CONTROLLED RELEASE FERTILISERS-LESSONS FROM A REVIEW AND EARLY RESULTS CHARACTERISING RELEASE, SYNCHRONY AND NITROGEN LOSSES

THE RECENT INTEREST in the use of controlled release fertilisers to reduce nitrogen (N) loss and increase N use efficiency in sugarcane systems warrants a closer look at the understanding and lessons gained from experimental trials to date. This paper presents lessons from a review of the available, published evidence. It also presents early results from SRA project 2014/011 characterising N release from a range of controlled release fertiliser products and uses modelling to explore N uptake patterns and N loss pathways. The modelling also provides insights into how yield or fertiliser N use efficiency benefits will likely occur.