Farmers in direct-seeding systems want to apply all their fertilizer with the seed at planting, but are concerned about possible damaging effects from including too much KCl in the blend. Researchers at the University of Alberta are investigating if polymer coated KCl will enhance the nutrient use efficiency of K and Cl, and reduce the damaging effect of higher rates of seed-placed fertilizer. Preliminary experiments have shown that coating KCl greatly reduced the injury to germinating barley seedlings and increased dry matter yields. Studies are now under way to further investigate these effects in barley and other crops. Coated urea fertilizers have successfully been used to control the release of N for vegetables, turfgrass and paddy rice. Coated KCl may be the answer to alleviating growers concerns about placing high rates of KCl in the seedrow.