Why Biodegradable Fertilizer Coatings Are Changing the Game for Growers (And How Durable Inputs™ Lead the Way)

The Problem: Nutrient Loss and Environmental Impact

Every grower faces a costly issue: nutrient loss. Traditional fertilizers dissolve rapidly or wash away, leading to inefficient nutrient use, higher costs, and environmental harm. Agriculture contributes significantly to nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, causing toxic algal blooms and ecosystem damage (EPA).

Enter Biodegradable Fertilizer Coatings

Biodegradable fertilizer coatings are emerging as a game-changing solution. Unlike traditional polymer-coated fertilizers, these coatings break down naturally in the soil and avoid contributing to microplastic pollution. Field trials show that biodegradable coatings:

• Reduce nitrate leaching by up to 54%
• Delay nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions
• Maintain consistent nutrient delivery

PED’s Durable Inputs™ are fully bio-based, plastic-free, and proven effective in commercial trials.

Case Study: CCN-A vs. Conventional Fertilizer

A 14-week side-by-side trial compared CCN-A (a PED product) with a standard 16-6-28 fertilizer. Here’s what happened:

• CCN-A soils held nitrogen above 100 ppm for over 5 weeks.
• In the same period, conventional fertilizer dropped sharply after week one.
• Even under 2.25–2.7 inches of weekly rainfall, CCN-A retained ~80 ppm more nitrogen.

These results show the clear advantage of PED’s slow-release, biodegradable formulation.

Aligning with Regulations

The European Union will require fertilizer coatings to biodegrade >90% within four years by 2028 (EU Regulation). PED’s Durable Inputs™ already meet this threshold, giving growers a future-proof solution.