U.S. patent application number 11/506411 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for slow-release fertilizer and method of making and using same.
Invention is credited to Ronald P. Fister, William E. King, Stanley J. Norris.
Application Number | 20070039365 11/506411 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37772245 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070039365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King; William E. ; et
al. |
February 22, 2007 |
Slow-release fertilizer and method of making and using same
Abstract
There is disclosed a fertilizer composition comprising a
water-insoluble slow-release reacted nitrogen fertilizer and an
effective amount of a water-soluble, non-aromatic poly(amino acid)
of the group poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid),
poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of cystein and glutamic
acid and a terpolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and aspartic
acid, wherein the poly(amino acid) has a molecular size larger than
that which can be absorbed by a plant. A method of making and using
the fertilizer composition is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
King; William E.; (Cumming,
GA) ; Fister; Ronald P.; (Alpharetta, GA) ;
Norris; Stanley J.; (Cumming, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN S. PRATT, ESQ;KILPATRICK STOCKTON, LLP
1100 PEACHTREE STREET
ATLANTA
GA
30309
US
|
Family ID: |
37772245 |
Appl. No.: |
11/506411 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60709378 |
Aug 18, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
71/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02P 60/21 20151101;
Y02P 60/212 20151101; C05G 5/40 20200201; C05C 9/00 20130101; C05C
9/02 20130101; C05C 9/00 20130101; C05G 5/40 20200201; C05C 9/02
20130101; C05G 5/40 20200201; C05C 9/00 20130101; C05G 5/40
20200201; C05C 9/02 20130101; C05G 5/40 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
071/028 |
International
Class: |
C05C 9/00 20060101
C05C009/00 |
Claims
1. A composition comprising: a water-insoluble slow-release
nitrogen fertilizer; and an effective amount of a water-soluble,
non-aromatic polymer having a weight average molecular weight
(M.sub.w) larger than 1,000 and cannot be absorbed by a plant and
having the structure: ##STR3## wherein, X=H.sup.+, Na.sup.+,
NH.sub.4.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.+2, Mg.sup.+, Zn.sup.+, Co.sup.+2,
Li.sup.+, Ba.sup.+2, Fe.sup.+2 and Fe.sup.+3, n=0-100 mole % of
aspartic acid mer units linked by .alpha.-peptide bonds or .alpha.
form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by
.beta.-peptide bonds or .beta. form units; and p=10-1,000.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is a water-insoluble reacted
nitrogen fertilizer.
3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said water-insoluble reacted
nitrogen fertilizer is methylene urea or isobutylidene diurea.
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is methylene urea.
5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is isobutylidene diurea.
6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble,
non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of
greater than 1,000 to approximately 20,000.
7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble,
non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of
approximately 1,500 to approximately 10,000.
8. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble,
non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of
approximately 8,000.
9. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises
approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic
polymer based on the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen
fertilizer.
10. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises
approximately 1% to 5% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic
polymer based on the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen
fertilizer.
11. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises
approximately 3% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer
based on the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
12. The composition of claim 2, wherein said water-insoluble
reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 50% by
weight nitrogen.
13. The composition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble,
non-aromatic polymer is thermal polyaspartate.
14. The composition of claim 2, wherein said water-insoluble
reacted nitrogen fertilizer is a liquid.
15. The composition of claim 14, wherein said water-insoluble
reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 36% by
weight nitrogen.
16. The composition of claim 2, wherein said water-insoluble
reacted nitrogen fertilizer is a solid.
17. The composition of claim 16, wherein said water-insoluble
reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 5% to 50% by
weight nitrogen.
18. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a material
selected from amino acids or fluvic acids.
19. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a pesticide.
20. The composition of claim 19, wherein said pesticide is an
insecticide, a herbicide, a fungicide or a plant growth
regulator.
21. A seed comprising a coating of the composition of claim 1 on at
least a portion of the surface of said seed.
22. A plant having a root system comprising the composition of
claim 1 on at least a portion of said roots of said plant.
23. A method of treating plants growing in soil comprising applying
the composition of claim 1 to at least a portion of said soil.
