Mechanochemical Synthesis of Slow-Release Fertilizers: A Review

This review discusses the processes and applications associated with the mechanochemical synthesis of Slow-Release Fertilizers (SRF) from different resources.

The effect of mineral fertilizers on the environment and on living species will be discussed. Moreover, various aspects related to fertilizers production and applications are illustrated. It is found that solid-solid mechanical interaction initiates chemical reactions by lowering their energy of activation when compared to other thermochemical processes. Since milling is an important industrial operation, its contribution to materials processing is discussed.

In general, SRFs increase the value of nutrient uptake in plants and reduces energy consumption and labor costs.