Controlled Release Fertilizer
A controlled release fertilizer (CRF) is coated so that nutrients are released gradually over months instead of all at once. Fewer rounds of application, less nutrient washed away, lower cost per tree.
What is controlled release fertilizer?
A controlled release fertilizer is a granular fertilizer wrapped in a thin polymer coating. Water passes through the coating,
dissolves the nutrients inside, and those nutrients then move out slowly through the same semi-permeable layer. Instead of anlarge dose that is available immediately, the plant receives a steady supply over a set period.
The result is fewer applications and less waste. A conventional fertilizer releases everything as soon as it dissolves, so a heavy rain can carry a large share of it past the root zone before the plant has used it. A controlled release fertilizer is still releasingbmonths later, which is why it suits young palms, nurseries and replanting, where the plant needs a long, even supply and where re-applying is expensive.
How the coating controls the release
The coating is not a barrier. It is a semi-permeable membrane, which means it lets water in and lets dissolved nutrients back out at a controlled rate.
Three things set that rate: the thickness and composition of the coating, the size of the granule, and soil temperature. Temperature matters most in the field. Nutrients release faster when the soil is warm and slower when it is cool, which broadly matches how quickly the plant is growing and taking nutrients up.
Because the release is governed by the coating rather than by rainfall, the nutrient supply is far more predictable than with a conventional fertilizer. That predictability is the whole point: the grower can plan one application instead of four or five, and be confident the palm is fed in between.
Controlled release fertilizer compared with conventional fertilizer
| Conventional Fertilizer | Controlled Release Fertilizer | |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrient release | All at once, as soon as it dissolves | Gradual, over months, through the coating |
| Applications per year | Typically 4 to 5 rounds | Can be a single round |
| Loss to leaching | High, especially after heavy rain | Substantially lower |
| Labour | Repeated trips to every tree | One trip |
| Risk of root burn | Higher, from a concentrated dose | Lower, the dose is spread over time |
| Best suited to | Established palms on a regular schedule | Nurseries, young palms, replanting, difficult access |
Does controlled release fertilizer actually work?
Claims about fertilizer are easy to make and hard to check, so it is worth looking at measured field data rather than promises. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) tested a controlled release formulation across a full trial programme before certifying it.
What the trials measured
| MEASURE | RESULT |
|---|---|
| Nutrient lost to leaching, against conventional fertilizer | 56% lower |
| Cost saving, small nursery | up to 40% |
| Cost saving, large nursery | up to 27% |
| Cost saving, replanting | up to 42% |
| Trial duration | 3 years of development and testing |
Source: MPOB, 2026.
The programme covered 18 trial locations:
- 7 laboratory tests
- 2 small nursery sites
- 4 large nursery sites
- 5 replanting sites
Sites were spread across Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia: MPOB headquarters in Selangor, Bagan Datuk in Perak, Hulu Paka in Terengganu, Segamat in Johor, Sessang in Sarawak, and Lahad Datu in Sabah.
The formulation tested in this programme is MPOB F7, developed by MPOB together with Smart Fert. Read the full MPOB F7 trial results and dosage guide.
What controlled release fertilizer saves
| STAGE | COST SAVING | BASIS |
|---|---|---|
| Small nursery | up to 40% | 11,100 germinated seeds at 0.25 ha |
| Large nursery | up to 27% | 9,900 seedlings at 0.65 ha |
| Replanting | up to 42% | 148 trees per hectare |
The saving does not come from the price per bag – a coated fertilizer costs more per kilogram than an uncoated one. It comes from three places: you apply less of it, you apply it fewer times, and less of what you apply is lost before the palm uses it.
Where controlled release fertilizer is used
Oil palm
Nurseries, young palms and replanting benefit most, because these are the stages where the plant needs a long steady supply and where repeat application costs the most.
Paddy
Flooded fields lose a large share of conventional nitrogen. A controlled release formulation keeps nitrogen available through the growing period.
Learn more about controlled release fertilizer for paddy.
Flowers & ornamentals
Container growing gives roots a small volume of media and little buffer against over or under feeding, which is exactly what a controlled release product is designed for.
Learn more about controlled release fertilizer for flowers.
Smart Fert, controlled release fertilizer manufacturer
Smart Fert Sdn Bhd was established in 1997 and has manufactured controlled release fertilizer since 2008. The company is the sole producer of controlled release fertilizer in Southeast Asia, and exports around 90% of its output to Asia Pacific, Africa, South America and Europe.
Its most recent product, MPOB F7, was developed with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board over three years and is the seventh generation in MPOB’s fertilizer improvement programme.
Our Global Market Presence
Our controlled release fertilizers
MPOB F7
A polymer coated controlled release fertilizer developed with MPOB for oil palm nurseries, young palms and replanting. Formulation 19-8-13-2.5-0.4B +TE. Learn more about MPOB F7 controlled release fertilizer.
SmartGro
Smart Fert’s controlled release range for a wider set of crops, including polymer coated urea. Learn more about the SmartGro controlled release range.
Frequently asked questions about controlled release fertilizer
What is the difference between controlled release and slow release fertilizer?
Both release nutrients over time, but a controlled release fertilizer uses a coating to govern the rate, so the release pattern is predictable and can be engineered. Slow release usually relies on the material breaking down naturally, which is far more dependent on soil conditions.
How long does controlled release fertilizer last?
It depends on the coating and the soil temperature. Formulations are made to release over a set period, and warmer soil speeds that up. For oil palm nursery and replanting use, a single application is designed to cover a full year.
Is controlled release fertilizer more expensive?
Per kilogram, yes. Per palm over a year, usually not, because you apply less, you apply it once instead of four or five times, and less is lost to leaching. MPOB trials measured savings of up to 42% at replanting
Can controlled release fertilizer burn roots?
The risk is lower than with conventional fertilizer, because the nutrients are not all available at once. The coating is what prevents the concentrated dose that causes burn.