Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 3(3), pp. 45-53. March, 2015.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2015.003

Full Length Research

New slow release fertilizers containing N, P, Ca, and Mg as active nutrients were synthesized by micro-encapsulation in urea-formaldehyde systems. The main objective was to determine the slow-release properties by subjecting these new fertilizers to leaching tests and in vitro experiments on Arabidopsis thaliana. These incipient results were found to be extremely promising and will be followed by in vivo studies on Romanian open fields in order to evaluate the fertilizers’ capacity in open environment. This newly developed solid polymer microstructure will facilitate the slow/controlled release of the nutrients and will ensure a total absorption of the active compounds in cultivated plants. It was found that the degree of nitrogen leaching depends on the solubility of controlled fertilizer, being 61.19% for the system with N-P-Ca nutrients, and 31.97% for the system with N-P-Mg nutrients. The soil conductivity variations in time and with the type of fertilizer had a good correlation through second order equation models. The main advantage is that by avoiding the loss of chemicals in soil, water, and air, these new N-P-Ca-Mg fertilizers will ensure also the reducing of the wastes and contaminants (like nitrates, nitrosamines) in agro-systems and also the protection of the biosphere and consumers’ health.

Keywords: slow release, fertilizer, urea-formaldehyde, N-P-Ca-Mg, Arabidopsis thaliana

How to cite this article: Neamţu C, Popescu M, Dima S-O (2015). Leaching and in vitro agrochemical screening for new slow release fertilizers containing N, P, Ca, and Mg. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res.  3(3):45-53. 

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