Release dynamics and crop recovery of Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF)

This study compared the release dynamics, three‐dimensional soil distribution, and crop recovery of nitrogen from polymer coated (PCU) and plant oil coated (POCU) urea to that from granular urea applied in a Vertisol soil in a subtropical climate.

While the controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) slowed the release of N into the soil solution, no clear yield or crop N uptake advantages were observed. A large wet event between 61‐72 days after fertilizer application (DAF) disadvantaged both urea and CRF products (N80 and N90), given most N had been released and nitrified in the first 60 days of the experiment, thus reducing N availability and crop N uptake.