#341 |
(09-04-2023, 02:11 PM)Vinny Wrote:I don't think all controlled release granules are coated in plastic polymers, it seems to vary between brands. Some of them use a coating which is broken down slowly by microbes instead. I think the longer lasting granules (Osmocote for example sell ones which feed for 9 months) are more likely to contain plastic. So far I've found blue, green and orange/yellow ones.(09-04-2023, 12:58 PM)toomanytommytoes Wrote: My concern with controlled release fertilisers is the polymers they coat the granules with not being biodegradable. I've found empty blue plastic shells in pots, and the last time I bought compost with blue granules in was over 3 years ago.We did tests and found the stuff we used totally degraded? We used it for many years and I can't say I ever found any 'shells' remaining in the substrate.We did add 100 tonne of Messingham sports sand to each pitch each year as a topdressing so thats maybe why I never found any spent fertiliser shells? I have seen slow release fertiliser with masive granular size from Sierrablen (which we tried and discarded) but ours were micro grans and not in the fluerecent colours I have seen sold in GC's.
I like to grow organic but it isn't feasible on Sports pitches? (not then ,anyway) We once tried organic chicken manure based pellets on the cricket outfield. It was great until we had a shower of rain where all the criceters came off the oval holding there noses! We had rat problems in storage with it as well!
I think to fertilise sports pitches organically you'd need to use liquid feeds or a fine powder which disappears quickly. There is a football club called Forest Green whose pitch is full organic. You can read about some of the things they use here - https://www.carbongold.com/forest-green-rovers/