US20020107147A1

US20020107147A1 - Plant-activating agent

Info

Publication number: US20020107147A1
Application number: US10/061,226
Authority: US
Inventors: Masaharu Hayashi; Tadayuki Suzuki; Masatoshi Kamei; Toshio Hayashi; Kazuhiko Kurita
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 1998-11-06
Filing date: 2002-02-04
Publication date: 2002-08-08
Also published as: KR100665875B1; CN1155310C; EP0998850B1; EP0998850A1; DE69908387D1; DE69908387T2; ES2199192T3; US6489269B1; MY123201A; CN1257652A; DE69910714T2; KR20000035265A; ID23746A; EP1114584B1; EP1114584A1; ES2201618T3; DE69910714D1

Abstract

The present invention provides a plant-activating agent which effects no chemical injury on plant and which makes an activity of plant improve efficiently. That is to say, the present invention provides a method of activating a plant, which comprises treating the plant with a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms as a plant-activating agent; use of the mono-alcohol as a plant-activating agent; and a plant-activating agent or composition comprising the mono-alcohol; optionally with a surfactant, a fertilizer component and/or a chelating agent.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a plant-activating agent and/or a plant-activating composition. Also, as use thereof, the present invention provides a method of activating a plant by applying thereof in the state of solution or solid to a root, stem, phylloplane or fruit of plant, such as spraying onto phylloplanes and irrigating into soil. Now, hereinafter, the term of “plant” includes plants, vegetables, fruits, crops, seeds, flowers, herbs, floras, and so on.

BACKGROUND ART

Various nutrient elements are necessary for growth of plants. It is known that lack of some of the elements causes the hindrance of the growth of the plants. For example, the big three fertilizer components function as follows. Nitrogen is a component element of proteins, and phosphorus is a formation element of nucleic acid or phosphorus lipid and further plays an important part in energy metabolism and synthetic or decomposing reaction of a substance. Potassium has a physiological action of substance metabolism or substance migration. If these main components lacks, the growth of plants generally becomes poor. Calcium is an important component constituting the plant-realities and cells, and further plays an important part in maintenance of the balance of the metabolic system. The lacking state of calcium causes physiological troubles. Besides, various nutrients as follows are necessary for plants: Mg, Fe, S, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si, Na and the like.

Nutritious components such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are applied as basal fertilizer or additional fertilizer. Alternatively, they are applied by diluting liquid fertilizer and irrigating the diluted fertilizer into soil or by spraying the diluted fertilizer onto phylloplanes. These fertilizers are necessary and/or essential for the growth of plants. However, even if they are applied at larger concentrations than some values, the growth of plants and the yield of the plants cannot be further improved.

However, it is an important theme in agricultural production to promote the growth of agricultural plants and increase the yield per unit area to strive for an increase in income. Various plant growth regulators being necessary for this have been developed and used. The plant growth regulators, the typical examples of which include gibberellin and auxin, are used to regulate growth reaction or form-producing reaction such as germination, rooting, expansion, flowering and bearing. The actions of these substances are many-sided or complicated. The uses thereof are restrictive.

In order to solve such problems, there are known a phylloplane spraying agent using an oligosaccharide (JP-A 9-322647), and techniques in which a liquid fertilizer comprising a sugar, a mineral, an amino acid, an extract from seaweeds, or a fermentation extract of microorganisms is sprayed onto phylloplanes or is applied in the form of the liquid. In the present situation, however, their effects are insufficient for practical use.

For an increased yield, when a large amount of fertilizer is applied into the soil, various components may become excessive in the soil so that the balance of absorption thereof may become bad or the growth of plants may be delayed. As a result, there arise, for example, problems that the increased yield, as an aim, cannot be attained or the quality such as sugar concentration (Brix. value) or freshness (green degree) does not rise. And then, since there are a limit of absorption from roots which aim absorption of nutrients, direct absorption of necessary fertilizer elements from phylloplanes or fruits is attempted by spraying an aqueous solution or aqueous suspension of the elements. However, even if the aqueous solution of the necessary elements is merely sprayed onto phylloplanes, a problem arises from the viewpoint of absorption efficiency. Spraying excessive amounts of fertilizer elements impose stress on plants, resulting in chemical injury.

Handbook of Agricultural Chemicals (edited in 1994), on page 475, discloses decyl alcohol as a restrainer of an axillary bud of a tobacco plant. JP-a 55-40674 discloses an alcohol having 30 carbon atoms as a plant growth promoter.

It is known to dilute a foam concentrated product with water, generate foams at a static pressure of 15 psi or more in a foam generator connected to a tap water pipe, and treat plants or soil with the resultant foams (U.S. Pat. No. 3922977). However, this patent never discloses nor suggests use as a plant-activating agent or method for activating plants.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to plant-activating agent comprising a mono-alcohol having 12-24 carbon atoms and relates to a plant-activating composition comprising the mono-alcohol, and a surfactant, a fertilizer component or a chelating agent.

