Picture 8. Lysimeter citrus trial (Photo: IVIA/Spain; Serna et al., 2000)
7. Consumption and economics of slow- and controlled-release and nitrification
7.1. Consumption
7.1.1. Slow- and controlled-release fertilizers
World consumption of synthetic slow- and controlled-release fertilizers in 2004/05 was estimated at 786,000 metric tonnes (t), a 45% increase compared to 1995/96 (Table 22.).
Table 22. World consumption of manufactured slow- and controlled-release fertilizers (metric tonnes of fertilizer product).
Region 1983 1995/96 2004/05 2006/07
Estimate
United States 202,000 357,000 569,000 590,000
Western Europe 76,000 87,000 120,000 125,000
Japan 47,000 96,000 97,000 110,000
China 1,350,0001
Canada 150,0001
Total 325,000 540,000 786,000 2,275,000
1 Only capacities, consumption unknown.
Key data on the global market for slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, as well as first estimates for 2009 are given by Landels (2010b).
Since 2005, the observed dramatic increase in consumption is due to additional production capacity for sulphur-coated urea (SCU) in China and to a new generation of polymer-coated urea (PCU) fertilizers developed by Agrium (ESN). In 2002, Agrium started to introduce their ESN® for agricultural crops in the USA, primarily for maize and wheat. The company announced that they would enlarge the ESN production capacity to 150,000 t in 2006/2007. This is not yet included in the estimated consumption for 2006/07.
In China, Shandong Kingenta increased production capacity for slow- and controlled-release fertilizers from 350,000 to 500,000 t in 2007. This company produces
SCU, sulphur-coated fertilizers (SCF), PCU and polymer-coated fertilizers (PCF).
Hanfeng Evergreen, another Chinese company, increased its capacity to 150,000 t for the production of SCU and polymer-coated/sulphur-coated fertilizers (PSCF), in addition to 500 t urea-formaldehyde (UF) condensation products. Shikefeng Chemical Industry started with 200,000 t production of SCU in 2006, and enlarged the capacity by a further 500,000 t in 2007.
In the mid-1990s, UF-formulations had the largest market share among the slow- and controlled-release fertilizers. However, since 2000, SCU, polymer-coated/sulphur-coated urea (PSCU) and PCFs have become the largest group of products sold. Now, however, PSCU is increasingly replacing SCU.
Table 23. World consumption of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers by product type (metric tonnes of fertilizer material).
Region Urea reaction
products SCU/PSCU PCF Others Total
1995/96
USA 205,000 100,000 45,000 7,000 357,000
W. Europe 65,000 2,000 20,000 _ 87,000
Japan 36,000 60,000 96,000
540,000 2004/2005
USA 223,000 226,000 120,000 _ 569,000
W. Europe 80,000 5,000 35,000 _ 120,000
Japan 5,000 92,000 _ 97,000
786,000 Compared to UF-based products and PCFs, the production of SCU/PSCU is more economical and these types of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers (e.g. ESN in the USA and Canada) are thus becoming attractive for use on field agricultural crops. In contrast, in Western Europe, UF-based slow-release fertilizers are still the dominant group although their use on field crops remains negligible.
In Japan, the authorities started a campaign aimed at reducing the very large fertilizer application rates, especially of N fertilizers. Consequently, mineral fertilizer consumption has declined by about 30% over the past thirty years. The Japanese Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF) then launched a programme to replace conventional N fertilizers by slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, mainly coated fertilizers, and consumption of these special types of fertilizers has grown steadily. Polymer-coated fertilizers (mainly urea) have become the most important. The main crops to which slow- and controlled-release fertilizers are applied are rice and high-value vegetables.
Estimates for China, suggest that of the total production capacity of 1 million metric tonnes (Mt) of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, 500,000 t are SCU and PSCU and the other 500,000 t are PCFs and PCU. Ninety percent of the production is intended for the local market for all crops, and 10% for export.
According to IFA estimates (IFA, 2010), world fertilizer consumption reached 155.6 Mt nutrients in 2004/05, corresponding to approximately 420 Mt of fertilizer product.
Consequently, the estimated consumption of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers in 2004/05 (786,000 t without the Chinese capacity of 1.350 Mt) still amounts to no more than 0.20% of total world fertilizer consumption. If the total output of all the new production capacities is included the share of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers would still only reach 0.47% of world mineral fertilizer consumption.
Although the market for speciality fertilizers is negligible it is, however, a fast-growing one, as demonstrated by the large increase in production capacity in China and by Agrium. The potential for increased use in agriculture is tremendous considering the advantages in terms of labour saving, increased nutrient recovery (N-use efficiency/
efficiency design), reduced fertilizer application rates, improved yields and reduced negative environmental impact. Increased energy costs, but also increased income through higher prices for agricultural produce, would further favour the application of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers in agricultural crops. In addition, programmes such as that of MAFF in Japan to reduce fertilizer application rates by replacing conventional fertilizers by slow- and controlled-release fertilizers would further promote their use.
7.1.2. Nitrification inhibitors
There are no reliable, publicly-available statistics on the use of nitrification inhibitors and of fertilizers containing these products due, in part, to the limited number of producers, e.g. there is only one manufacturer of nitrapyrin in the United States. The same is true for the consumption of DCD in the United States, Canada, East Asia and Western Europe.
The importance of nitrapyrin and DCD as nitrification inhibitors in agriculture can only be demonstrated from estimates of the cropland area on which N, NP and NPK fertilizers containing nitrification inhibitors are applied. For the United States, the total area on which treated fertilizers were applied in 1994/95 was estimated at 1.820 million hectares (Mha). Of this area, approximately 1.620 Mha had N fertilizers with nitrapyrin and 200,000 ha with DCD-containing N fertilizers. Favoured by wet weather and environmental considerations in 1995/96, this total area had increased to approximately 1.860 Mha but this was still only 1.16% of the total cropped area of 160 Mha in 1995/96.
No similar estimates can be made for Western Europe.
7.1.3. Urease inhibitors
There is only one main producer (and several licensees in various parts of the world) of urease inhibitors and there are no data on the total worldwide consumption.