moderate - release fertilizers ( CRFs ) offer a few advantage for growers . CRFs are grainy fertilizer particle that are surface with a polymer or resin that restricts the amount of wet contact and functions to dissolve the fertilizer particles to gradually release fertiliser over time . The heaviness of the coating and melody temperature order the release charge per unit . The higher the temperature , the faster the fertiliser will be released . Whether a CRF or pee soluble fertilizer is used , both have advantages and disadvantages .
relief of useThe primary welfare of using CRFs is the certificate the grower has in knowing the plant life will experience the food they need regardless of atmospheric condition conditions . During cool , cloudy weather when the plants stay pixilated and do n’t take watering , a raiser using a water - soluble fertilizer must decide whether to fertilize plants and perhaps overwater the crop , or risk take nutrient deficiencies . A CRF will ceaselessly release fertilizer without the accession of water . It only needs to be applied once , unlike water supply - soluble fertilizers .
Reduced program costsLabor is always a care for growers . The internalisation of a CRF can trim back labor costs by eliminating the need to mix and monitor water soluble fertiliser and bound the need for expensive shot equipment . This also eliminates the chance of improperly mingle a pee - soluble plant food in the stock solution , which can compromise craw character .
trim back environmental impactThe with child long - terminus benefit of CRF incorporation in a growing medium is possibly an environmental one . Since the nutrients are released slow and ideally at the rate that plants use them , the amount of food leached during watering is minimal in comparison to using water soluble fertilizer . This is peculiarly true when plant are overhead - irrigate and the run - off is not collected or reprocess . Lack of flexibilityWhen using water - soluble fertilizers , a grower is able to adjust the fertilizer coating rate and conceptualisation with each watering to meet the accurate needs of the harvest and environmental conditions . With CRFs , however , once the fertiliser has been incorporated , it can not be shift . In the early spring and belated fall , when temperature are unseasonably lovesome or cool , the fertilizer may be released too promptly and cause tooth root burn , or dissolve too slowly , causing alimentary insufficiency .
Storage limitationsThe smashing worry when using a growing medium with an integrated CRF is how long the medium has been stored before habit . Since the nutrients are release based on temperature , they will start being released as before long as they are incorporate into the growing medium . Therefore , the grow mass medium should be used within 7 - 10 day after incorporation to avert issues with high fertiliser salts .
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