Namely, the present invention provides a plant-activating agent comprising a mono-alcohol having 12-24 carbon atoms, and provides a plant-activating composition comprising the mono-alcohol and at least one compound selected from a surfactant and a chelating agent.

The invention provides a method of activating a plant, which comprises treating the plant with a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms as a plant-activating agent; and use of the mono-alcohol as a plant-activating agent.

It is preferred that the plant is treated further with at least one compound selected from a surfactant, a fertilizer component and a chelating agent, in use or method of the above-mentioned.

The surfactant maybe selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant, in use or method of the above-mentioned.

The invention provides a plant-activating composition comprising a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and one group selected from (i) a chelating agent, (ii) a surfactant and a chelating agent, (iii) a fertilizer component and a chelating agent, and (iv) a surfactant, a fertilizer component and a chelating agent.

Another composition may preferably comprise a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, a ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant.

A plant-activating composition of the invention comprises a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant, optionally further comprising a fertilizer component.

A plant-activating composition of the invention comprises a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and one group selected from (iii) a fertilizer component and a chelating agent, (iv) a surfactant, a fertilizer component and a chelating agent and (v) a surfactant and a fertilizer component.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the present invention, a mono-alcohol having 12-24 carbon atoms, preferably 14-22 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 16-20 carbon atoms, is used since the alcohol can effectively give plant vital power activation without causing chemical injury. The hydrocarbon group of the mono-alcohol may be saturated or unsaturated, and may be in the form of a straight chain, a branched chain or a cyclic chain. The hydrocarbon group is preferably an alkyl group being a straight or branched chain, particularly preferably an alkyl group being a straight chain. Specific examples of the mono-alcohol include lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, eicosanol, behenyl alcohol, phytol, oleyl alcohol, and alcohols originated from natural fats and/or oils.

The form of the plant-activating agent comprising the mono-alcohol according to the present invention may be any form, such as a liquid, a flowable, a paste, a wettable powder, a granule, a dust formulation or a tablet. At the time of use, the plant-activating agent is generally sprayed in the form of an aqueous solution, an aqueous dispersion, or an aqueous emulsion which has a mono-alcohol concentration of from 1 to 500 ppm onto phylloplanes or roots of a plant.

In order to supply the plant-activating agent of the present invention to a plant, various methods may be used,. Examples of the methods include a method of applying a dust formation or a granule as fertilizer directly, a method of spraying a diluted aqueous solution directly onto phylloplanes, stems or fruits of a plant, a method of injecting a diluted aqueous solution into soil, and a method of supplying to dilute and to mix into a liquid for a hydroponics and a supplying water which are contacted with roots and which are such as a hydroponics and a rock wool.

Plants, which can be treated with the plant-activating agent of the present invention, may be a fruit vegetable such as a cucumber, a pumpkin, a watermelon-plant, a melon, a tomato, an eggplant, a green pepper, a strawberry, an okra, kidney beans in a pod, a broad bean, a pea, green soybeans in a pod and a corn; a leaf vegetables such as a Chinese cabbage, greens for pickling, a Brassica campestris (a Chinese spinach-like green vegetable), a cabbage, a cauliflower, a broccoli, a Brussels sprout, an onion, a Welsh onion, a garlic, a scallion, a leek, an asparagus, a lettuce, a green for salad (which is called Saladana in Japan), a celery, a spinach, a crown daisy, a parsley, a trefoil (which is called Mitsuba in Japan and is useful as herb), a dropwort, an udo (which is an Aralia cordata), a Japanese ginger, a Japanese butterbur and a labiate; and a root vegetable such as a radish, a turnip, a burdock, a carrot, a potato, a taro, a sweet potato, a yam, a ginger-plant (which is called Shoga in Japan) and a lotus root. Besides, the plant-activating agent may be used for a rice-plant; a barley, a wheat or a group thereof; petalous-plants and the like.

In the present invention, the following surfactant is preferably used together with the above-mentioned mono-alcohol to promote emulsification, dispersion, solubilization and permeation of the mono-alcohol.

Examples of nonionic surfactants include sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, glycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene glycerol fatty acid esters, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene polyglycerol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ethers, alkyl(poly)glycosides and polyoxyalkylenealkyl(poly)glycosides. Preferably, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom and ester group-containing nonionic surfactant may be cited.

Examples of anionic surfactants include carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfuric ester group-containing and phosphoric ester group-containing surfactants, and a carboxylic and phosphoric ester group-containing surfactants are preferred.

Examples of the carboxylic surfactants include fatty acids having 6-30 carbon atoms or salts thereof, polyhydric carboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkylamide ether carboxylic acid salts, rhodinic acid salts, dimmer acid salts, polymer acid salts and tall oil fatty acid salts.

Examples of the sulfonic surfactants include alkylbenezenesulfonic acid salts, alkylsulfonic acid salts, alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid salts, diphenyl ether sulfonic acid salts, condensates of alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, and condensate of naphthalenesulfonic acid.

