Compositions suitable for use as biodegradable coatings, comprising mixtures of naturally sourced waxes and naturally sourced crosslinkable agents. Compositions may be used to impart water resistance to a substrate, to control the release time of soil nutrients, to reduce environmental damage, and to protect seed or crop damage from high local concentrations of salts. Compositions are preferably prepared as aliphatic alcohol and thereafter may be disposed about an agronomically important substrate core or a fibrous substrate, at temperatures below about 90° C. to impart water resistance or extend the storage time.