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Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs): The Key to Maximizing Turf Health, Sustainability, and Your Return on Investment (ROI)

January 16, 2022

Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs): The Key to Maximizing Turf Health, Sustainability, and Your Return on Investment (ROI)

January 16, 2022

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), just what are they?

You may have heard the term thrown around, or you may have seen a product labeled as EEF, but do you know the potential benefits of using EEFs for your turfgrass needs? In this presentation, we will be discussing a few key topics around the subject of EEFs. First, we will discuss what defines a fertilizer to be an EEF, as well as discussing several different types of EEFs that are readily available. Next, we will be moving on to the discussion of how EEFs are beneficial for turfgrass. This will lead us into our third topic of how EEFs are environmentally responsible. Our final topic will be how using EEFs can protect your return on your fertilizer investment. All the topics that will be presented today, will help you to maximize turf health. 

What are EEFs and what types are available?

The official definition of enhanced efficiency fertilizers defined by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) is, fertilizer products with characteristics that allow increased plant uptake and reduce the potential of nutrient losses to the environment (i.e. gaseous losses, leaching or runoff) when compared to an appropriate reference product. To simplify the definition, EEFs are fertilizers that increase nutrient availability and decrease the loss of those nutrients to the environment by maintaining the nutrients within the root zone of the turfgrass. The initial response for EEFs can range from just a few days to a few weeks but the longevity of the EEF can be several months, sometimes even up to 12. EEFs can have different release mechanisms involved ranging from temperature-controlled diffusion, microbial, solubility, and hydrolysis, just to list a few. The initial response, longevity, and release mechanisms all depend on what type of EEF is used. Although there are several classes of EEFs, we will only be discussing three types. These types are controlled-release, slow-release, and nitrification inhibitors. 


Controlled-release fertilizers use coatings, such as advanced polymer-coated urea, to delay or extend the nutrient availability of nitrogen to the turfgrass that it is applied to. They release the nutrients based on osmosis and diffusion through the coating. Water passes through the polymer layer and dissolves the nutrients inside. Those nutrients then slowly release from the coating and into the soil. The release rate and longevity depend on the coating thickness and soil temperature. 


Slow-release fertilizers use coatings, such as sulfur and wax, to react urea with other ingredients that slowly decompose and break down by chemical and/or biological processes in the soil, thus delaying nitrogen release. Cracks in the coating allow water to move in and dissolve, then release the urea. If the coating is intact then water movement through the coating results in internal osmotic pressure that cracks the coating and releases the nutrients. This process is called catastrophic release. Microbial degradation of the coating also allows water to reach the urea, dissolving and releasing it.



Nitrification inhibitors work in the soil by slowing the microbial conversion of ammonium to nitrate. They are antibiotics that may be effective at reducing nitrogen loss for several weeks depending on conditions. They only function in a limited area around the granule. These chemical compounds temporarily reduce populations of certain bacteria that are responsible for converting ammonium to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate in the soil. Depending on soil temperature and pH, efficacy can range from two to several weeks.


The Benefits of Using EEFs on Turfgrass

Now that you understand a little more about what exactly enhanced eficiency fertilizers are, let’s dive into the benefits of using EEFs on your turfgrass. EEFs control the nutrient intake of the fertilizer into the turfgrass. Traditional soluble fertilizers quickly dissolve into the soil. When fertilizer is quickly dissolved, the turfgrass can’t readily absorb all the nutrients. This gives a potential increase for them to be lost to the soil and possibly into surface and groundwater. Since slow- and controlled-release fertilizers gradually deliver nitrogen and other nutrients to match the turfgrass uptake needs, EEFs can virtually eliminate nutrient loss due to leaching and denitrification. With this steady feeding to the turfgrass, surge growth is minimized, and the number of fertilizer applications are reduced. With traditional fertilizers, multiple applications are common to keep the turfgrass green and healthy. However, only a limited amount of applications is needed with EEFs. EEFs also have high carbon to nitrogen ratios which provide increased microbial activity, thus fortifying soils and reducing thatch buildup. The compounds found in nitrification inhibitors protect against both denitrification and leaching by retaining fertilizer nitrogen in the ammonium form.