Examples of the sulfuric ester group-containing surfactants include alkylsulfuric ester salts (alkylsulfuric acid salts), polyoxyalkylene alkylsulfuric ester salts (polyoxyalkylene alkylsulfuric acid salts), polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfuric acid salts, tristyrenated phenol sulfuric acid ester salts, polyoxyalkylene distyrenated phenol sulfuric acid ester salts and alkylpolyglycoside sulfuric acid salts.

Examples of phosphoric acid ester group-containing surfactants include alkyl phosphoric acid ester salts, alkylphenylphosphoric acid ester salts, polyoxyalkylene alkylphosphoric acid ester salts and polyoxyalkylene alkylpheneylphosphoric acid ester salts.

Examples of the salts include metallic salts (such as salts of Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn), ammonium salts, alkanol amine salts and aliphatic amine salts.

Examples of amphoteric surfactants include amino acid group-containing, betaine group-containing, imidazoline group-containing and amine oxide group-containing surfactants.

Examples of the amino acid group-containing surfactants include acylamino acid salts, acylsarcosine acid salts, acyloylmethylaminopropionic acid salts, alkylaminopropionic acid salts and acylamide ethylhydroxyethylmethylcarboxylic acid salts.

Examples of the betaine group-containing surfactants include alkyldimethylbetaine, alkylhydroxyethylbetaine, acylamide propylhydroxypropylammonia sulfobetaine, acylamide propylhydroxypropylammonia sulfobetaine and ricinoleic acid amide propyl dimethylcarboxy methylammonia betaine.

Examples of the imidazoline group-containing surfactants include alkylcarboxy methylhydroxy ethylimidazolinium betaine and alkylethoxy carboxy methylimidazolinium betaine.

Examples of the amine oxide group-containing surfactants include alkyldimethylamine oxide, alkyldiethanolamine oxide and alkylamidepropylamine oxide.

One kind of the above-mentioned surfactants may be used, and a mixture of two or more kinds of the above-mentioned surfactants may be used. In the case that one of these surfactants comprises a polyoxyalkylene group, the polyoxyalkylene group is preferably a polyoxyethylene group and the average mole number of added polyoxyethylene groups is preferably from 1 to 50.

As the surfactant, at least one compound selected from ester group-containing nonionic surfactants, ether group-containing nonionic surfactants having no nitrogen atom, amphoteric surfactants, carboxylic anionic surfactants and phosphoric anionic surfactant is preferable.

In particular, it is preferable to be at least one compound selected from ester group-containing nonionic surfactants and ether group-containing nonionic surfactants having no nitrogen atom.

The following fertilizer components may be used together with the above-mentioned mono-alcohol. Specific examples thereof may be inorganic or organic compounds which can supply elements such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si and Na, in particular N, P, X, Ca and Mg. Examples of such inorganic compounds include ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, sodium nitrate, urea, ammonium carbonate, potassium phosphate, calcium superphosphate, fused phosphate fertilizer (3Mgo.Cao.P ₂O₅.3CaSiO₂) , potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, nitrate of lime, slaked lime, carbonate of lime, magnesium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. Examples of the organic compounds include fowl droppings, cow dung, Bark compost, amino acid, peptone, amino acid solution (which is called Mieki in Japan), fermentation extracts, calcium salts of organic acids (such as citric acid, gluconic acid and succinic acid) , and calcium salts of fatty acids (such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and caproic acid). These fertilizer components may be used together with the surfactant. In the case that fertilizer components are sufficiently applied as basal fertilizer to soil as seen in outdoor cultivation of a rice-plant or vegetables, it is unnecessary to mix the fertilizer components. Further, when a cultivation form is such as a fertigation (a hydroponic soil culture) or a hydroponics, when it avoids applying excessively basal fertilizer and when it is a type of providing a fertilizer component as well as irrigation-water, the fertilizer component is preferably mixed.

When the plant-activating composition of the present invention is mixed with the following organic acid having chelating ability or a salt thereof, the growth and absorption efficiency of fertilizer improved further. Specific examples thereof include oxycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, heptonic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, adipic acid and glutaric acid; polyhydric carboxylic acids; and salts thereof such as potassium salt, sodium salt, alkanolamine salt and aliphatic amine salt.

Mixing a chelating agent besides the organic acids also causes the growth and absorption efficiency of fertilizer to be improved. Examples of the mixed chelating agents include aminocarboxylic group-containing chelating agents such as EDTA, NTA and CDTA.

The form, spraying method and the like of plant-activating composition of the present invention are the same as described above. If necessary, water and/or a solvent may be added to the composition.

In the plant-activating composition or the fertilizer composition of the present invention, it is preferable to use respectively; per 100 parts by weight of the mono-alcohol; 10-20000 parts, in particular 100-2000 parts, by weight of the surfactant; 0-50000 parts, in particular 10-5000 parts, by weight of the fertilizer component; 0-1000 parts, in particular 10-500 parts, by weight of the chelating agent; and 0-5000 parts, in particular 10-500 parts, by weight of other nutritious sources (such as sugars, amino acids and vitamins).

