Marianne's Response

Osmocote shells

The statement on the web site is that the empty shells from Osmocote degrade into the soil. What is the mechanism of this degradation. Does the resin biologically degrade or is it a physical degradation only? If it is physical only, does Osmocote contribute to microplastic pollution?

Posted by Dennis Doncaster on October 15, 2018

Marianne's Response

The shell is a derivative of linseed oil and degrades biologically. One of the special qualities of Osmocote is the fact that because its nutrients are released via osmosis, it does not contribute to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes with excess nitrogen because it replaces the nutrients in the soil at the same rate that plants take nutrients up. Bob Stohler for Marianne Binetti.