24. A method of treating plants comprising: providing to said
plants a composition comprising: a water-insoluble slow-release
nitrogen fertilizer; and a water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer
having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) larger than
1,500 and having the structure: ##STR4## wherein, X=H.sup.+,
Na.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.+2, Mg.sup.+, Zn.sup.+,
Co.sup.+2, Li.sup.+, Ba.sup.+2, Fe.sup.+2 and Fe.sup.+3, n=0-100
mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by .alpha.-peptide bonds
or .alpha. form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units
linked by .beta.-peptide bonds or .beta. form units; and
p=10-1,000.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said slow-release nitrogen
fertilizer is methylene urea or isobutylidene diurea.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein said water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is applied to said soil at the
rate of approximately 10 to 400 pounds per acre.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein said water-soluble,
non-aromatic polymer is applied to said soil at a rate of
approximately 2.7 to 128 ounces per acre.
28. A method of treating plants growing in soil comprising:
applying to at least a portion of said soil approximately 10 to 400
pounds per acre of urea-formaldehyde; and applying to said same
portion of said soil approximately 2.7 to 128 ounces per acre
polyaspartate.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein said polyaspartate has a weight
average molecular weight of approximately 1,000 to 20,000.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein said urea-formaldehyde has a
nitrogen content of approximately 1% to 50% by weight.
31. A method of applying fertilizer to soil comprising: applying to
said soil a fertilizing amount of urea formaldehyde; and applying
to said soil approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate
based on said urea formaldehyde.
32. A seed at least a portion of which is coated with a composition
comprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5% to 10% by
weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
33. A method comprising applying to at least a portion of a seed a
composition comprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5%
to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
34. A plant at least a portion of which is coated with a
composition comprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5%
to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
35. The plant of claim 34, wherein the portion of the plant coated
with the composition is at least a portion of the roots of the
plant.
36. A method comprising applying to at least a portion of a plant a
composition comprising: urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5%
to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein the composition is applied to
the plant by dipping or spraying.
38. A method of increasing the yield of crops comprising: providing
to said crops a crop-increasing amount of a composition comprising:
urea formaldehyde; and approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight
polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Applicants claim the benefit of provisional application Ser.
No. 60/709,378 filed Aug. 18, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to slow-release nitrogen
fertilizers. Specifically, the present invention relates to a
fertilizer composition that releases nitrogen slowly for a full
growing season and/or improves plant, crop and turf growth relative
to slow-release nitrogen fertilizers of the prior art.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Through the years, a variety of techniques have been
developed for delivering nutrients to growing plants and for
extending or delaying the release of nutrients from a
fertilizer.
[0004] Fertilizer is often applied as a formulated (N--P--K) solid,
granule or powder, or sometimes as a liquid, to an area to be
fertilized. There are basically two types of fertilizers,
water-soluble fertilizers and "slow-release" fertilizers. While
water-soluble fertilizers are generally less expensive than
slow-release fertilizers, they have the disadvantage of leaching
nutrients very quickly into and through the soil. Some solid,
water-soluble fertilizers can be converted into slow-release
fertilizers by employing various coatings. Alternatively, a
reduction in nitrogen availability also can be obtained by using
enzyme inhibitors. Slow-release fertilizers are designed to release
nutrients to plants or soil over an extended period of time, which
is more efficient than multiple applications of water-soluble
fertilizers. Therefore, slow-release fertilizers (also referred to
as controlled release or extended release) minimize the frequency
with which plants must be fertilized, as well as reduce or minimize
leaching.
[0005] Urea-formaldehyde (UF) condensation products are widely used
as slow-release nitrogen fertilizers for crops, ornamental plants
and grasses. Urea-formaldehyde fertilizer materials also can be
supplied either as liquids or as solids and are the reaction
products of urea and formaldehyde. Such materials generally contain
at least 28% nitrogen, largely in a water-insoluble, slowly
available form.