In the case that the plant-activating composition is applied in the form of a dust formulation or granule as fertilizer to soil, it is preferable that the used dust formulation or granule comprise the above-mentioned components except water at the same ratios as above, in general. This dust formulation or granule may comprise a vehicle to prevent caking.

The plant-activating agent of the present invention makes it possible to improve the activity of plant effectively without causing any chemical injury on plants if the plants are treated with an appropriate concentration of the plant-activating agent. For this reason, it can be used for various plants. According to the present invention, promotion of taking root of a plant, increase of chlorophyll value (SPAD value), increase of absorption efficiency of fertilizer and so on are seen as improvement at growth of plant.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Test of Soil-treatment for Tomato Seedlings

Species: “Home Momotaro” (Takii & Company LTD) [0045]
Vessel for cultivation: a cell tray having 50 holes for germination, and a pot (diameter: 14 cm) for cultivation [0046]
Used soil: Takii soil for seeding [N: P[0047] ₂O₅: K₂O=480: 750: 345 (mg/L), pH 6.4, and EC: 0.96]

Under the above-mentioned conditions, seeds were sown in the cell tray having 50 holes. When 2 weeks went by after germination, the plants were transplanted to the pot. At intervals of 1 week after 3 days from the transplantation, the soil was treated 4 times with fertilizer compositions being blended raw materials shown in Table 1 and 1000 ppm of a fertilizer component “Otsuka OKF2” (made by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.). The concentrations of the blended raw materials are shown in Table 1 and their balance was water. The amount for each of the treatments was about 50 ml per pot. The fertilizer compositions were caused to penetrate into the soils. For the respective compositions, the test was repeated 3 times. On the 7th day after the fourth treatment, the growth state [height and weight (,hereinafter, “weight” means raw-weight,] of the respective plants and the SPAD value (SPAD 502 made by Minolta Co., Ltd.) representing a green degree were measured. The measured values obtained from the 3 repetitions were averaged. The averaged value was relatively compared as the value that was obtained from the no-treated area (Comparative product 1-4) and made to be 100. The results are shown in Table 1.

	TABLE 1


	Results of the test

		Concentration			SPAD
No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	Height	Weight	value

Invention product	1-1	Stearyl alcohol	100	148	142	122
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	500
	1-2	Eicosanol	200	145	140	119
		POE(20) hardened castor oil	1000
	1-3	Decyldodecanol	100	134	124	110
		POE(15) glycerol beef tallow fatty acid ester	500
	1-4	Lauryl alcohol	50	132	122	112
		Na salt of POE(3) lauryl sulfuric ester	100
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	200
	1-5	Oleyl alcohol	300	138	130	118
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	600
		Sorbitan monolaurate	400
	1-6	Stearyl alcohol	200	144	138	122
		Cetyl alcohol	100
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	500
		Tetraglycerol monooleate	500
	1-7	Branched C₁₂/C₁₃alcohol*	100	118	110	112
		POE(10) oleic acid ester	500
		Alkylglucoside**	200
	1-8	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (weight ratio = 3/7. This is true hereinafter.)	200	158	144	120
		POE(20) sorbitan monoolaate	200
		Sucrose stearic acid ester	300
	1-9	Stearyl alcohol	50	156	147	129
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
		EDTA · 4Na	20
	1-10	Coconut alcohol (C₁₄/C₁₆/C₁₈= 10/70/20)	100	122	124	118
		Oleic acid monodiglyceride	200
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	500
Comparative product	1-1	Ethanol	200	95	98	99
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	1-2	Isopropanol	100	86	98	88
		Na salt of POE(3) lauryl sulfuric ester	100
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	200
	1-3	Octyl alcohol	100	75	88	86
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	200
	1-4	Water (no-treated area)	—	100	100	100

(Notes) In Table 1, polyoxyethylene is abbreviated to POE, the respective numbers inside parentheses are the average mole numbers of added ethylene oxide (,the hereinafter is the same as this). Also, for example, notes of C[0049] ₁₆and C₁₈mean the number of carbon atoms being 16 and 18, respectively (,the hereinafter is the same as this).
From the results shown in Table 1, it is noted that the plant-activating composition of the present invention made the growth of the plants promote remarkably and the green degree raise obviously, compared with comparative products. [0050]

Example 2

Test of Soil-treatment for Brassica Campestris Seedlings

[0051] Brassica campestris seeds: Takii & Company LTD
Vessel for cultivation: a cell tray having 50 holes [0052]
Used soil: Takii soil for seeding (which was the same as in Example 1) [0053]

Under the above-mentioned conditions, seeds were sown in the cell tray having 50 holes. At intervals of 1 week after 2 weeks from germination, the soil was treated 4 times with fertilizer compositions being blended raw materials shown in Table 2 and 1000 ppm of a fertilizer component “Otsuka OKF2”. The concentrations of the blended raw materials are shown in Table 2 and their balance was water. The amount for each of the treatments was about 60 ml for respective 10 holes. The fertilizer compositions were caused to penetrate into the soils. For the respective compositions, the test for 10 holes was performed3 times, i.e. 3 repetitions. On the 7th day after the fourth treatment, the growth state (height and weight) of the respective plants and the SPAD value (SPAD 502 made by Minolta Co., Ltd.) representing a green degree were measured. The measured values obtained from the 3 repetitions were averaged. The averaged value was relatively compared as the value that was obtained from the no-treated area (Comparative product 2-4) and was made to be 100. The results are shown in Table 2.

