METHOD FOR PREPARING AN ENCAPSULATED SLOW-RELEASE PARTICULATE FERTILIZER

A method of preparing an encapsulated slow-release particulate fertilizer by encapsulation of a particulate fertilizer starting material in a coherent shell of a waterproofing material comprising: subjecting the particulate fertilizer starting material to a pretreatment to enhance its capacity of holding powderous material by adhesion, to yield a first intermediary product; coating said first intermediary product with a powderous waterproofing material of a kind that fuses at a temperature below the phase transition temperature of the fertilizer to yield a seond intermediary product in which fertilizer particles bear a coat of powderous waterproofing material; heating said second intermediary product to a temperature below the phase transition temperature of the fertilizer, at which the waterproofing material fuses and then allowing the particulate fertilizer to cool; whereby a final slow release encapsulated particulate fertilizer product is obtained in which the fertilizer particles are encapsulated within a coherent shell of waterproofing material.