KR20060047264A - Fertilizer compositions including slow-release formulations - Google Patents

Abstract

Fertilizer composition according to the present invention is about 11 to 17% by weight of nitrogen (N), about 10 to 19% by weight of phosphorus (P), about 3 to 15% by weight of potassium (K), about 1 to 3% by weight of magnesium (Mg) And elemental nutrient mixtures of trace elements, wherein the N, P, K and Mg nutrients are in elemental or compound form, or mixtures thereof. Two kinds of compositions are specifically disclosed for growing and mature plants. The composition for growing plants is about 11-12 wt% nitrogen (N); About 16-19 weight percent phosphorus (P); About 3-4% potassium (K); About 2% magnesium (Mg); And trace elements. The composition for mature plants is about 17 weight percent nitrogen (N); About 10% phosphorous (P); About 15% potassium (K); About 2% magnesium (Mg); And trace elements. The composition may be formulated in pelletized form or as a sustained release formulation in zeolite.

Fertilizer, Sustained Release, Formulation, Zeolite

Description

Fertilizer compositions containing sustained-release formulations {FERTILIZER COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING SLOW-RELEASE FORMULATIONS}

The present invention relates to fertilizer compositions, in particular fertilizer compositions for large-scale agricultural or plantation. More specifically, the compositions of the present invention have a more effective nitrogen-to-phosphorus-to-potassium (NPK) ratio of inorganic nutrients and include sustained release formulations.

Inorganic fertilizers are involved in formulating large amounts of plant nutrients, ie nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (hence called NPK fertilizers), as well as magnesium (Mg) It is well known to formulate small amounts of other elemental nutrients, also called micronutrients, such as boron (B) and other trace elements. The ratio of N: P: K depends on different plant species or other fertilizers, soil types and conditions, regions and climates for different growth stages for the same plant species.

This ratio can be expressed as, for example, 17:17:17, 15:15:15, 20:10:10, 15: 5: 5, or the like. A list of the various fertilizer compositions, proportions of ingredients, etc., is published by Kirk and Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology , Vol. 9, pp. 25-150 '.

Some prior patents also claim or disclose specific contents of specific nutrient or composition ratios. For example, US Pat. No. 4,713,106 (Kjoh1) discloses NPK + Mg compositions in a ratio of 38.9: 12.1: 25.8 + 15.2 while claiming a mixture of KCl and / or K ₂ SO ₄ as a potassium source, with a specific size It is added to the product as slightly calcified Mg0 with MgO, and contains 0.2 to 3.0% of magnesium, estimated as magnesium oxide (MgO).

Another aspect of fertilizers is to provide sustained release formulations, for example by physically reducing the external surface area to microorganisms and moisture to break the fertilizer compound. Such physical methods, including pelletizing the compound into particles, are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 6,749,659 (Yu, et al.), Elemental sulfur and swelling clay matrix, and ii. ) At least one additional fertilizer material contained in the matrix. A more expanded pelletization method is to further encapsulate the pellet with a coating or membrane, such as a sulfur coating.

Another method of sustained release formulation is to provide fertilizers in absorbent or porous organic media so that the fertilizer's nutrients are slowly released into the soil. One such medium is zeolite, such as that disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,695,542 (Chang). It is known that supplements to obtain standard NPK compositions, micronutrients or soil amendments materials may be added at several stages of the fertilizer manufacturing process.

That is, some substances may be fertilizer supplements, as well as soil improving substances. For example, some zeolites and densifiers also become suitable soil modifiers when zeolite is introduced into the soil along with its fertilizer. Zeolites naturally contain micronutrients and inorganic nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Thus, when the zeolite is mixed in the plantation, the soil properties are improved. However, since zeolite does not contain nitrate, phosphate or organic nutrients, it cannot be effectively used alone as a fertilizer.

As a first object of the present invention, we seek to provide a fertilizer comprising a novel NPK nutrient composition in a nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P): potassium (K) ratio that has never been used before.

A second object of the present invention is an extension of the composition, i.e. a composition of micronutrients comprising magnesium, boron and other trace elements. As described below, fertilizer compositions having the proportions of the present invention have proven more effective in promoting plant growth and harvest.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic medium such as zeolite to maintain the fertilizer composition for slow-release. Thus, the west of the nutrients not only reduces the risk of plant rooting withering, but also allows for infrequent compost schedules.