	TABLE 2


	Concentration	Results of the test

	No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	Height	Weight	SPAD value

Invention product	2-1	Lauryl alcohol	100	142	138	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-2	Myristyl alcohol	100	148	140	114
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-3	Cetyl alcohol	100	158	144	114
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-4	Stearyl alcohol	100	160	152	140
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-5	Oleyl alcohol	100	152	160	138
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-6	Eicosanol	100	140	138	120
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-7	Behenyl alcohol	100	132	142	118
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-8	Phytol	100	142	146	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-9	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	100	156	162	136
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-10	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	100	168	176	136
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
		Heptononic acid Na salt	20
	2-11	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	100	166	176	132
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
		Malonic acid	20
	2-12	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	100	172	172	130
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
		Maleic acid	20
	2-13	Branched C₁₂/C₁₃alcohol	100	136	148	112
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
		EDTA · 4Na	20
	2-14	coconut alcohol (C₁₄/C₁₆/C₁₈= 10/70/20)	100	146	156	118
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
		EDTA · 4Na	20
Comparative product	2-1	Ethanol	100	96	86	90
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-2	Octyl alcohol	100	74	68	88
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-3	Decyl alcohol	100	82	76	88
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	200
	2-4	Water (no-treated area)	—	100	100	100

Example 3

Test of Phylloplane-treatment for Rice-plant Seedlings

Species: Kinuhikari [0055]
Vessel for cultivation: a cell tray having 50 holes [0056]
Used soil: Ryujou Iseki Baido (seedling soil for rice-plant) (N:P:X=1:1:1) (made by Iseki & Company, LTD) [0057]

Under the above-mentioned conditions, seeds were sown in the cell tray having 50 holes. After the plants geminated, the plants fell in the dark age followed by the virescent age. At a period when the height of the plants became about 3 cm (after 3 days), the phylloplanes were treated 1 time with fertilizer compositions being blended raw materials shown in Table 3 and 1000 ppm of a fertilizer component “Otsuka OKF2”. The concentrations of the blended raw materials are shown in Table 3 and their balance was water. The amount for each of the treatments was about 1 L per 50 holes. At the 3.2 leaf age, which was final during the raising seedling period, the growth state (height, weight, weight of the portion on the ground and weight of the portion under the ground) of the respective plants and the SPAD value (SPAD 502 made by Minolta Co., Ltd.) representing a green degree of a leaf were measured. The measured value was relatively compared as the value that was obtained from the no-treated area (Comparative product 3-4) and made to be 100. The results are shown in Table 3.

	TABLE 3


	Results of the test

				weight of the	weight of the
				portion on the	portion under the
		Concentration	Height	ground	ground	SPAD value
No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	n = 20	n = 20	n = 20	n = 20

Invention product	3-1	Cetyl alcohol	10	140	106	112	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	50
	3-2	Cetyl alcohol	50	144	108	116	114
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	250
	3-3	Cetyl alcohol	100	152	114	120	120
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	500
	3-4	Cetyl alcohol	500	156	116	130	128
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	1000
	3-5	Stearyl alcohol	10	138	108	120	116
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	50
	3-6	Stearyl alcohol	50	142	110	124	120
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	250
	3-7	Stearyl alcohol	100	156	118	130	122
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	500
	3-8	Stearyl alcohol	500	162	120	133	136
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	1000
	3-9	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	10	136	106	118	136
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	50
	3-10	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	50	136	110	122	136
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	250
	3-11	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	100	142	112	128	132
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	500
	3-12	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 3/7)	500	148	116	130	130
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	1000
Comparative product	3-1	Octyl alcohol	10	90	92	96	86
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	50
	3-2	Octyl alcohol	50	88	80	74	76
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	250
	3-3	Octyl alcohol	100	68	72	62	66
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	500
	3-4	Water (no-treated area)	—	100	100	100	100

Example 4

Test of Reproductive Ability Using Chlorella Cells

Chlorella cells, which are green cells of a higher plant, were cultured with vibration in an inorganic-salt medium. Raw materials shown in Table 4 were added thereto, and then reproductive ability of chlorella cells (ability for increasing the number of the cells) was evaluated by comparison with the result obtained from a medium which was no-treated (i.e., only original nutrients of the inorganic salt medium). For the respective compositions, the test was repeated 3 times. The concentration of the cells was set to 1.00×105 cells (per ml) at the start of the test. The numbers of the chlorella cells after 10 days from the addition of the various raw materials followed by culture of the cells are shown as the relative values compared with the value that was obtained from the medium which was no-treated (Comparative product 4-9) and made to be 100. The results are shown in Table 4. As the inorganic salt medium, a Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium was used.

