Pellet Fertiliser the complete guide
Pellet Fertiliser the complete guide
Pellet fertiliser has become one of the most popular formats for delivering nutrients to soil, used by professional farmers, groundskeepers and home gardeners alike. But what exactly is pellet fertiliser, how does it work, and what makes it different from other formats? This guide covers everything you need to know.
What is pellet fertiliser?
SoilWorx pellet fertiliser is organic, made mainly from poultry manure, feather meal and in some cases, also seaweed. It has been compressed into small, uniform pellets, typically 4–5mm in diameter.
The pelletisation process takes the poultry manure and compresses it into dense, easy-to-handle pellets. This makes storage, transport and application far more practical than dealing with raw manure, powder or loose compost.
How SoilWorx pellet fertilisers are made
Sourcing
Poultry manure is collected from known, traceable sources.
Drying
The raw material is dried to reduce moisture content and prepare it for processing.
Heat treatment
The material is heated to temperatures above 115°C, which sterilises it by killing pathogens, weed seeds and harmful bacteria. This is a critical step that distinguishes processed pellet fertiliser from raw manure.
Pelletisation
The dried, sterilised material is compressed through a pellet mill, forming consistent, dense pellets.
Cooling and screening
Pellets are cooled and screened to remove dust and ensure uniform size.
Packaging
Finished pellets are bagged for retail or loaded in bulk for agricultural delivery.
At SoilWorx, we operate the UK’s largest organic fertiliser plant at our facility. SoilWorx pellets have a bulk density of 0.54 kg/litre, compared to 0.7 kg/litre for urea and 1 kg/litre for ammonium nitrate. Our heat-treatment process ensures every batch is safe, consistent and free from contaminants.
Advantages of SoilWorx pellet fertiliser
|
Factor
|
Pellet Fertiliser
|
Raw Manure
|
|---|---|---|
|
Nutrient density
|
Concentrated (up to 4x more nutrients per tonne)
|
Dilute (high moisture content)
|
|
Consistency
|
Uniform analysis batch to batch
|
Highly variable
|
|
Weed seeds
|
Eliminated by heat treatment and milling
|
Present in most raw manure
|
|
Pathogens
|
Sterilised
|
May contain E. coli, Salmonella etc.
|
|
Odour
|
Minimal
|
Strong, persistent
|
|
Spreading
|
Standard fertiliser spreader
|
Specialist muck spreader
|
|
Storage
|
Dry store in bags or bulk
|
Requires muck heap or lagoon
|
|
Transport cost
|
Low (concentrated product)
|
High (moving mostly water)
|
Pellet vs Granular synthetic fertiliser
|
Factor
|
Organic Pellets
|
Synthetic Granules
|
|---|---|---|
|
Nutrient release
|
Slow, sustained (6–12 weeks)
|
Fast, soluble (days to weeks)
|
|
Organic matter
|
Adds 60–75%+ organic matter to soil
|
No organic matter content
|
|
Soil biology
|
Feeds and stimulates microbes
|
Neutral to negative effect
|
|
Scorch risk
|
Very low salt index
|
Higher risk, especially in dry conditions
|
|
Leaching risk
|
Low (nutrients bound in organic matrix)
|
Higher (soluble nutrients leach readily)
|
|
Availability
|
UK-produced, dependable supply
|
Volatile, tied to world events
|
Pellet vs Liquid fertiliser
|
Factor
|
Pellets
|
Liquid
|
|---|---|---|
|
Application method
|
Standard spreader
|
Sprayer or fertigation system
|
|
Duration of effect
|
6–12 weeks
|
Days to weeks (requires repeat application)
|
|
Storage
|
Simple dry storage
|
Tanks, containment required
|
|
Organic matter
|
Significant organic matter addition
|
Minimal or none
|
|
Best use
|
Base and maintenance dressings
|
Foliar feeding, rapid correction
|
Types of pellet fertiliser
Pellet fertilisers are available in a range of formulations to suit different purposes:
- General-purpose pellets: Balanced NPK for all-round use. Example: SoilWorx Dynamo 4-2-3.
- High-nitrogen pellets: For leafy growth and green-up. Example: SoilWorx N-Boost 8-2-2.
- High-potassium pellets: For fruiting crops, tubers and stress resistance. Example: SoilWorx K-Boost 3-2-17.
- Specialist blends: Combining multiple organic sources for richer trace element profiles. Example: SoilWorx Seaweed & Poultry.
- Single-ingredient pellets: Pure source products like bone meal or feather meal.
How to apply pellet fertiliser
Agricultural and Amenity Use
SoilWorx pellet fertiliser is uniquely designed to be applied using any standard fertiliser spreader: vane spreaders, disc spreaders or drop spreaders. The consistent pellet size ensures even distribution at normal spreading widths of up to 36m. Apply to soil surface and incorporate where possible for maximum benefit.
Garden Use
For home gardeners, pellets can be scattered by hand over beds and borders, then lightly forked into the soil surface. Water after application to begin the release process. Most garden pellet fertilisers can also be worked into planting holes or mixed with potting compost.
General Application Tips
- Apply to moist soil for best results, nutrients release faster in the presence of moisture.
- Avoid application in heavy rain, pellets may wash before they can break down in place.
- Incorporate into the top 5–10cm of soil where possible for faster nutrient availability.
- Follow recommended rates on the product label, more is not always better.
Storage and handling
One of the practical advantages of pellet fertiliser is its ease of storage:
Store dry
Keep bags off the ground on pallets in a dry shed or covered area. Pellets absorb moisture, which can cause them to soften and break down prematurely.
Seal opened bags
Reseal any opened bags to prevent moisture ingress.
Shelf life
Properly stored, pellet fertiliser typically remains effective for 12–24 months.
Health and safety
While heat-treated pellet fertilisers are safe to handle, wearing gloves and washing hands after use is good practice.
Why SoilWorx pellets are the premium choice
Not all pellet fertilisers are equal. SoilWorx products stand apart for several reasons:
- 75%+ organic matter: Among the highest organic matter content of any pelletised fertiliser on the market.
- Heat-treated and sterilised: Every batch processed above 115°C for guaranteed pathogen and weed-seed elimination.
- Consistent quality: Produced at the UK and Ireland’s largest organic fertiliser plant with rigorous quality control.
- Certified organic: OMRI Listed and Organic Trust certified for use in organic systems.
- Research-backed: Tried and tested by Rothamsted Research, the world’s longest-running agricultural research institution.
- Full product range: From general-purpose to specialist high-N or high-K formulations, all in pellet form.
Whether you farm 1,000 hectares or tend a small garden plot, SoilWorx pellet fertilisers deliver reliable, effective nutrition with every application.
Explore the SoilWorx range
Browse our agricultural, amenity and retail pellet fertilisers, or contact us for advice.