Environmentally Responsible

Using enhanced efficiency fertilizers is not only beneficial to the turfgrass you are applying it to, but it is also beneficial for the environment. EEFs benefit the environment both directly and indirectly. Since EEFs increase nutrient availability and decrease the loss of those nutrients to the environment, this reduces the greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination that happens when using traditional fertilizers. Traditional fertilizers are also subject to loss by leaching through the soil or volatilizing (escaping into the atmosphere), which harms the environment. A nutrient that leaves its intended application site is considered a pollutant. Leaching is when a nutrient moves beyond the turfgrass root system and is no longer available for the turfgrass to absorb. With leaching and runoff, there is the risk of contamination of ground water which can lead to health hazards. If the nutrients get into water bodies or wetlands there is an increased risk of algae blooms and other plant growth that reduces the water’s ability to support life. By using EEFs, you reduce the risk of losing valuable nutrients and therefore reduce the environmental impact.


Protect Your Return on Your Fertilizer Investment

Using enhanced efficiency fertilizers allows you to do more with less. This is not only beneficial and economical but is also great business. If you get paid per application or visit, you can easily switch that over to having the customer pay you for the results and not the trips you take. If you use cheaper products or eliminate needed applications to cut costs, it will only backfire in terms of reduced lawn quality and dissatisfied customers. Using EEFs effectively delivers more nutrients to the turfgrass while reducing nutrient losses. This cuts down the cost of supplies needed. Therefore, you are not losing out on wasted product and it gives you a chance to save on your fertilizer budget and increased profits. EEFs are also environmentally responsible with low risks of nutrient leaching, denitrification, runoff, and volatilization, so you can use that as a selling point. With fewer fertilizer applications, this allows for optimized labor allocation. You also save money on fuel and equipment upkeep. So, if you decide to use EEFs, your return on fertilizer investment is protected.


Conclusion

So now you know a little more information on enhanced efficiency fertilizers. EEFs are fertilizers that increase nutrient availability and decrease the loss of those nutrients to the environment by maintaining the nutrients within the root zone of the turfgrass. There are several classes of EEFs but the ones that were discussed in this blog were controlled-release, slow-release, and nitrification inhibitors. All three of these EEFs help to prevent nitrogen loss into the environment. There are numerous benefits to using EEFs, but the main benefit is the turfgrass that the EEFs are applied to will stay healthy and green longer with less applications. EEFs are very beneficial for the environment and help to prevent leaching, volatilization, runoff, and greenhouse gas emissions are decreased. You will protect your return on fertilizer investment if you switch to using EEFs by delivering more nutrients to the turfgrass while reducing nutrient loss. You avoid wasting product and can allocate the extra time needed for other jobs. Overall, enhanced efficiency fertilizers are the key to maximizing turf health, sustainability, and your return on investment.

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Platte River Equity - Press Release: Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc.

October 9, 2024
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc.

October 4, 2024
Dear Valued Industry Partners and Customers,  We are pleased to announce that Turf Care Supply, LLC has acquired Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (October 1, 2024) a respected manufacturer in the turf and ornamental fertilizer industry. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing you with an expanded range of innovative products, services, and industry expertise, all designed to support your business’s continued growth and success. As a valued partner or customer, you will benefit from enhanced service capabilities and an extended geographic reach, thanks to Agri-Nutrients, Inc.’s strategic facility located in the Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma. With this established presence in the Southwest and Western markets, Turf Care Supply, LLC’s expanded operational footprint will allow us to serve a broader region with greater efficiency, delivering even stronger support to help drive your business forward. We are dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition while maintaining the high standards of service you expect. If you have any questions or would like to explore how this new location can enhance your operations, please feel free to contact your account manager or our customer service team. Thank you for your continued trust in Turf Care Supply, LLC. We look forward to partnering with you as we grow together and continue supporting your success. Sincerely, Mark Mangan President Turf Care Supply, LLC

Turf Care Supply Goes Electric

September 28, 2023
With a focus on providing sustainable manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions, Turf Care Supply has embraced the electric power market with the latest mobile equipment upgrades. Completed in June 2023, TCS received all deliveries of electric forklifts to all three manufacturing facilities, including Hatfield, MA, Martins Ferry, OH and Sebring, FL.
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