The use of controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) has been recognized as an efficient approach to nutrient management in China since 1997, but a critical review of the country’s CRF research and development (R&D) is lacking. This contribution summarizes more than 10-year experience with CRFs and the results of an extensive review of Chinese literature on this topic. The paper distinguishes between CRFs and slow-release fertilizers (SRFs). The history of research on CRFs in China comprises three stages: 1) the exploration period; 2) the popularization period; and 3) the integration period with industrial production of CRFs. The main factors determining the effectiveness of CRFs are the coating agent’s magnitude and the ratio of coating materials. The analysis of CRF development in China and other countries and of current trends and needs in agriculture allows to predict the future development of this fertilizer sector.

Keywords: China, Coating Agent, Coating Material, Controlled Release Fertilizer, Nutrient Release