Field-Cote SMART® CRF

~10% More Growth

With 50% Less Nitrogen

in Viburnum Tinus

A practical Delphy planting-hole trial in Viburnum tinus showed that Field-Cote SMART® delivered the strongest final result among the controlled-release fertilizer treatments, combining strong plant quality, good root development, and the highest average plant length over two growing seasons — while using 50% less nitrogen than the standard fertilization approach.

Trial Partner
Delphy / Marcel Michels Nursery
Duration
2 full growing seasons
Location
Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
Crop
Viburnum tinus
Treatments
4 total
MORE GROWTH VS. STANDARD
+ 0 %
LESS NITROGEN VS. STANDARD
- 0 %
BEST AVERAGE LENGTH
0 cm

Trial summary

This Delphy trial in Viburnum tinus was set up to compare planting-hole fertilization with controlled-release fertilizers against a standard repeated fertilization program under practical nursery conditions. The goal was to evaluate whether more efficient nutrient placement in the root zone could improve plant performance while reducing nitrogen input and labour intensity.

The result was commercially relevant. Field-Cote SMART® delivered the strongest final result of the CRF treatments over two growing seasons, reaching 98 cm average plant length with good plant quality and good root quality. That placed it ahead of Competitor I at 92 cm, Competitor D at 90 cm, and Competitor H at 89 cm. In practical terms, that means roughly 10% more growth than standard practice, achieved with 50% less nitrogen.

Field-Cote SMART® showed that efficient plant-hole fertilization can deliver stronger final nursery performance with lower nitrogen input, combining controlled release in the root zone with a simpler, lower-input feeding strategy.

Trial objective

In ornamental tree and shrub nurseries, planting-hole fertilization with controlled-release fertilizer is increasingly used because it can be applied efficiently through mechanization and places nutrition exactly where young roots develop. The success of this method depends not only on labour efficiency, but also on visible improvements in plant quality and rooting.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate whether Field-Cote SMART® plant-hole fertilization could outperform standard fertilization in Viburnum tinus, with particular attention to plant quality, root quality, final length, and nitrogen efficiency over a two-growing-season period.

Trial setup

The trial was conducted at tree nursery Marcel Michels in Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands. P9 young plants of Viburnum tinus were planted in planting holes with a 15 cm diameter at a spacing of 80 × 50 cm, equal to approximately 19,047 plants per hectare.

For the website version, the comparison is focused exclusively on the controlled-release fertilizer treatments and the standard mineral-organic reference, leaving out the substrate-based treatment as requested. That keeps the message commercially clear and aligned with the core trial conclusion about efficient plant-hole fertilization.

CROP

Viburnum tinus

P9 young plants, open field nursery production

DURATION

2 full growing seasons

Assessment after 2 growing seasons

LOCATION

Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands

Practical commercial nursery conditions

TREATMENTS

4 total

3 plant-hole CRF treatments vs. 1 standard fertilization treatment

TRIAL DESIGN

Field comparison in practice

Assessment after 2 growing seasons

PARTNERS

Delphy / Marcel Michels / Mivena

Practical trial setup and evaluation

Fertilizers Compared

TRIAL PRODUCT — MIVENA TREATMENT 1

Field-Cote SMART® 14-5-11+2MgO+TE | 24M

Plant-hole application at 30 g per plant.
Total nitrogen input: 40 N per year.

TREATMENT 2

Competitor I (coated / CRF)

Plant-hole application at 25 g per plant.
Total nitrogen input: 40 N per year.

TREATMENT 3

Competitor H (coated / CRF)

Plant-hole application at 30 g per plant.
Total nitrogen input: 40 N per year.

TREATMENT 4

Competitor D (standard fertilization)

Repeated field application.
4 applications across 2 growing seasons.
Total nitrogen input: 80 N per year.

Results

After two growing seasons, Field-Cote SMART® delivered the best final result among the CRF planting-hole treatments. It achieved 98 cm average length, combined with good plant quality and good root quality. This placed it ahead of Competitor I at 92 cm, Competitor D at 90 cm, and Competitor H at 89 cm.

The broader commercial takeaway is clear: the long-lasting controlled-release pattern appears to have made the difference. The trial concludes that planting-hole fertilization can be a more efficient way to fertilize, and that 2 out of 3 CRF planting-hole treatments performed better than the standard repeated fertilization approach.

AVERAGE LENGTH, PLANT QUALITY & ROOT QUALITY
Field-Cote SMART® ★ Best final result
Average length 98 cm Plant quality: + Root quality: +
98 cm average length
Competitor I
Average length 92 cm Plant quality: + Root quality: +
92 cm average length
Competitor D
Average length 90 cm Plant quality: + Root quality: +
90 cm average length
Competitor H
Average length 89 cm Plant quality: +/- Root quality: +/-
89 cm average length
Source: Delphy practical planting-hole fertilizer trial in Viburnum tinus, Hilvarenbeek, NL. Comparison of Field-Cote SMART®, competing CRF products, and standard fertilization under commercial nursery conditions.

Field-Cote SMART® supports more efficient nursery fertilization

Field-Cote SMART® combined the highest final plant length with good root quality and a single plant-hole application at planting. For growers, that means a more efficient feeding strategy with lower nitrogen input, fewer repeat applications, and a stronger commercial end result under practical nursery conditions.

Conclusion

This Delphy trial points in a clear commercial direction: Field-Cote SMART® plant-hole fertilization can deliver more growth with significantly less nitrogen. In Viburnum tinus, the Mivena treatment achieved the highest average final plant length and a strong overall plant result over two growing seasons, while using 50% less nitrogen than the standard repeated fertilization program.

The trial also confirms a wider practical advantage. Plant-hole fertilization allows nutrition to be placed directly in the root zone, supports efficient nutrient use, reduces the number of field applications, and is compatible with mechanized nursery systems.

More Growth with Less Nitrogen

Field-Cote SMART® delivered the strongest final result in this comparison while using 50% less nitrogen than the standard fertilization program.

Highest Final Plant Length

At 98 cm, Field-Cote SMART® achieved the highest average plant length after two growing seasons.

Good Root Development

Field-Cote SMART® combined strong final plant growth with good root quality, supporting healthy, marketable shrub development.

Fewer Applications, Lower Labour Input

The plant-hole CRF treatments were applied once at planting, while the standard program required repeated field fertilization across two growing seasons.

Recommendation

For growers producing Viburnum tinus and other open field nursery crops, Field-Cote SMART® offers a compelling fertilization strategy that combines more growth, efficient nitrogen use, reliable controlled release, fewer field applications, and strong final plant performance. Especially where labour efficiency, rooting, and uniform crop quality matter, plant-hole fertilization provides a practical and commercially attractive route forward.

Interested in more efficient plant-hole fertilization?

Discover how Field-Cote SMART® helps growers improve final plant performance, reduce nitrogen input, and support efficient nursery production through controlled release directly in the root zone.

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Trial conducted under practical nursery conditions at tree nursery Marcel Michels in Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands. Results reflect one field trial in Viburnum tinus comparing controlled-release plant-hole fertilization with standard fertilization. Local soil conditions, weather, irrigation, and crop management may influence field performance.

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