release
50
40
30
20
10
0
7 days
49 days
101 days
Soil type and soil pH do not affect the release
from Multicote!
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Multicote uses
Ornamental nurseries Tree nurseries Professional
turf and landscaping Agriculture (vegetables,
strawberries, rice, potatoes etc) Amenity
gardening (cut flowers, bedding plants, shrubs,
trees, lawn, etc.) Home pot-plants
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Multicote is designed to provide plants with
continuous, balanced nutrient supply.
Plants with restricted root volume will not
tolerate nutrient excesses or deficiencies.
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Fertilizer application independently of
irrigation system enables exact match to plant
needs.
Vigorous
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Multicote reduces losses of nutrients through the
drainage water (and avoid the associated
contamination)
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Residual Effect nutrient release continues at
the garden center and the clients home.
SOLD!
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Multicote vs. liquid fertilizers Israel, 1995
Fertilization through central irrigation system
is a common practice in many nurseries.
Disadvantages of the method All plants receive
the same nutrient dose, with no possibility to
tune application rates according to specific
needs. If irrigation is given in excess (to
prevent salt accumulation) fertilizer is
wasted. Nutrients leached with the drainage and
contaminate groundwater.
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Various tree species in 25 litre containers
Located in open field. Growing medium Perlite /
coir Sprinkler irrigation. All sprinklers
connected to central control system. 6-8 liter
per tree, 300 days a year. Irrigation quantities
are calculated to form 30-40 drainage.
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Soluble fertilizer 1.5 litre (1.785 kg) 7-3-7 per
m3 irrigation water. 300days x 7 litre/day x
(0.07 x 1.785) g N / litre 262 g nitrogen /
(tree x year) Multicote Controlled Release
Fertilizer 6 grams Multicote (8) 18-2.5-10ME
per litre of growing medium, single
application. 6 g / litre x 25 litre x 0.18 27
g nitrogen / (tree x year)
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With only 10 of the nitrogen rate from
treatment
liquid
Tree plants of equal quality were obtained
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Multicote vs. Osmocote, Plantacote Germany, 1996
Multicote (8) 18-2.5-10ME was compared with
Osmocote and Plantacote. The fertilizers were
tested on lonicera, ligustrum and cupressocyparis
nursery stock.
Treatments Multicote (8) 18-2.5-10ME 5
g/l Plantacote D 8M 14-4-12.5 4.75
g/l Osmocote Plus 8-9 months 16-3.5-102ME
5 g/l Application rates are based on the
manufacturer's recommendations
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Results (lonicera)
Plant Development
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Multicote (8)
40
Plantacote D 8M
35
Osmocote 8-9M
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Diameter
Height
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Agricultural uses of Multicote

• Sandy soils (leaching problems)
• Absence of drip irrigation system
• Fertilizer application is technically limited
  (wet area, mulched crops)
• Cash crops
• Crops with high nutrient requirements (nitrogen
  or potassium) e.g. strawberries

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Effect of Multicote on strawberries South Africa,
1995
Cultivar Selecta Planting date early April Soil
type medium sand (3.5 clay, 1.3 silt)
Treatments Multicote (4) 24-3.5-13, 33, 66,
100 2 applic. Multicote (8) 18-2.5-10ME ,
33, 66, 100 Mix ammonium nitratesuperphosphat
eKCl, 33,66,100 application every 28
days. (100 12kg N/ha/28 days)
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Cumulative strawberry yield

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Multicote for the amenity garden

• The amenity garden is characterized by
• Irrigation system which can not be controlled or
  monitored - fertigation is not feasible
• Variety of plants with different nutrient
  requirements
• Limited time

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Multicote for the amenity garden

• Multicote offers
• Simple application, labor saving
• Flexibility of application rates
• Safety - handling and application mistakes will
  not cause severe damages

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Available Multicote Formulae

Multicote (4) for pot plants, bedding plants,
hanging baskets and other short term
crops 17-7.5-14, 24-3.5-13, 20-4-16.5,
18-2.5-10ME, 16-3.5-13ME, 19-2.5-9ME mini

Multicote (6) for pot plants and hanging
baskets 18-2.5-10ME, 16-3.5-13ME,
15-6.5-12.5ME
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Available Multicote Formulae

Multicote (8) for outdoor-grown, containerized
nursery stock production 18-2.5-10ME,
16-3.5-13ME

Multicote (12) for containerized nursery stock
production 17-2-9ME, 15-3-12.5ME
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Available Multicote Formulae

Multicote for forestry, rubber trees, oil palms
and cocoa Multicote (8) 16-3.5-81.8MgM.E. Multi
cote (8) 11-10-91.8Mg Multicote (8)
14-2.5-16.5ME Multicote (8) 12-11-10
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Competitive technologies sulfur coated urea
(SCU, Poly-SCU)
Nutrient Release from Sulfur-Coated Urea
Holes/cracks
Release rate
Microbial oxidation
Lock-off
time
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Competitive technologies Methylene urea, urea
formaldehyde
Urea formaldehyde
Ureaform / Methylene Urea chain
N
N
N
N
N
N
Microbial attack
Available nitrogen (ammonium) CO2 H2O
NH4
NH4
NH4
NH4
NH4
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Competitive technologies IBDU
IBDU release of available nitrogen over time
soluble
N
urea
N
N
N
N
Small IBDU particles
N
N
N
N
N
N
insoluble
N
N
N
N
Large IBDU particles
N
N
N
N
N
time
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Competitive technologies comparison