Abstract
Biodegradable chitosan was used to cover fertilizer granules with an inert, impermeable layer in order to obtain a material with
controlled release properties. The process was performed in a laboratory drum granulator. Prepared materials were characterized
with available analytical methods (XRD, optical microscopy). The layer thickness of the obtained materials was in the range of
0.047 – 0.5425 mm. The degree of nutrients' release (0.64-0.965 within five hours) were determined with standardized method.
Exponential, sigmoidal and power equations were used to describe the kinetics of nutrients' release.
Key words: biodegradable materials, controlled release fertilizers, granulation
Received: January, 2012; Revised final: June, 2012; Accepted: July, 2012