Which term describes a fertilizer that releases nutrients gradually over time?

Which term describes a fertilizer that releases nutrients gradually over time?

• A. Slow-release fertilizer
• B. Quick-release fertilizer
• C. Water-insoluble fertilizer
• D. Organic fertilizer

Answer: (A)

Nutrient delivery over an extended period is the defining feature of slow-release fertilizers. They are designed to release nutrients gradually rather than all at once, often through a coating or bound matrix. This steady supply supports uniform turf growth, reduces the risk of fertilizer burn, and minimizes nutrient losses from leaching during rain or irrigation. The other terms don’t describe the timing of nutrient availability: quick-release fertilizers deliver nutrients rapidly soon after application, which can cause a quick green-up but higher burn risk and more potential for runoff; water-insoluble refers to how readily the product dissolves in water, not how long nutrients stay available; organic fertilizer describes the source material rather than the rate of nutrient release (though some organic products can release nutrients slowly, the defining term here is about gradual release).

Nutrient delivery over an extended period is the defining feature of slow-release fertilizers. They are designed to release nutrients gradually rather than all at once, often through a coating or bound matrix. This steady supply supports uniform turf growth, reduces the risk of fertilizer burn, and minimizes nutrient losses from leaching during rain or irrigation.

The other terms don’t describe the timing of nutrient availability: quick-release fertilizers deliver nutrients rapidly soon after application, which can cause a quick green-up but higher burn risk and more potential for runoff; water-insoluble refers to how readily the product dissolves in water, not how long nutrients stay available; organic fertilizer describes the source material rather than the rate of nutrient release (though some organic products can release nutrients slowly, the defining term here is about gradual release).