[0006] Extended release UF fertilizers (ureaform) can be prepared
by reacting urea and formaldehyde at an elevated temperature in an
alkaline solution to produce methylol ureas. The methylol ureas
then are acidified to polymerize the methylol ureas to methylene
ureas, which increase in chain length as the reaction is allowed to
continue. These methylene urea polymers normally have limited water
solubility, and, thus, release nitrogen throughout an extended
period. Such UF fertilizers usually include a mixture of methylene
urea polymers generally have a range of molecular weights and are
understood to be degraded slowly by microbial action into
water-soluble nitrogen. UF fertilizers are usually categorized by
the amount and the release characteristics of their water insoluble
nitrogen.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,899 (the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference) describes a solid, controlled
release nitrogen fertilizer of the ureaform type, which consists
essentially of only two nitrogen fractions: water-soluble nitrogen
and cold water insoluble nitrogen.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,736 (the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference) describes a urea-formaldehyde
fertilizer suspension.
[0009] Other disclosures of urea-formaldehyde fertilizer
compositions, both liquid and solid forms, include U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,378,238; 4,554,005; 5,039,328; 5,266,097; 5,674,971; 6,432,156;
6,464,746; 6,900,162; 6,936,573 and 6,936,681, the disclosure of
which are all incorporated herein by reference.
[0010] Granular nitrogen-containing fertilizers have been produced
commercially by a variety of techniques using water-soluble
nitrogen products, such as urea, potassium nitrate, and ammonium
phosphate. The practical advantages of handling, blending, and
storing such fertilizer granules are known and well documented. The
preparation of granular fertilizers using slow-release UF
fertilizers also has been described in the prior art.
[0011] Recently, it has been proposed to use poly(aspartic acid) to
enhance plant nutrient uptake. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,947
(incorporated herein by reference). For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,350,735 (incorporated herein by reference) discloses ammoniacal
nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and urea nitrogen combined with
poly(aspartic acid) to form a fertilizer. However, the nitrogen
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,735 is a water-soluble form of
nitrogen. Other similar patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,783,523;
5,814,582; 5,854,177; 5,861,356 and 5,935,909 (all of which are
incorporated herein by reference). However, tests with
water-soluble forms of nitrogen in combination with poly(aspartic
acid), or hydrolyzed forms of poly(aspartic acid), have not proven
to sufficiently enhance plant growth so as to make the use of this
composition economically feasible.
[0012] Accordingly, there is a need for a fertilizer that releases
nitrogen slowly and improves plant, crop and turf growth relative
to conventional slow-release nitrogen fertilizers or relative to
thermal polyaspartate alone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention satisfies the above-described needs by
providing a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer composition that
improves plant, crop and turf growth. The fertilizer composition of
the present invention comprises a water-insoluble slow-release
nitrogen fertilizer and the water-soluble poly(amino acids), and
salts thereof, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,735 (incorporated
herein by reference), in an amount sufficient to increase the
period of release of nitrogen from said water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and/or to improve the growth of
plants, crops or turf and improved the yield of crops to which it
is applied. The water-insoluble slow-release fertilizer is
preferably a water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer,
especially methylene urea (also known as urea formaldehyde) or
isobutylidene diurea.
[0014] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a
water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and 0.5% to 10% by
weight polyaspartate based on the weight of the slow-release
nitrogen fertilizer. The water-insoluble slow-release fertilizer is
preferably methylene urea.
[0015] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a
method of using the composition of the present invention. The
method comprises applying the composition of the present invention
to soil adjacent a plant or to the soil in which a plant, crop or
turf is growing.
[0016] A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a
plant at least a portion of which is coated with the composition of
the present invention.
[0017] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a seed
at least a portion of which is coated with the composition of the
present invention.
[0018] As used herein, "plant" is intended to refer to any part of
a plant (e.g., roots, foliage, shoot) as well as trees, shrubbery,
flowers, and grasses. "Seed" is intended to include seeds, tubers,
tuber pieces, bulbs, etc., or parts thereof from which a plant is
grown. As also used herein the term "water-insoluble" shall mean
that less than 0.001% by weight of the compound is soluble in
water.
[0019] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that improves the growth of plants
and turf and improved the yield of crops.
[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that allows only a single
application per growing season.
[0022] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that results in reduced leaching
of the fertilizer into ground water, streams, rivers and the
like.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that produces crops with improved
taste and quality.