These and other objects can be achieved by the following general examples of the fertilizer compositions of the present invention, as well as the more specific composition forms below. Broadly, the general form of the fertilizer composition according to the present invention is about 11 to 17% by weight of nitrogen (N); About 10-19 weight percent phosphorus (P); About 3-15% potassium (K); About 1-3% magnesium; And trace elements, wherein the N, P, K, and Mg nutrients are in elemental or compound form, or mixtures thereof.

For growing plants, preferred compositions include about 11-12 wt.% Nitrogen (N); About 16-19 weight percent phosphorus (P); About 3-4% potassium; About 2% magnesium; And trace elements.

For matured plants, preferred compositions include about 17% nitrogen (N) by weight; About 10% phosphorous (P); About 15% potassium (K); About 2% magnesium (Mg); And trace elements.

Inorganic raw materials of elemental nutrients can preferably be obtained from the following raw materials:

Nitrogen (N) may be obtained from a mixture of urea (NH ₂ CONH ₂ ) and ammonium nitrate (NH ₄ NO ₃ ) or at least one; Preferably, the amount of nitrogen (N) is estimated as a mixture or one of urea nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen;

Phosphorus (P) is phosphoric oxide (P ₂ O ₅ );

Potassium (K) is potassium oxide (K ₂ 0); And

Magnesium (Mg) can be obtained from magnesium oxide (Mg0).

In another aspect of the present invention, the fertilizer composition can be formulated as a sustained release formulation, comprising pelletized or particulate form, encapsulating nutrients with a coating to delay release and having nutrients absorbed into the zeolite. have. In the latter case, the amount of nutrients in the fertilizer can be adjusted according to the cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) and the calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium content of the zeolite.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Form

The general form of the fertilizer composition according to the invention comprises in each broad range the following elemental nutrient mixtures:

About 11-17 weight percent nitrogen (N);

About 10-19 weight percent phosphorus (P);

About 3-15% potassium (K);

About 1-3% by weight magnesium (Mg); And

Trace elements

Wherein the N, P, K and Mg nutrients are in elemental or compound form, or mixtures thereof.

Within this broad range, we will provide more specific nutrient compositions to meet different requirements of plants, such as different growth stages, plant types, soil types and conditions, regions and climates.

One of the specific formulations of the present invention is a formulation for growing plants, where the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, N: P, is adjusted to provide P necessary for strong rooting of the growing plant. Such a composition (in accordance with our commercial activity, referred to hereinafter as " Greenfeed ^™ SRF") has a composition of the following nutrients:

About 11-12% by weight of nitrogen (N);

About 16-19 weight percent phosphorus (P);

About 3-4% by weight of potassium (K);

About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And

-Trace elements.

An ideal composition of Greenfeed ^™ SRF includes the following nutrient ratios:

About 12% by weight nitrogen (N);

About 16% phosphorous (P);

About 4% potassium (K);

About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And

-Trace elements.

Substantial analysis of the sample of the fertilizer composition according to the present invention (for our tradename Greenfeed ^™ SRF) can be represented by the results of the following commercial analytical services. The first sample of Greenfeed ^™ SRF (sustained release formulation for growing plants) was analyzed in Example 1 below.

Example 1

Greenfeed ^TM SRF

Analytical Method: Test Service (Sabah) Sdn Bhd

Venue: Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Type: Sample 1 × 150g evaluated as Greenfeed ^™ SRF in lump form. The mass is a soft oval with an average weight of 13 (g / lump).

Analyzes: water content, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg).

Analysis Nutrients Ingredients % Nitrogen, N 16.19 Phosphorus, P (as phosphorous oxide, P ₂ O ₅ ) 18.54 Potassium, K (as potassium oxide, K ₂ O) 4.33 Magnesium, Mg (as magnesium oxide, MgO) 1.61 Moisture (% by weight) 2.43

* (Percent based on moisture-free principle)

Second and third samples of Greenfeed ^™ SRF were analyzed in Example 2 below.

