Slow Release of Potash Fertilizer Through Polymer Coating

Slow release of fertilizers is one of the means of minimizing the fertilizer loss. This can be achieved by using different types of coatings, like Plaster of paris, Wax etc. Present study is envisaged to study the dissolution rate of water soluble polymer coated potash prepared in the form of a cylindrical pellet. The polymer used is Polyacrylamide which is also useful in reducing soil erosion. The variables studied are quantity of fertilizer, quantity of water surrounding the pellet, replenishment time. It has been observed that lower the quantity of fertilizer and lower the quantity of water, slower the release is. The strength of the pellet is observed to play a vital role in the studies on replenishment time. Conductivity measurements are carried out for finding out the dissolution of potash into water. For highlighting the effectiveness of coating, the dissolution studies in the absence of polymer coating are also carried out.