[0024] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that produces crops that have
better storage properties; i.e., a longer shelf life.
[0025] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer that produces crops that are more
disease free or less disease to produce better quality fruit and
vegetables.
[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
plant or seed that grows better because at least a portion thereof
is coated with the fertilizer composition of the present
invention.
[0027] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent upon a review of the
following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the
appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] The present invention comprises a water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and the poly(amino acids), and
salts thereof, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,947 (incorporated
herein by reference). As used herein the term "water-insoluble"
shall mean that less than 0.001% by weight of the compound is
soluble in water. The poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, are
present in the composition in an amount sufficient to extend the
period of release of nitrogen from said water-insoluble
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and/or to improve the nutrient
uptake by the plant, turf or crop, such that plant and turf growth
is improved and crop yield is improved relative to the slow-release
nitrogen fertilizers of the prior art. More importantly, the
present invention unexpectedly provides one or more of improved
plant and turf growth, improved crop yield, improved crop taste,
improved shelf life, improved disease resistance or reduced
leaching compared to the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,593,947.
[0029] The amount of time that the water-insoluble slow-release
nitrogen fertilizer releases nitrogen is preferably the entire
growing season of the turf, plant or crop with which the
composition of the present invention is used. The amount of
poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, used is preferably
approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight based on the weight of the
slow-release nitrogen fertilizer; more preferably, approximately 1%
to 5% by weight based on the weight of the slow-release nitrogen
fertilizer; especially, approximately 3% by weight based on the
weight of the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
[0030] Slow-release nitrogen fertilizers are generally categorized
into one of several groups based on the process by which the
nutrients are released. There are three categories into which
slow-release nitrogen fertilizers can be classified.
[0031] One type of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is relatively
insoluble nutrients in pelletized form. As the pellet size is
increased, the time it takes for the fertilizer to breakdown by
microbial action is also increased. An example of this type of
slow-release fertilizer is Nitroform or Nutrilene, which are
commercially available from Nu-Gro Technologies, Inc., Grand
Rapids, Mich.
[0032] The second type of slow release nitrogen fertilizer is a
reacted nitrogen fertilizer; i.e., the nitrogen in the fertilizer
is chemically reacted with another compound to render at least a
portion of the nitrogen water-insoluble. For example, urea, which
is water-soluble, can be chemically modified to make methylene
ureas, better known as urea-formaldehyde--a fertilizer that is
typically 38 percent nitrogen, 70 percent of which is
water-insoluble. This percentage is often listed on fertilizer
labels as the percent W.I.N., or the percent of water-insoluble
nitrogen.
[0033] Methylene ureas are comprised of polymer chains of varying
length. The shortest methylene urea chains; i.e., methylene diurea
(MDU), dimethylene triurea (DMTU) and trimethylene tetraurea
(TMTU), are completely soluble in cold water; whereas, the longest
methylene urea chains are insoluble in boiling water and most other
solvents. The release of available nitrogen from methylene urea is
directly correlated to chain length with the longer chains of
methylene urea showing the most slow-release properties. In soil,
methylene urea is degraded into soluble, plant available nitrogen
forms; such as NH.sub.4.sup.+ and NO.sub.3.sup.-, by a specific
microbial activity. Because microbial activity is greatly affected
by soil temperature, pH, aeration, and texture, these variables can
affect the rate of release of nitrogen from urea-formaldehyde. For
example, there will be less fertilizer breakdown in acid soils with
poor aeration--an environment unfavorable to soil
microorganisms.
[0034] Another reacted nitrogen fertilizer is isobutylidene diurea
(IBDU). IBDU is similar to urea-formaldehyde, but typically
contains 32 percent nitrogen, 90 percent of which is
water-insoluble. However, IBDU is less dependent on microbial
activity to control its release of nitrogen than urea-formaldehyde.
With IBDU, nitrogen is released when soil moisture is adequate.
Therefore, breakdown and release of nitrogen is increased in acid
soils.
