N.J. Admin. Code § 2:69-1.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 2:69-1.6 - Slowly available plant nutrients

(a) No fertilizer label shall bear a statement that connotes or infers the presence of a slowly available plant nutrient, unless the nutrient or nutrients are identified.

(b) When a fertilizer label infers or connotes that the nitrogen is slowly available through use of organic, organic nitrogen ureaform, long lasting or similar terms, the guaranteed analysis must indicate the percentage of water insoluble nitrogen in the material.

(c) To supplement (b) above, it should be established that if a label states the amount of organic nitrogen present in a phrase, such as "25 percent of the nitrogen from ureaformaldehyde (ureaform)," then the water insoluble nitrogen guarantee must be not less than 60 percent of the nitrogen so designated.

Example:

10-6-4 Rose Food

25% of nitrogen is organic

10 (Total N) X .25 (% N claimed as organic) X .60 (Average insolubility in H[2]O of organic nitrogen sources) = 1.5% WIN

(d) When the water insoluble nitrogen is less than 15 percent of the total nitrogen, the label shall bear no references to any designations, such as stated in (b) above.

(e) The term "Coated-Slow Release Fertilizer," or "Coated-Slow Release" be accepted as descriptive of products.

(f) Further, the phrases in (e) above may be allowed for any products than can show a testing program substantiating of the claim. (Testing under guidance of Experiment Station personnel, or a recognized reputable researcher, etc.) Coated-slow release nitrogen must be guaranteed at the 15 percent of total nitrogen level as in organic materials.

(g) The types of slowly released nitrogen products recognized are:

1. Water insoluble, such as natural organics, ureaformaldehyde, oxamide, and insobutylidene diurea (IBDU);

2. Coated-slow release formulations, such as sulfur coated urea and other encapsulated soluble fertilizers; and

3. Occluded slowly released where fertilizers or fertilizer materials are mixed with waxes, resins, or other inert materials and formed into particles.

(h) The term "water insoluble nitrogen" is acceptable only when material in (g)1 above is used. Until more appropriate methods are developed, AOAC International Method 970.04 (18th Edition) is to be used to test coated-slow release and occluded slow release nutrients in (g)2 and 3 above. AOAC International Method 945.01 (18th Edition) is to be used to test coated-slow release and occluded slow release nutrients in (g)2 and 3 above. AOAC International Method 945.01 (18th Edition) shall be used to determine the water insoluble nitrogen in (g)1 above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:69-1.6

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 329(a), effective 2/21/2017