TABLE 4


			Result of the test
Test		Concentration	proliferating ability
No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	of cells

Invention product

4-1	Lauryl alcohol	10	115
4-2	Myristyl alcohol	10	128
4-3	Myristyl alcohol	5	138
	Stearyl alcohol	5
4-4	Cetyl alcohol	10	148
4-5	Cetyl alcohol	5	160
	Stearyl alcohol	5
4-6	Stearyl alcohol	10	168
4-7	Oleyl alcohol	10	154
4-8	Eicosanol	10	152
4-9	Docosanol	10	130
4-10	Tetracosanol	10	122
4-11	Lauryl alcohol	10	119
	Malonic acid	4
4-12	Cetyl alcohol	10	152
	Ascorbic acid Na salt	4
4-13	Stearyl alcohol	10	172
	EDTA.4Na	4
4-14	Eicosanol	10	160
	EDTA.4Na	4
4-15	Cetyl alcohol	30	142
4-16	Stearyl alcohol	30	156
4-17	Eicosanol	30	146
4-18	Cetyl alcohol	30	146
	Ascorbic acid Na salt	15
4-19	Stearyl alcohol	30	159
	EDTA.4Na	15
4-20	Eicosanol	30	150
	EDTA.4Na	15
4-21	Tetracosanol	10	128
	Fumaric acid	4

Comparative product

4-1	Propanol	10	96
4-2	Hexanol	10	93
4-3	Propanol	5	92
	Octanol	5
4-4	Decyl alcohol	10	91
4-5	Decyl alcohol	10	94
	Fumaric acid	4
4-6	Hexanol	5	96
	Ethanol	5
4-7	Octanol	30	95
4-8	Propanol	10	98
	EDTA.4Na	4
4-9	Inorganic salt medium	—	100
	(no-treated area)

Example 5

Evaluation of Water Culture of Tomato Seedlings

Seeds of tomato “Momotaro” were sown in a box, and seedlings having 3 true leaves at the expansion period were used. For the respective compositions, the test was repeated 3 times. OKF2 (made by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) was diluted (as N:P:K=260:149:247 (ppm/OKF2 to be 538 times) as a NPK base and then resultant was added to a culturing solution. The present test was performed under conditions shown in Table 5. After 6 days from the start of the test, the culturing solution was sampled, and it was examined by means of RQ Flex (made by Merk) to obtain absorption efficiency of nitrate nitrogen. The each value as relative value shows an absorption amount of nitrate nitrogen at each treatment in the case of making NPK culturing solution to be control. Also, at 6 days after starting of test, SPAD value (SPAD 502 made by Minolta Co., Ltd.) representing green degree of a leaf were measured. When the control (Comparative product 5-4) made up to be 100, the relative value is compared. The results are shown in Table 5. Then, fertilizer composition of OKF2 (Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) was as follows: N:P:K:Ca:Mg 14:8:16:6:2.

	TABLE 5


	Result of the test

		Concentration	Efficency of
Test No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	absorbing nitrogen	SPAD value

Invention product	5-1	Stearyl alcohol	50	207	109
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		EDTA · 4Na	20
	5-2	Stearyl alcohol	50	182	107
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-3	Stearyl alcohol	50	175	106
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
		EDTA · 4Na	20
	5-4	Stearyl alcohol	50	170	105
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
	5-5	Stearyl alcohol	50	125	103
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
		EDTA · 4Na	20
	5-6	Lauryl alcohol	50	134	104
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-7	Cetyl alcohol	100	158	105
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-8	Eicosanol	50	162	104
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-9	Tetracosanol	50	146	103
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-10	Lauryl alcohol	50	128	102
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
	5-11	Cetyl alcohol	50	149	104
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
	5-12	Eicosanol	50	145	103
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
	5-13	Tetracosanol	50	135	101
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt	150
Comparative product	5-1	Ethanol	50	100	95
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-2	Hexanol	50	97	97
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-3	Decyl alcohol	50	95	96
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	150
	5-4	NPK culturing solution (control)	—	100	100

Example 6

Test of Soil-irrigating Treatment for Spinach: Leaf Vegetable

Species: “Esper”[0061]
Form of cultivation: a pot (diameter: 18 cm) for cultivation [0062]
Used soil: Kureha Engei Baido (horticultural soil made by Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) [0063]
(Fertilizer components; N:P:K=0.4:1.9:0.6 (g) per 1 kg of the soil) [0064]

Seeds of spinach “Esper” were directly sown on the soil. As the culturing soil, the horticultural soil (made by Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was used in an amount of 1.3 L (1.5 kg) per 1 pot (diameter of 18 cm). The number of repetition was made up to 18 pots. After 12 days from the sowing, treatment was started. At the intervals of 7 days, raw materials shown in Tables 6 and 7 were used to irrigate the soil 5 times in a treating amount of 150 ml/18 cm pot. After 6 days from the 5th irrigating treatment, weights of the plant and the SPAD value were examined. When the no-treated area (Comparative product 6-5) made up to be 100, the relative value is compared. The results are shown in Tables 6 and 7. During the test period, fertilizer components such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were not applied as additional fertilizer and the plant absorbed only nutrients contained in the soil. Then, composition ratio of NPK fertilizer as the additional fertilizer was follows: N:P:K:Mg=17:9.5:18:3.5.