Example 2

Greenfeed ^TM SRF

Analytical means: Felda Analytical Laboratory,

           Felda Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd

Venue: Jeantut, Pahang, Malaysia

Type: Two samples evaluated as Greenfeed ^™ SRF were provided and labeled as “025” and “026” respectively. State on delivery: Satisfied.

Analyzes: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg).

Analysis Sample number: 025 026 Nutrients Ingredients % % N (as urea nitrogen), Ur-N 2.8 4.9 N (as ammonia nitrogen), NH ₄ -N 9.1 9.8 Total nitrogen, ΣN 11.9 14.7 Phosphorus, P (as Phosphorus Oxide, P ₂ O ₅ ) 18.6 16.0 Potassium, K (as Potassium Oxide, K ₂ O) 4.9 6.6 Magnesium, Mg (as Magnesium Oxide, MgO) 2.1 2.0

Fourth and fifth samples of Greenfeed ^™ SRF and feature tree formulations were analyzed in Example 3 below.

Example 3

Greenfeed ^TM SRF and MTF

Analytical Method: Consolidated Laboratory (M) Sdn Bhd

Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Type: Two samples, each evaluated as Greenfeed ^™ SRF and MTF are provided.

Targets for analysis: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca) and boron (B).

Analysis  Nutrients Ingredients  Unit Sample SRF MTF Nitrogen, N % 12.64 13.02 Phosphorus, P (as Phosphorus Oxide, P ₂ O ₅ ) % 15.34 11.00 Potassium, K (as Potassium Oxide, K ₂ O) % 3.77 14.56 Magnesium, Mg (as Magnesium Oxide, MgO) % 2.31 1.94 Zinc, Zn mg / kg 64.20 55.19 Copper, Cu mg / kg 4.63 4.19 Calcium, Ca % 10.31 4.39 Boron, B mg / kg 544.60 556.70

While SRF is generally formulated for the slow release of nutrients for growing plants, MTF is specifically formulated for the slow release of nutrients for mature plants. MTF formulations preferably contain nutrients in the following amounts:

About 13-17 weight percent nitrogen (N);

About 10% by weight phosphorus (P);

About 15% potassium (K) by weight;

About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And

-Trace elements.

More preferred fertilizer compositions for mature plants have the following formulation:

About 13 weight percent nitrogen (N);

About 10% by weight phosphorus (P);

About 15% potassium (K) by weight;

About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And

-Trace elements.

Trace elements are the minimum amount of nutrients required for optimal growth and fruit production of plants and are difficult to analyze, but these nutrients may preferably be provided in the following amounts:

About 300-600 mg of boron (B);

About 50 to 70 mg of zinc (Z);

About 4-5 mg of copper (Cu); And

Calcium Ca 4 ~ 11mg

Each ingredient amount is for 1 kg of fertilizer. Specifically, the trace element comprises about 0.3 mg of boron based on kg of fertilizer.

Inorganic raw materials of the elemental nutrients containing the fertilizer composition may preferably be provided as follows. Nitrogen (N) is preferably obtained from at least one of urea (NH ₂ CONH ₂ ) and ammonium nitrate (NH ₄ NO ₃ ) or mixtures thereof, wherein the amount of N is urea nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and nitric acid. It can be estimated as either nitrogen or mixtures thereof. Phosphorus (P) is preferably obtained from phosphorus oxide (P ₂ O ₅ ), the amount of which can be estimated from its stoichiometry. It is preferred that potassium (K) is obtained from potassium oxide (K ₂ O), and magnesium (Mg) is preferably obtained from magnesium oxide (MgO), the amount of which can be estimated from their respective stoichiometry.

Another aspect of the invention is a sustained release formulation of the fertilizer composition. The composition is formulated in pelletized form, crushed into particles or encapsulated with a coating such as, for example, a sulfur coating to slowly release nutrients into the soil. Most preferred embodiments have a composition of nutrients absorbed with zeolites or other substances for the gradual and regular release of nutrients into the soil, apart from the control or alleviation of sour odors resulting from the ammonia components of the fertilizer composition.