[0035] The third type of slow release nitrogen fertilizer is a
coated or encapsulated fertilizer. Water-soluble fertilizers can be
coated or encapsulated in membranes to slow the release of
nutrients. For example, one controlled-release fertilizer is
composed of a semi-permeable membrane surrounding water-soluble
nitrogen and other nutrients. Water passes through the membrane,
eventually causing enough internal pressure to disrupt the membrane
and release the enclosed nutrients. Because the thickness of the
coating varies from one pellet, or prill, to another, nutrients are
released at different times from separate prills. Release rates of
these fertilizers are dependent on temperature, moisture, and
thickness of the coating.
[0036] Another type of coated fertilizer is sulfur-coated urea
(SCU), which is manufactured by coating hot urea with molten sulfur
and sealing with a polyethylene oil or a microcrystalline wax.
Nitrogen is released when the sealant is broken or by diffusion
through pores in the coating. Thus, the rate of release is
dependent on the thickness of the coating or the sealant weight.
SCU is broken down by microorganisms, and chemical and mechanical
action. The nitrogen in SCU is released more readily in warm
temperatures and dry soils. SCU appears to be more effective when
applied to the soil surface, rather than mixed into the soil.
[0037] A preferred slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is
urea-formaldehyde in either granular or liquid form.
Urea-formaldehyde in solid form is commercially available under the
designation Nitroform or Nutrilene from Nu-Gro Technologies, Inc.,
Grand Rapids, Mich. Other similar urea formaldehyde products are
available from other manufacturers. Slow-release nitrogen
fertilizers useful in the present invention are also disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,936,681; 6,936,573 and 6,900,162 (the disclosures
of which are all incorporated herein by reference).
[0038] Generally, it is preferred that the reacted nitrogen
fertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 50% by weight nitrogen.
When the reacted nitrogen fertilizer is in liquid form, it is
preferred that the reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises
approximately 1% to 36% by weight nitrogen. When the reacted
nitrogen fertilizer is in solid form, it is preferred that the
reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 5% to 50% by
weight nitrogen.
[0039] Urea-formaldehyde is also available in liquid form. A
urea-formaldehyde in liquid form is commercially available from
Regal Chemical Company, Alpharetta, Ga., under the designation
LiquiGreen.RTM.. Liquid urea-formaldehyde useful in the present
invention is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,677,736 and
4,378,238 (the disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by
reference).
[0040] As stated above, the poly(amino acids), and salts thereof,
preferred for use in the present invention are those disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,947. Specifically those poly(amino acids), and
salts thereof, include, but are not limited to, water-soluble,
non-aromatic poly(amino acids) of the group poly(aspartic acid),
poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of
cystein and glutamic acid and a terpolymer of cystein and glutamic
acid and aspartic acid, wherein those poly(amino acids) have at
least about 15 repeating organic acid mers and a molecular size
larger than 1,000 Daltons (M.sub.w); preferably, about 3,000 to
28,000 Daltons; more preferably, about 4,000 to 14,000 Daltons;
especially, about 3,000 to 5,000 Daltons.
[0041] Poly(amino acids) and salts thereof more preferred for use
in the present invention are non-chelating, water-soluble,
non-aromatic poly(amino acids) of the group poly(aspartic acid),
poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of
cystein and glutamic acid and a terpolymer of cystein and glutamic
acid and aspartic acid, wherein the poly(amino acids) have a
molecular size larger than that which can be absorbed by a plant
with which it is used.
[0042] Poly(amino acids) and salts thereof especially preferred for
use in the present invention are water-soluble non-aromatic
polymers having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) larger
than 1,000 and cannot be absorbed by the plant and are selected
from one of the following structures: ##STR1## wherein, X=H.sup.+,
Na.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.+2, Mg.sup.+, Zn.sup.+,
Co.sup.+2, Li.sup.+, Ba.sup.+2, Fe.sup.+2 and Fe.sup.+3, n=0-100
mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by .alpha.-peptide bonds
or .alpha. form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units
linked by .beta.-peptide bonds or .beta. form units; and
p=10-1,000. Preferably, the poly(amino acids) have the foregoing
structures, wherein the polyaspartic acid has m>50 mole % .beta.
form and n<50 mole % .alpha. form; preferably, wherein m is
equal to 60-80 mole % .beta. form; especially, wherein m is equal
to 70-80 mole % .beta. form and n is equal to 25-30 mole % .alpha.
form. Preferably, the polyaspartic acid has a weight average
molecular weight (M.sub.w) of about 1,000 to 100,000.