	TABLE 6


	Concentration	Result of the test

	Test No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	Weight	SPAD value

Invention product	6-1	Stearyl alcohol	50	125	115
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleic acid ester (RHEODOL TW-O120)	150
	6-2	Stearyl alcohol	50	121	115
		POE(6) sorbitan monooleic acid ester (RHEODOL TW-O106)	150
	6-3	Stearyl alcohol	50	125	112
		POE(20) sorbitan monostearic acid ester (RHEODOL TW-S120)	150
	6-4	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	110
		POE(20) sorbitan tristearic acid ester (RHEODOL TW-S320)	150
	6-5	Stearyl alcohol	50	123	114
		POE(20) sorbitan coconut oil fatty acid ester (RHEODOL TW-L120)	150
	6-6	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	112
		Sorbitan monostearic acid ester (RHEODOL SP-S10)	150
	6-7	Stearyl alcohol	50	123	113
		Sorbitan monooleic acid ester (RHEODOL SP-O10)	150
	6-8	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	112
		Sorbitan tristearic acid ester (RHEODOL SP-S30)	150
	6-9	Stearyl alcohol	50	121	110
		Sorbitan monopalmitic acid ester (RHEODOL SP-P10)	150
	6-10	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	112
		Sorbitan coconut oil fatty acid ester (RHEODOL SP-L10)	150
	6-11	Stearyl alcohol	50	121	112
		POE(30) sorbit tetraoleic acid ester (RHEODOL 430)	150
	6-12	Stearyl alcohol	50	123	114
		POE(40) sorbit tetraoleic acid ester (RHEODOL 440)	150
	6-13	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	113
		POE(60) sorbit tetraoleic acid ester (RHEODOLI 460)	150
	6-14	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	114
		POE(140) monostearic acid polyethylene glycol (EMANON 3199)	150
	6-15	Stearyl alcohol	50	121	111
		POE(140) distearic acid polyethylene glycol (EMANON 3299)	150
	6-16	Stearyl alcohol	50	122	113
		POE(40) hardened caster oil (EMANON CH-40)	150
	6-17	Stearyl alcohol	50	121	113
		POE(80) hardened caster oil (EMANON CH-80)	150

	TABLE 7


	Concentration	Result of the test

	Test No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	Weight	SPAD value

Invention product	6-18	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	120	112
		Oleic acid potassium salt (OS-SOAP)	150
	6-19	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	119	110
		Semi-hardened beef tallow fatty acid sodium salt (NS-SOAP)	150
	6-20	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	118	110
		Stearic acid sodium salt (SS-40N)	150
	6-21	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	117	111
		POE(4.5) lauryl ether acetic acid sodium salt (AKYPO RLM45NV)	150
	6-22	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	116	111
		POE(10) myristyl ether acetic acid sodium salt (AKYPO RLM100NV)	150
	6-23	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	115	112
		Lauryl phosphoric acid monoester sodium salt	150
	6-24	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	117	110
		Lauryl phosphoric acid diester sodium salt	150
	6-25	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	118	110
		POE(3) lauryl phosphoric acid monoester sodium salt	150
	6-26	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	117	111
		POE(4) lauryl ether (EMULGEN 104P)	75
	6-27	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	115	111
		POE(13) cetyl ether (EMULGEN 220)	75
	6-28	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	115	113
		POE(12) stearyl ether (EMULGEN 320P)	75
	6-29	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	116	112
		POE(9) octyl phenyl ether (EMULGEN 810)	75
	6-30	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	114	110
		POE(9) nonyl phenyl ether (EMULGEN 909)	75
	6-31	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	112	109
		POE(50) nonyl phenyl ether (EMULGEN 950)	75
	6-32	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	113	110
		Alkyl glucoside (C10/C12/C14) (MYDOL 12)	150
	6-33	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	112	107
		Alkyl glucoide (C9/C10/C11) (MYDOL 10)	150
	6-34	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	111	105
		Lauryl diethyl amine oxide (AMPHITOL 20N)	150
	6-35	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	111	110
		2-alkyl-N-carboxy methyl-N-hydorxy ethyl imidazolium betaine	150
	6-36	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	110	110
		Lauryl amido propyl betaine (AMPHITOL 20AB)	150
	6-37	C₁₆/C₁₈alcohol (C₁₆/C₁₈= 15/85)	50	109	107
		Lauryl dimethyl amino acetic acid betaine (AMPHITOL 24B)	150
Comparative product	6-1	Decyl alcohol	50	75	80
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt (EMAL 0)	150
	6-2	Hexacosanol	50	90	92
		Lauryl sulfuric acid sodium salt (EMAL 0)	150
	6-3	Decyl alcohol	50	68	72
		POE(9) nonyl phenyl ether (EMULGEN 909)	150
	6-4	Hexacosanol	50	85	87
		POE(9) nonyl phenyl ether (EMULGEN 909)	150
	6-5	Water (no-treated area)	—	100	100

