One method of reducing nutrient losses and hazardous effects to the environment resulted from the overuse of conventional fertilizers involves the use of slow/controlled release fertilizers. As a kind of slow/controlled release fertilizers

polymer coated slow/controlled release fertilizer is important. The environmental factors

coating thickness and processing technique

which affect the release performance of polymer coated slow release fertilizers

have been studied deeply. While structural factors

which also have a substantial influence on the release performance

were studied less previously. The article systematically discussed the structural factors on release performance of polymer coated slow release fertilizers

including crystalline properties

hydrophobic/hydrophilic character

flexibility of macromolecular chains

crosslinking behavior and so on. The deep research of structural factors is benefit for the slection of coating materials and can provide theoretical basis for development and production of polymer coated slow/controlled release fertilizers.