Coated Urea Fertilizers: A Comprehensive Review on Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizers

This review explores the important findings of recent research on slow-release nitrogen fertilizers (SRNFs) as a response to concerns about unsustainable nitrogen use in agriculture. By analyzing recent scholarly literature, the paper investigates how SRNFs, which utilize coatings to deliver nutrients gradually, can improve nutrient utilization efficiency and minimize environmental impact compared to conventional fertilizers. The review examines various coating materials, including inorganic minerals, synthetic polymers, and biodegradable polymers, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each. Biodegradable polymers emerge as a promising and sustainable alternative due to their eco-friendly nature.  The analysis reveals that SRNFs can enhance plant growth, optimize nutrient use efficiency, and reduce environmental pollution from fertilizers. However, challenges remain in precisely controlling nutrient release rates and aligning them with plant growth stages. This review underscores the potential of SRNFs as a sustainable solution for nitrogen management in agriculture, while acknowledging areas for further research.本综述针对农业领域氮素利用不可持续的现实关切，系统梳理了缓释氮肥（slow-release nitrogen fertilizers, SRNFs）的近期研究核心发现。本文通过分析近期学术文献，探究了这类依靠包膜实现养分缓慢释放的缓释氮肥相较于传统肥料，如何提升养分利用效率并降低环境影响。本综述对各类包膜材料展开了分析，涵盖无机矿物、合成聚合物与可生物降解聚合物，并逐一阐述了各类材料的优势与局限。其中，可生物降解聚合物凭借环境友好的特性，成为极具前景的可持续替代方案。分析结果表明，缓释氮肥能够促进作物生长、优化养分利用效率，并降低肥料引发的环境污染。但当前仍存在精准调控养分释放速率、使其与作物生长阶段相匹配的技术难题。本综述明确了缓释氮肥作为农业氮素管理可持续解决方案的应用潜力，同时也指出了有待进一步研究的方向。