Example 7

Test of Soil-treating for Rice-plant Seedlings: Treatment at the Raising Seedling Period

Unhulled rice seeds (species of Koshihikari) were sown into a box (60×30 cm) for raising seedling. At the period transferring from the hardening period to the greening period after germination, treatment was started in an treating amount of 500 ml/the box for raising seedling. Raw materials shown in Table 8 were used to irrigate the soil 3 times into soil. After the 3 treatments, that is, after 15 days from the sowing, the heights and the weights of the seedlings and the SPAD value were examined. When the no-treated area (Comparative product 7-6) made up to be 100, the relative value is compared. The results are shown in Table 8. As basal fertilizer, N component was applied in an amount of 0.5 g per the box for raising seedling. During the test period, fertilizer components were not applied as additional fertilizer and rice-plant seedlings absorbed only nutrients contained in the soil.

	TABLE 8


	Concentration	Result of the test

	Test No.	Blended raw materials	(ppm)	Height	Weight	SPAD value

Invention product	7-1	Stearyl alcohol	100	106	115	113
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-2	Myristyl alcohol	100	107	107	108
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		tartaric acid Na solt	50
	7-3	Tetracosanol	100	102	107	106
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-4	Myristyl alcohol	100	106	108	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		Oxamide	50
	7-5	Lauryl alcohol	100	102	102	105
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	300
	7-6	Eicosanol	100	104	110	109
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-7	Oleyl alcohol	100	108	119	116
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		EDTA · 4Na	50
	7-8	Stearyl alcohol	50	108	118	116
		Cetyl alcohol	50
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		succucinic acid	50
	7-9	Docosanol	100	103	108	108
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-10	Myristyl alcohol	100	102	104	108
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-11	Docasanol	100	106	116	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		EDTA · 4Na	50
	7-12	Cetyl alcohol	100	104	106	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-13	Stearyl alcohol	100	109	119	115
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		Malonic acid	50
	7-14	Cetyl alcohol	100	108	112	112
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		EDTA · 4Na	50
	7-15	Stearyl alcohol	100	110	121	118
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		EDTA · 4Na	50
	7-16	Oleyl alcohol	100	104	113	110
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-17	Stearyl alcohol	50	104	109	112
		Cetyl alcohol	50
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-18	Tetracosanol	100	104	110	109
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		gluconic acid	50
	7-19	Eicosanol	100	108	118	114
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		Ascorbic acid Na salt	50
	7-20	Lauryl alcohol	100	104	104	106
		POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate	300
		Fumaric acid	50
Comparative product	7-1	Ethanol	100	96	92	91
		POE(20) sorbitan monooletae	300
	7-2	Ethanol	100	97	96	95
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		Heptonic acid Na salt	50
	7-3	Hexanol	100	93	96	89
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
		Malonic acid	50
	7-4	Hexanol	100	90	93	87
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-5	Octyl alcohol	100	78	82	83
		POE(20) sorbitan monooleate	300
	7-6	Water (non-treated area)	—	100	100	100

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A method of promoting plant growth, which comprises treating a plant with a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms as a plant growth agent.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the plant is treated further with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a fertilizer and a chelating agent.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, in which the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant.

4. A composition for promoting plant growth comprising a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and one member selected from the group consisting of (i) a chelating agent, (ii) a surfactant and a chelating agent, (iii) a fertilizer and a chelating agent and (iv) a surfactant, a fertilizer and a chelating agent.

5. The composition as claimed in claim 4, which comprises said mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, a ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant.

6. A composition for promoting plant growth comprising a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant.

7. The composition as claimed in claim 6, which further comprises a fertilizer.

8. A method of treating a plant, which comprises treating a plant directly with a mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, in which the plant is treated further with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a fertilizer and a chelating agent.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, in which the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant, an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom, an amphoteric surfactant, a carboxylic anionic surfactant and a phosphoric anionic surfactant.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms is a plant growth agent.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plant is treated further with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an ester group-containing non-ionic surfactant and an ether group-containing non-ionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plant is treated further with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an ester group-containing non-ionic surfactant and an ether group-containing non-ionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom.

14. The composition as claim ed in claim 5, which comprises said mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing non-ionic surfactant and an ether group-containing non-ionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom.

15. The composition as claimed in claim 6, which comprises said mono-alcohol having 12 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one surfactant selected from an ester group-containing non-ionic surfactant and an ether group-containing non-ionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom.