PREPARATION, FORMS AND PROPERTIES OF CONTROLLED-RELEASE PHOSPHATE FERTILIZERS

Controlled-release phosphate fertilizers include phosphate rocks (PRs) for direct application, partially acidulated phosphate rocks (PAPRs) and thermal phosphates. Phosphate rocks contain apatite as the main P containing mineral, the composition and the chemical nature of which v ary between PRs. Based on the solubility in chemical extractants PRs a re broadly grouped into 'reactive' and 'unreactive'. The 'reactivity' of PRs is influenced strongly by the extent of carbonate substitution for phosphate in the apatite minerals. Under certain soil and climatic conditions reactive PRs (RPRs) can be used as a source of P for direc t application. Partially acidulated phosphate rocks (PAPRs) are produc ed either by direct partial acidulation of PRs with mineral acids or b y mixing PRs with fully acidulated superphosphate reaction mixtures. P artial acidulation of PRs with H3PO4 generally results in higher water soluble P contents than those acidulated with H2SO4. Mixing of RPRs w ith superphosphate reaction mixtures sometimes results in the preferen tial consumption of free acid and thereby increases the amounts of res idual unreacted PRs. Thermal phosphates are produced by either heating PRs below melting point both in the presence and the absence of silic a (calcined phosphates) or heating PRs with silica above melting point (fused phosphate). These phosphates are alkaline in nature and hence suitable for acidic soils.