[0043] The poly(amino acids), and salts thereof, most preferred for
use in the present invention is polyaspartate, particularly sodium
polyaspartate. Polyaspartate is a biopolymer synthesized from
L-aspartic acid. Aspartic acid is widely used in the food and
pharmaceutical industries as an important amino acid. Aspartic acid
is alanine with one of the .beta.-hydrogens replaced by a
carboxylic acid group. Polyaspartate useful in the present
invention has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of
approximately 1,000 to approximately 20,000; preferably,
approximately 1,500 to approximately 10,000; especially,
approximately 8,000. A particular useful form of polyaspartate for
use in the present invention is thermal polyaspartate. Thermal
polyaspartate (T-PA) useful in the present invention is
commercially available from Nanochem Inc., 6502 South Archer Road,
Bedford Park, Ill. 60501 under the designation Amisorb.TM. and
Magnet.TM..
[0044] A scheme for the synthesis of T-PA is shown below as Scheme
1. ##STR2##
[0045] The fertilizer of the present invention can also include
other additives, such as other plant nutrients, amino acids,
pesticides; i.e., insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and plant
growth regulators. These additives are included in the fertilizer
composition of the present invention in amounts sufficient to be
effective for the purpose for which they are intended. Such amounts
preferably will generally range from approximately 1 to 10 percent
by weight based on the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
[0046] Insecticides that can be used in the present invention
preferably include, but are not limited to, those insecticides
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,709,890 and 5,646,133, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Useful
amounts are also disclosed in those patents. Such compositions can
also be used in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,709,890
and 5,646,133.
[0047] Herbicides that can be used in the present invention
preferably include, but are not limited to, those herbicides
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,447, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Useful amounts are also disclosed
in that patent. Such compositions can also be used in the manner
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,447.
[0048] Fungicides that can be used in the present invention
preferably include, but are not limited to, chlorothlonil,
propiconazole, thiophenate-methyl, azoxystrobin, benzoic acid,
dithianon, fenhexamid, fenpropidin, fluazinam, fludioxonil,
flutolanil, fosetyl-aluminum, hymexazol, imazalil, iprodione,
mancozeb, penconazole, picoxystrobin, prochloraz, propamocarb
hydrochloride, pyrimethanil, thiram, tolclofos-methyl,
tolylfluanid, triadimefon, triforine. Useful amount of fungicides
that preferably can be used in the present invention are 0.25 to 10
percent by weight based on the slow-release nitrogen
fertilizer.
[0049] Amino acids that can be used in the present invention
preferably include, but are not limited to, aspartic acid, glutamic
acid, alanine, arginine, cystine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine,
lysine, methionine, praline, phenylalanine, serine, threonine,
trytophan, tyrosine and valine. Useful amount of amino acids that
preferably can be used in the present invention are 1 to 10 percent
by weight based on the slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
[0050] Other plant nutrients that can be used in the present
invention preferably include, but are not limited to, fluvic acids,
potassium sulfate, iron sulfate, diammonium phosphate, potassium
chloride, or potassium thiosulfate. Useful amounts of other plant
nutrients that preferably can be used in the present invention are
0.5 to 20 percent by weight based on the slow-release nitrogen
fertilizer.
[0051] The fertilizer composition of the present invention can be
applied using any conventional fertilizer allocation technique.
Such techniques include, but are not limited to, broadcast, row
placement, sub-surface placement, strip-till, preplant, sideband,
root zone banding, on-the-go variable rate, or on-the-fly.
Generally, the composition of the present invention is applied to
the soil in which plants, crops or turf is growing at the rate of
approximately 1 to 100 gallons per acre or approximately 3 to 300
pounds per acre per application. For agricultural applications
(crops), the composition is preferably applied at a rate of
approximately 15 to 100 gallons per acre or approximately 45 to 300
pounds per acre per application. For turf applications, the
composition is preferably applied at a rate of approximately 2 to
30 gallons per acre or approximately 6 to 90 pounds (units
nitrogen) per acre per application. For ornamental plant
applications, the composition is preferably applied at a rate of
approximately 1 to 10 ounces per plant or approximately 10 to 300
ounces per 1000 square feet.
