Hitherto, various perspectives on slow/controlled release fertilizers
have been discussed in different reviews and book chapters. Ussiri [19]
presented fertilizer management strategies to boost plant nutrient-use
efficiency and reduce nitrous oxide emissions. Davidson [16] wrote on
the control releaseminutiae of nutrients N, P, K, Mg, Zn, and the commercial
availability of CRFs alongwith some description of crops that use CRFs
for nutrition. Trenkel [7] published a review on different options to
enhance the nutrient use efficiency of plants, including the use of
CRFs, urease inhibitors, nitrification inhibitors as well as economic and
legislative aspects concerning these materials. A similar review on the
improvement of nutrient-use efficiency with an additional segment for
the controlled release of phosphorus fertilizers was presented by Chien
[4]. The use of controlled release nitrogenous fertilizers, specifically for
vegetable crops, was discussed by Guertal [20]. Akiyama [21] employed