Young orchards, vineyards, and forestry plantations benefit significantly when plants are given the right start. Applying controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) directly into the planting hole delivers nutrients exactly where young plants need them most. Unlike conventional fertilizers, whose uncontrolled release can hinder plant development, ICL’s solutions for planting hole application offer a nutrient supply that is carefully matched to crops’ demands, supporting healthy establishment and long-term productivity.
What is Planting Hole Application?
Planting hole application involves placing fertilizer directly in the planting hole before or during the planting of crops, particularly young trees or vines. This method positions the nutrients close to the developing root system, allowing for immediate uptake and early support.
However, applying conventional granular fertilizers in this way can lead to problems: their rapid nutrient release may create high salt concentrations in the root zone, potentially damaging young roots and reducing plant survival. The design of controlled-release fertilizers, on the other hand, specifically avoids this risk. Their nutrient release is gradual and temperature-dependent, providing a sustained, crop-matched supply over weeks or months.
Why Choose ICL Controlled-Release Fertilizers?
ICL’s planting hole fertilizers ensure safe and effective nutrient delivery right from day one. Products featuring ICL’s Resin Release Technology or E-Max Release Technology provide predictable controlled nutrient availability over extended periods, offering immediately available and long-lasting crop nutrition. This approach improves fertilizer use efficiency, reduces leaching, and lowers the risk of root stress due to salinity.
Key benefits of planting hole application with CRFs include:
- Precise nutrient placement – close to the root zone
- Safe, controlled nutrient delivery for up to 18 months – reduced risk of salt stress
- Support for early growth – encouraging uniform crop establishment
- Single-application convenience – reducing labor and input costs
ICL Solutions for Planting Hole Application
The following ICL products are recommended for planting hole use in agriculture:
Agroblen®
Agroblen® is a fully coated NPK fertilizer that delivers controlled nutrient release for up to 18 months. Formulated for permanent crops such as trees and vines, it supports early development and reduces the need for multiple fertilizer applications. Agroblen® is available in a wide range of NPK formulations tailored to different crop and soil requirements.
Agroblen® Tablet
Agroblen® Tablet delivers the same controlled-release technology in a convenient tablet form. Each tablet contains a precise dose of nutrients, simplifying application and ensuring consistency from plant to plant. It’s particularly useful for high-efficiency planting in orchards, vineyards, and forestry operations.
Agroblen® with V-Factor
Agroblen® with V-Factor features a power-packed combination of patented Resin Release Technology for controlled nutrient release and our V-Factor Organic Growth Enhancer. The V-Factor technology reduces osmotic stress, enhances nitrogen metabolism, and boosts root development to increase root weight and improve plant establishment.
Best Practice Guidelines
Four simple practices will help to maximize the effectiveness of planting hole application:
- Placement: Apply fertilizer in the planting hole, close to the root zone.
- Timing: Apply at the time of planting or transplanting.
- Irrigation: Ensure thorough watering after application to support nutrient activation.
- Product selection: Use fully coated controlled-release fertilizers such as Agroblen® for a safe, extended nutrient supply.
A Reliable Start for Long-Term Success
Planting hole application using ICL’s controlled-release fertilizers provides young crops with a balanced and reliable nutrient supply during the critical establishment phase. By reducing nutrient losses and preventing early stress, Agroblen® products help young trees and vines to establish faster and more uniformly, laying the foundations for long-term yield and performance.
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The perfect controlled release solution for the establishment of young plants
Agroblen® provides a continuous supply of nutrients throughout your chosen longevity. As every single NPK granule is coated, it’s safe for early crop cycle stages and promotes uniform growth – ideal for young plants. Agroblen® comes in different longevities, from 2-3 up to 16-18 months, to cover the nutritional needs of a wide range of crops – from fruits such as strawberries, to perennials such as vineyards, orchards, forestry and tropical crops. Agroblen® uses ICL’s patented Resin Release Technology that precisely controls the release of nutrients. The release is regulated by soil temperature and ensures that the nutrient availability closely matches plant demand. This reduces the excess of nutrients that is lost into the atmosphere or soil, which means it minimizes the fertilizer’s environmental impact. As a result, this technology maximizes your crops’ uptake and nutrition use.
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Precision nutrition to meet all your plants’ needs
Agroblen® Tablet gives you an excellent all-in-one nutrition solution. It stands out thanks to its advanced technology, ease of use and environmental friendliness. Agroblen® Tablet is a 100% coated NPK-based fertilizer enriched with magnesium and trace elements. It features patented Resin Release Technology for simultaneous N, P and K release, precision nutrition supply and efficient uptake. You can apply Agroblen® Tablet in spots or plant hole, so you get planting and feeding in one application. It has also been designed with sustainability in mind. The tablets are made of an environmentally-friendly adhesive that is fully water soluble. The innovative composition means you can reduce the dosage compared to conventional fertilizers. It also helps you reduce your environmental impact by minimizing nutrient losses through rainfall or irrigation. Agroblen® Tablet leverages innovation to let you meet all your plants’ nourishment needs throughout the entire crop cycle. Effective, easy and economical – this tablet has it all.
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Boost your plants’ growth safely and sustainability
Agroblen® with V-Factor puts your young seedlings on the right path to healthy growth. We’ve developed this innovative nutrition solution especially for open-field application in forestry, vineyards, and orchards, particularly new plantations. It features a power-packed combination of patented Resin Release Technology and the V-Factor Organic Growth enhancer. The fertilizer comprises N, P and K components, plus magnesium and boron. It provides fully-coated nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and boron and high-quality nutrients in one nutrition solution. The embedded V-Factor Technology contains a balanced composition of amino-acids, such as glutamate, that enhances root development and nitrogen metabolism, and betaine, which acts as osmolyte in the event of abiotic stress. This all combines to result in better root development, plant establishment and survival rates, while also reducing osmotic stress. The steady and even nutrient release gives you uniform crop growth and optimal yields. What’s more, Agroblen® with V-Factor is environmentally friendly because it minimizes leaching of nutrients thanks to its 100% coated NPK and is safe to use. It even promotes microbial biomass in the soil. Agroblen® with V-Factor puts state-of-the-art technology to work for you for better crops, yields and returns.
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