[0052] It is specifically contemplated that the for on-the-fly-type
applications, the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer
is applied to said soil at the rate of approximately 10 to 400
pounds per acre per application and the water-soluble, non-aromatic
polymer is applied to said soil at a rate of approximately 2.7 to
128 ounces per acre per application.
[0053] It is also specifically contemplated that the fertilizer
composition of the present invention can be applied to all or a
portion of a plant or seed. For example, the roots of a plant can
be dipped into a quantity of the liquid fertilizer composition of
the present invention prior to planting. Similarly, the liquid
fertilizer composition of the present invention can be sprayed
onto, or otherwise blended with, seed prior to planting.
[0054] The following examples are intended to illustrate the
present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the
present invention in any manner.
EXAMPLE 1
[0055] A liquid slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with
the present invention is prepared as follows.
[0056] 50 gallons of LiquiGreen.RTM. are added to a mixing tank.
LiquiGreen.RTM. is a liquid urea formaldehyde fertilize that
contains up to 32 percent nitrogen, up to 80 percent of which is
water-insoluble, which is commercially available from Regal
Chemical Company, Inc., Alpharetta, Ga. To the LiquiGreen.RTM. is
added 6 quarts of sodium polyaspartate having a weight average
molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000. The desired mixture of various
molecular weights is then blended at ambient temperature with a
paddle blender, bypass agitation or an air system. The resulting
blend is useful as a liquid slow-release reacted nitrogen
fertilizer.
EXAMPLE 2
[0057] A solid slow-release nitrogen fertilizer in accordance with
the present invention is prepared as follows.
[0058] 100 pounds of solid urea formaldehyde are added to the
hopper of a tumbling blender. 2-4 quarts of poly(amino acids) or
salts thereof, such as, sodium polyaspartate are also added to the
blender. The sodium polyaspartate is of one or more molecular
weights of up to 10,000. The mixture is blended until the sodium
polyaspartate is evenly distributed on the urea formaldehyde
granules. The resulting blend is useful as a solid slow-release
reacted nitrogen fertilizer.
EXAMPLE 3
[0059] A trial was conducted in a production field of "Savannah"
mustard greens. The field was split using a standard nitrogen
program of two applications of ammonium nitrate and a single
pre-emergent application of Anchor.TM.. Anchor.TM. is a mixture of
30% by weight liquid urea formaldehyde (66%-70% nitrogen of which
60%-70% by weight is water-insoluble) and 3% by weight sodium
polyaspartate. All other fertilization was preformed in the same
manner across the entire field. Tillage, planting and maintenance
were done in accordance with normal production practices. Data was
taken by harvesting paired samples from both the Anchor.TM. and the
ammonium nitrate treated areas. The line between the two treatments
was identified in the field. Samples were taken a few rows into the
plots in order to avoid cross-contamination, but close enough that
the paired samples were subjected to similar growing conditions.
Applications were made using large-scale production equipment.
[0060] The treatments included in this trial is shown in Table 1
below: TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Treatment Timing Rate per Acre
Ammonium nitrate Preemergent 80 lbs nitrogen Ammonium nitrate 21
days later 40 lbs nitrogen Anchor .TM. Preemergent 32 gals. (96 lbs
nitrogen)
[0061] On average, the sample from the Anchor.TM. plots yielded
3,267 lbs of mustard greens per acre more than the ammonium nitrate
treated samples (19,602 lbs/acre vs. 16,335 lbs/acre). This equates
to an approximately 20% increase in yield over the standard
fertilization program.
EXAMPLE 4
[0062] The following yield data compares the composition of the
present invention against standard industry treatments practice for
mustard greens, watermelons, cantaloupes and tomatoes. The
composition described below as Anchor.TM. is a mixture of 30% by
weight liquid urea formaldehyde (70% nitrogen of which 60%-70% by
weight is water-insoluble) and 3% by weight sodium
polyaspartate.
