Slow-Release Fertilizers: A Promising Solution to Environment Pollution

Nitrate is the most abundant and common pollutant in Iran's underground water sources. More than half of the nitrogen fertilizers are wasted and returned to the environment due to nitrogen solubility in water, sublimation, oxidation and reduction, nitrification, and denitrification. Therefore, the use of slow-release fertilizers can be one of the appropriate solutions for its waste. Also, the use of slow-release fertilizers saves money and improves product performance. The results of this research show that slow-release fertilizers enhance the quality of water. This study also shows that natural slow-release fertilizers are not harmful to the environment and can even benefit plant growth. Slow-release urea fertilizers release nitrogen for a more extended period. In addition to reducing pollution, these fertilizers can also improve crop performance. This is because they provide a more stable nitrogen source for plants, which helps prevent nutrient deficiencies. The use of slow-release nitrogen fertilizers dramatically increases the duration of nitrogen release in water and the environment, and this ensures a healthier environment and will be much more economical than conventional fertilizers.