Natural zeolites such as clinoptilolite can be used according to their respective properties. For example, K-Ca clinoptilolite is known as a soil conditioner as opposed to Na clinoptilolite. Other types of zeolites having ammonia retention properties include chabasite and phillipsite. Since the natural raw materials of zeolites often include different kinds of zeolite mixtures instead of one kind, and some zeolites have some common characteristics, the term "zeolite" in the present invention means one kind of zeolite. Or a mixture of zeolites of different kinds having the desired properties or non-zeolitic materials of which the zeolite is the main component.

The fertilizer composition according to the nutrient ratio can be adjusted according to the cationic substitution ability (C.E.C.) and calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium naturally contained in the zeolite.

The composition of the present invention is acidic, the acidity of which inactivates urea-hydrolase of soil bacteria and retards hydrolysis of urea at the soil surface.

The amount and frequency of fertilizers can thus be reduced to formulations with the fertilizer compositions of the present invention because the supply of nutrients is kept long and less nutrients are lost through filtration.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the aforementioned components, materials, steps or processes may be substituted, changed or modified based on the same general concepts, features and working principles of the present invention. Other configurations or embodiments not specifically described herein can be effectively used in the concepts and working principles of the present invention. Accordingly, they are not to be considered separate from the present invention, but are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the aforementioned components, materials, steps or processes may be substituted, altered or modified based on the same general concepts, features and working principles of the present invention. Other configurations or forms not specifically described herein can be effectively used in the concepts and working principles of the present invention. Accordingly, they are not to be considered separate from the present invention, but are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims (16)

About 11-17 weight percent nitrogen (N); About 10-19 weight percent phosphorus (P); About 3-15% potassium (K); About 1-3% by weight magnesium (Mg); And Trace elements; Contains an elemental nutrient mixture of: The N, P, K and Mg nutrients are in elemental or compound form, or mixtures thereof Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 1, Nutrients About 11-12% by weight of nitrogen (N); About 16-19 weight percent phosphorus (P); About 3-4% by weight of potassium (K); About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And -Trace elements Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 1, Nutrients About 12% by weight nitrogen (N); About 16% phosphorous (P); About 4% potassium (K); About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And -Trace elements Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 1, Nutrients About 17 weight percent nitrogen (N); About 10% by weight phosphorus (P); About 15% potassium (K) by weight; About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And -Trace elements Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 1, Nutrients About 13 weight percent nitrogen (N); About 10% by weight phosphorus (P); About 15% potassium (K) by weight; About 2% by weight magnesium (Mg); And -Trace elements Fertilizer composition. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Trace elements per kg of fertilizer About 300-600 mg of boron (B); About 50 to 70 mg of zinc (Z); About 4-5 mg of copper (Cu); And Calcium (Ca) containing at least one of about 4 to 11 mg of nutrients Fertilizer composition. The method according to claim 4 or 5, Trace elements contain about 0.3 mg of boron (B) per kg fertilizer Fertilizer composition. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Inorganic raw materials of elemental nutrients Nitrogen (N) is at least one or mixtures of urea (NH ₂ CONH ₂ ) and ammonium nitrate (NH ₄ NO ₃ ); Phosphorus (P) is phosphorus oxide (P ₂ O ₅ ); Potassium (K) is potassium oxide (K ₂ 0); And Magnesium (Kg) is magnesium oxide (MgO) Fertilizer composition. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The amount of elemental nutrients Nitrogen (N) is estimated as one or a mixture of urea nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen; Phosphorus (P) is estimated as phosphorus oxide (P ₂ O ₅ ); Potassium (K) is estimated as potassium oxide (K ₂ 0); Magnesium (Mg) is estimated as magnesium oxide (MgO) Fertilizer composition. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Formulated as a sustained release formulation Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 10, Formulated in pelletized form Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 11, Encapsulated with a coating to delay the release of nutrients Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 10, Nutrients are absorbed into the zeolite Fertilizer composition. The method of claim 13, The amount of nutrients is controlled by the cation substitution capacity (C.E.C.) and the calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium content of the zeolite Fertilizer composition. A method for promoting the growth and harvesting of a growing plant, comprising applying a sufficient amount of the fertilizer composition according to claim 2. A method for promoting growth and harvesting of mature plants, comprising applying a sufficient amount of the fertilizer composition according to claim 4.