[0063] Mustard Greens: TABLE-US-00002 Rate of Actual Total yields
Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Ammonium 120 lbs. (units) 16,335
lbs Nitrate plus Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) Anchor .TM. 100 lbs.
(units) 19,602 lbs
[0064] The crops treated with Anchor.TM. had an increase in yield
of 20% over the yield for crops receiving the standard fertilizer
treatment. The crops treated with Anchor.TM. also had healthier
leaves that were thicker and fuller and had better stems than the
crops receiving the standard fertilizer treatment.
[0065] Watermelons: TABLE-US-00003 Rate of Actual Total yields
Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Ammonium 90 lbs (units) 66,120
lbs. Nitrate Anchor .TM. 100 lbs (units) 102,602 lbs
[0066] The crops treated with Anchor.TM. had an increase in yield
of 54% over the yield for crops receiving the standard fertilizer
treatment. The crops treated with Anchor.TM. also produced more
fruit and the average piece of fruit weighed more than the melons
treated with the standard fertilizer treatment. The melons treated
with Anchor.TM. were more dense and had a higher sugar content than
the melons treated with the standard fertilizer treatment.
[0067] Cantaloupe: TABLE-US-00004 Rate of Actual Total yields
Numbers of Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Melons/Acre Calcium
Nitrate 110 lbs (units) 36,590 lbs. 8,412 melons and Ammonical
Nitrogen Anchor .TM. 105 lbs (units) 54,520 lbs 10,548 melons
[0068] The crops treated with Anchor.TM. had an increase of 22% in
the number of melons per acre over the yield for crops receiving
the standard fertilizer treatment, while the total weight of the
Anchor.TM. treated crops increased 49% per acre over the yield for
crops receiving the standard fertilizer treatment.
[0069] Yields were more fruit and improved weight per acre. The
Anchor.TM. treated also fruit had greater sugar content and darker
color than the fruit treated with the standard fertilizer
treatment.
[0070] Tomatoes: TABLE-US-00005 Rate of Actual Total yields
Treatments Nitrogen/acre Per Acre Urea ammonium nitrate 280 lbs
(units) 27,300 lbs. 28-0-0 Nitrogen Anchor .TM. 280 lbs (units)
38,493 lbs
[0071] Standard practice received nitrogen through a drip
irrigation system on a weekly basis. Anchor.TM. was applied once
after planting. Anchor.TM. treated tomatoes were more firm and had
greater fruit development per cluster. The Anchor.TM. treated
tomatoes had an increased of 41% in total yield over the yield for
crops receiving the standard fertilizer treatment.
EXAMPLE 5
[0072] Anchor.TM. in a liquid form is mixed with 20%-50% by weight
water to be used as a dip treatment for nursery liners, vegetable
or flowering plants, prior to planting or transplanting or to bulbs
prior to planting. It is believed that the safety to the crop is
due to the nutrients being held tightly to the Anchor.TM. product.
Improved plant growth results from treating the plant roots with
this composition.
[0073] Similar techniques for treating roots of plants with
pesticides and/or fertilizers by dipping or spraying are well known
in the art and can be used with the present invention and are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,936,573; 5,958,104; 5,661,103 and
5,935,909, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
EXAMPLE 6
[0074] The Anchor.TM. formulation in a liquid form is injected into
a seed coating blender at the rate of 1%-5% by weight of the seed
weight. The Anchor.TM. formulation also can be blended with
fungicide, insecticide or other pesticide coatings at the same
time. Then, the coated seed is allowed to dry thoroughly prior to
packaging. When the coated seeds are planted, improved seed growth
results.
[0075] Similar techniques for coating seed with pesticides and/or
fertilizers are well known in the art and can be used with the
present invention and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,903,093;
6,660,690; and 6,884,754, the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0076] It is specifically contemplated that the slow-release
nitrogen fertilizer of the present invention can be applied once
per growing season. However, multiple applications can also be
used, if desired.
[0077] Provisional application Ser. No. 60/709,378 filed Aug. 18,
2005 is incorporated herein by reference.
[0078] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates only to certain disclosed embodiments of the present
invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *