Nutritional composition of crops

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; and (iii) one or more surfactants, wherein the composition has an elemental magnesium content of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, an elemental potassium content of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, the surfactant content of the composition being in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition, and the composition comprising particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns. The present invention further relates to a method for treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making the essential nutrients magnesium and potassium available to the plants.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition in the form of water dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; (iii) one or more surfactants; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition, wherein the composition has an elemental potassium content ranging from 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. The composition of the present invention comprises particles ranging in size from 0.1 microns to 30 microns. According to a further embodiment, the surfactant is present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for improving plant health or enhancing nutrient uptake by a plant or plant yield, comprising treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, a location or plant part thereof, a seed, a seedling, or the surrounding soil with a crop nutritional composition of the present invention.

[0003] The present invention further relates to a method of treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as magnesium, potassium available to the plants and also by releasing other micronutrients and trace elements present in the soil that were previously unavailable due to a variety of factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers or antagonism between nutrients. [Background technology]

[0004] In describing embodiments of the present invention, specific terminology is chosen for the sake of clarity, however, it is understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so chosen, and that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

[0005] Nutrition is a central factor in the growth, reproduction and development of crops. Nutrients play an important role in balancing crop nutrition. Poor and insufficient availability of nutrients to plants results in lack of proper growth and physiological development. As a result, plants become more susceptible to attacks by pests. Other problems related to agriculture are environmental conditions such as drought, biotic and abiotic stress, poor soil conditions, or depletion of nutrients in the soil, which also lead to reduced yield and quality of agricultural products.

[0006] It is also known that optimal levels of nutrients are required for the normal function and growth of plants, and any fluctuations in nutrient levels can cause disturbances in the overall crop growth and can cause its health to decline due to either deficiency or toxicity, which in turn affects nutrients essential for the human diet. Furthermore, poor availability of nutrients to plants can also result in a lack of proper growth, making the plants more susceptible to attack by pests.

[0007] In addition, interactions between different types of plant nutrients can be either antagonistic or synergistic depending on the element / nutrient mixture and its composition, concentration, etc., which can affect nutrient utilization efficiency. An adequate supply of nutrients with an optimal combination of various nutrients promotes the overall development of the crop. With the application of excess nutrients, plants may suffer from "nutrient antagonism," whereby an excess of a particular element may block the absorption of another element required by the plant, which may result in a deficiency in the plant.

[0008] Therefore, providing sufficient and balanced nutrition in such a way that there is maximum uptake of nutrients by the plant, together with protection for the crop, remains a major challenge.

[0009] Furthermore, optimizing soil conditions and managing crop nutrient use has been a long-felt need for farmers to improve crop nutrient use efficiency. Significant research is being conducted to improve soil and plant health, provide better economic returns to farmers, and reduce the environmental burden due to the widespread use of synthetic pesticides.

[0010] Potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) are essential nutrients required for balanced nutrition and to regulate biochemical functions in plants. Potassium is one of the essential macronutrients with the highest plant demand and plays a crucial role in plant growth and development. It is an essential component for proper plant development and is required for enzyme activation, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, osmoregulation, stomatal opening, energy transduction, phloem transport, cation-anion balance, and stress tolerance. Magnesium (Mg) is also an essential macroelement required for plant growth, health, and development. Magnesium is involved in several different processes, including photosynthesis. Magnesium's most important role is as the central atom, or heart, in the chlorophyll molecule. Without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot capture the solar energy required for photosynthesis. Magnesium also helps activate specific enzyme systems involved in normal plant metabolism. Furthermore, it is required for cell division and protein formation and is an essential component for plant respiration.

[0011] The availability of magnesium and potassium in soil depends on several factors, including the source rock material, mobility in the soil, degree of weathering, local climate, and the specific agricultural system and its management practices, such as crop type, crop intensity, crop rotation, and fertilization practices. Although the benefits of potassium and magnesium are well known, their deficiency has become widespread in most agricultural regions of the world over the past few decades, resulting in these nutrients being limiting factors for improving plant growth, yields, and fertilizer efficiency.

[0012] Table A discusses the effects of magnesium and potassium deficiency in plants.

[0013] [Table 1]

[0014] Therefore, proper nutrition is critical for optimizing plant nutrition and metabolism, which in turn contributes to overall crop yield, quality and a nutrient-rich human diet.

[0015] Chemical fertilizers based on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) are typically used in very high doses to meet the nutritional needs of plants. For example, potassium chloride, or chloride of potassium (MOP), has been considered the primary source of potassium in these traditional NPK fertilizers. However, excessive and injudicious application of potassium chloride leads to the accumulation of chloride ions in the soil, which in turn leads to soil salinity, which is damaging to plants and other microorganisms present in the soil. Chloride affects plants primarily through increasing the osmotic potential of soil water. In other words, chloride salts increase soil salinity, which interferes with plants' ability to uptake water.

[0016] Furthermore, as the rate of ammonium sulfate addition increased, the plants became increasingly deficient in magnesium. The detrimental direct effect of ammonium sulfate on magnesium supply to plants was presumed to be due to competition with NH4 and H ions for Mg uptake. These ions are formed in large excess in root tissues immediately after the absorption of NH4 ions (Nitrogen-Magnesium Relationships in Crop Plants by E.G. Mulder*, Agricultural Experiment Station and Institute for Soil Research TNO, Groningen, The Netherlands).

[0017] It is known that magnesium is applied to soil in the form of water-soluble salts, such as magnesium sulfate, which has been the primary source of magnesium in conventional nutrient fertilizers. Farmers' practices involve the application of magnesium fertilizers at very high doses. However, this tends to leach during rainfall, leading to low availability of magnesium in the soil for plant uptake. In addition, the application of water-soluble magnesium sulfate at higher doses significantly increases the salinity of the soil, causing damage to plants and other microorganisms present in the soil.

[0018] Thus, because magnesium and potassium are directly and indirectly involved in many physiological processes related to plant growth and development, it is essential to develop compositions that will provide sufficient amounts of these nutrients together. Excessive amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium in the soil can further lead to nutrient imbalances, resulting in end crops lacking essential nutrients.

[0019] Due to high application of NPK fertilizers, potassium accumulates in the soil, which leads to an antagonistic effect on the uptake of other nutrients such as magnesium and calcium, i.e., inhibiting the uptake of magnesium or calcium by plants, leading to deficiencies of these nutrients in the plants.

[0020] It is also known that an excessive supply of potassium inhibits magnesium uptake, resulting in K-Mg antagonism. The antagonistic interaction / competitive nature of potassium and magnesium has been reported (KL Kabu et al., "Influence of potassium-magnesium antagonism on tomato plant growth," Can. J. Plant Sci. 50:711-715 (Nov. 1970)). High potassium fertilized soils can reduce magnesium availability to plants, leading to magnesium deficiency in crops grown in soils already low in magnesium. Conversely, crops grown in soils high in magnesium may suffer from potassium deficiency, especially if the soil is high in phosphorus and low in potassium.

[0021] Therefore, considering the antagonism between magnesium and potassium, it has always been challenging to develop an agricultural composition that not only overcomes this problem in terms of increasing magnesium uptake, but also simultaneously maintains soil pH and succeeds in meeting the nutritional requirements of both potassium and magnesium in plants, which will ultimately have an impact on human nutrition.

[0022] Traditionally, micronutrient-based compositions have been known in the art in the form of bentonite granules or pastilles, pellets / prills, granules prepared via melting processes, etc. Such preparations of micronutrient compositions in the form of granules, pellets, or pastilles contain swelling clay and have been associated with several drawbacks. These compositions are generally large in size and contain swelling clay, which swells and disintegrates into large particles of non-uniform size upon contact with moisture. Such granules or pastilles also lead to irregular release of micronutrients, failing to meet plant nutritional requirements and ultimately resulting in poor field efficacy.

[0023] Furthermore, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20170283334A1 discloses a micronutrient composition comprising a combination of water-insoluble and water-soluble micronutrients contained within a hydrated polyelectrolyte solution. The polyelectrolytes in such compositions physically crosslink to create a thick, gel-like matrix in which the solid micronutrients are dispersed. Such compositions utilize polyelectrolytes and metal complexing agents to deliver both immediate and sustained release of active ingredients. However, these highly concentrated formulations are difficult to dilute with water, do not form stable dispersions, and tend to form hard lumps, making them unsuitable for use. Such non-pourable formulations with high viscosity and large particle size tend to clog nozzles, creating problems in delivering nutrients to plants or crops.

[0024] There are commercial compositions known in the art in the form of powders that either involve the use of water-soluble nutrient sources or are composed of ores with the presence of both potassium and magnesium together. However, it has been observed that such compositions tend to wash away and not be absorbed by plants, which in turn causes groundwater contamination during heavy rainfall or irrigation. As soil salinity increases, plants are unable to draw as much water and nutrients from the soil. This not only results in a significant decrease in efficiency but also has serious environmental consequences. Furthermore, powder compositions not only have practical application issues such as dust generation, but also pose risks to users, primarily due to eye irritation, inhalation risks, and skin irritation. Such formulations are not easily dispersible and tend to clog nozzles when applied via dripping, making them unsuitable for use in irrigation systems. Furthermore, these compositions have been found to have poor suspensibility, leading to random and non-uniform distribution of the active ingredients in the target area, which can cause undesirable effects and pose problems in the effective delivery of nutrients to plants or crops, resulting in poor nutrient uptake by plants. Such problems also require that these compositions be used in very large quantities.

[0025] Other publications have described magnesium and potassium fertilizer combinations formulated into deflocculating or disintegrating granular compositions for soil fertilization, which disintegrate or crumble upon immersion in water or contact with soil moisture. These types of granules are hard granules that avoid drawbacks such as dust generation during application and do not crumble or lose resistance during storage, transportation, handling, and application. For example, International Patent Application Publication No. 2021250221 describes a potassium-magnesium granular fertilizer with good abrasion resistance, produced by compaction or granulation based on size expansion via wet tumbling granulation. The compositions described herein are hard in nature and are designed to disintegrate or break down into larger particles when applied to soil in the presence of water, releasing the active substance in a sustained-release manner. As a result, the active substance is released very slowly, remaining trapped in the soil for extended periods of time and therefore unable to provide nutrients for rapid plant uptake, depriving plants of their immediate nutritional needs. As a result of nutrient deficiencies in young plants, they become susceptible to various diseases, ultimately hindering their growth and yield. Such water-disintegrating granular compositions suffer from a unique set of drawbacks due to uneven particle disintegration and distribution. Due to the random disintegration into larger, uneven particle sizes, these compositions tend to clog nozzles when applied via dripping, making them unsuitable for use in modern irrigation systems such as drip irrigation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0026] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0283334A1 [Patent Document 2] International Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 250221 Brochure [Non-patent literature]

[0027] [Non-Patent Document 1] Nitrogen-Magnesium Relationships in Crop Plants by EG Mulder*, Agricultural Experiment Station and Institute for Soil Research TNO, Groningen, The Netherlands [Non-patent document 2] KL Kabu et al., Influence of potassium-magnesium antagonism on tomato Plant growth, Can.J.Plant Sci.50:711~715 (Nov.1970) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0028] There is a need to develop a composition comprising magnesium in combination with potassium that can make the nutrients rapidly available to the plant in effective amounts, thus meeting the balanced nutritional requirements of the plant and addressing the drawbacks associated with known compositions. Additionally, there is a need for an agricultural product that will provide high on-site efficacy while applying the composition at reduced dosages. [Means for solving the problem]

[0029] The present inventors have surprisingly found that the compositions of the present invention, comprising a water-insoluble salt of magnesium and a water-soluble salt of potassium in the form of water-dispersible granules (WDG) or aqueous suspensions (SC) having specific particle sizes, are not only effective in overcoming the antagonism between these nutrients, but also exhibit a synergistic effect.

[0030] It is further noted that enhanced efficacy in terms of crop yield and nutrient uptake and growth characteristics is observed when the composition is comprised of a water-soluble salt or derivative of potassium and a water-insoluble salt or derivative of magnesium and formulated into water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions, where the composition readily disperses in water or in the presence of soil moisture into fine particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, making the nutrients immediately available to the plant rhizosphere.

[0031] It has further been observed that the compositions of the present invention prevent leaching of these nutrients, making them maximally available for uptake by the crop, increasing overall yield.

[0032] It has also been observed that the composition of the present invention, when formulated with a particle size of 0.1 to 30 microns, further enhances the availability of nutrients magnesium and potassium for plant uptake.It has also been found that the composition of the present invention plays a crucial role in regulating soil pH and facilitates plant uptake of other nutrients that are trapped in the soil due to various factors, mainly soil degradation caused by excessive use of synthetic fertilizers or nutrient antagonism.

[0033] Even more surprisingly, the inventors have realised that the compositions of the present invention also address the low availability of magnesium caused by excess potassium present in the soil due to long-term application of NPK fertilisers, thus making the magnesium rapidly available for uptake.

[0034] The compositions of the present invention act as highly nutrient-use efficient compositions, meeting crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by the crop in a single application.

[0035] The inventors of the present application have determined that a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension comprising one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof and one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof, together with one or more surfactants, wherein the crop nutritional composition comprises particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, demonstrates superior field efficacy compared to individual applications of the active substances or commercially available products, even when applied at reduced dosages.

[0036] The present invention provides a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; (iii) one or more surfactants; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Concerning the nutritional composition of crops.

[0037] The crop nutritional composition of the present invention, in the form of water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspension, makes nutrients magnesium and potassium available for rapid uptake by plants, resulting in increased yield and improved physiological parameters in various crops.More surprisingly, it has been observed that the composition of the present invention provides balanced uptake of all nutrients, including potassium and magnesium, thus overcoming the problem of providing nutrient-rich crops.The composition of the present invention also addresses the difficulty of magnesium availability caused by the excess potassium present in soil due to the long-term application of NPK fertilizer.

[0038] The nutritional composition of the present invention for crops comprises: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; (iii) one or more surfactants; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. It is in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention provides (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; (iii) one or more surfactants; 1. A process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule or aqueous suspension, comprising: the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Regarding the process.

[0040] The present invention further relates to methods of treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as magnesium and potassium available to the plants.

[0041] The present invention relates to a method for improving plant health or enhancing nutrient uptake by a plant or plant yield, comprising treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, a location or plant part thereof, a seed, a seedling, or the surrounding soil with a crop nutritional composition of the present invention.

[0042] The compositions of the present invention have also been found to play a crucial role in regulating soil pH and facilitating plant uptake of other nutrients that are trapped in the soil due to various factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.

[0043] It was even more surprising to observe that use of this composition resulted in a more balanced uptake of all nutrients, leading to healthier plants, higher nutrient yields in all soil types, and improved soil health. The composition of the present invention acts as a highly nutrient-use efficient composition, meeting crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by the crop.

[0044] The superior effect of the composition of the present invention is due to the combination of elements: a water-soluble K salt and a water-insoluble Mg salt formulated in a WDG, SC composition and having a particle size of 0.1 to 30 microns.

[0045] The present invention also relates to a method for biofortification of plants with essential micronutrients.

[0046] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in more detail in the accompanying drawings and described as embodiments of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0047] [Figure 1] 1 is an image of a water-disintegrable granular composition as taught in International Patent Application Publication No. 2021250221. The image depicts the hard nature of these granules. [Figure 2]1 is an image of a water-dispersible granular composition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3a] 1 is an image of prior art water-disintegrating granules in water immediately (30 seconds) after initial application, reflecting the settling behavior of the composition due to disadvantages such as poor dispersion and suspension in water. It has been observed that water-disintegrating granules, due to their physical properties, tend to break down into larger particles, which sink or settle to the bottom of the cylinder, leaving behind a significant residue that results in a non-uniform suspension and therefore non-uniform distribution or coverage of the active substance in the crop, resulting in poor uptake of nutrients by the crop and therefore hindering crop quality. [Figure 3b] 1 is an image of water-dispersible granules in water immediately (30 seconds) after initial application, according to an embodiment of the present invention. When these water-dispersible granules come into contact with aqueous media, they immediately disperse, releasing materials that remain uniformly dispersed and suspended throughout the aqueous media for an extended period of time, making the active ingredients readily available for uptake by plants. [Figure 4a] 1 is an image of prior art water-disintegrating granules in water 60 minutes after application without stirring. Even after 60 minutes, the hard granules of the prior art remained sunk or settled to the bottom of the cylinder. [Figure 4b] 1 is an image of water-dispersible granules according to an embodiment of the present invention in water 60 minutes after application without stirring. The composition remains easily and uniformly suspended, preventing the active substance from settling to the bottom of the cylinder over an extended period of time, thereby ensuring uniform distribution of the active substance to the crop, resulting in better nutrient uptake and crop quality, and is suitable for use in drip irrigation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] When describing embodiments of the present invention, specific terms are selected for clarity. However, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the specific terms selected, and it should be understood that such specific terms include all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish the same purpose. Any numerical ranges listed herein are understood to include all subranges encompassed. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the percentage of a component in a composition is presented as a weight percentage of the total weight of the composition.

[0049] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referenced and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group may be included in or deleted from a group for reasons of convenience and / or patentability.

[0050] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," "with," and the like, should be understood to be open-ended, i.e., meaning including but not limited to. The terms "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that may yield certain benefits, under certain circumstances.

[0051] In any aspect or embodiment described herein below, the phrase "comprising" may be replaced by the phrase "consisting of" or "consisting essentially of" or "consisting substantially of." In these aspects or embodiments, the composition being described includes, or comprises, or consists of, or consists essentially of, or consists substantially of the specific ingredients recited therein, excluding other ingredients or excipients not specifically recited therein.

[0052] In some embodiments, numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, concentrations, and other properties used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention should be understood to be modified in some instances by the term "about." Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written specification are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values ​​set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible.

[0053] Throughout this specification, a reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0054] The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, and unless otherwise indicated herein, each separate value is incorporated herein as if it were individually listed herein.

[0055] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., "etc.") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better elucidate the invention and does not impose limitations on the scope of the invention as otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0056] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meanings of "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0057] Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is defined as a measure of how well plants use applied mineral nutrients. Improving NUE is an essential prerequisite for extending crop production to marginal lands where nutrient availability is low, but it is also a method for reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers.

[0058] As used herein, the terms "plant" or "crop" are interchangeable and wherever the term "plant" is used, it shall also refer to vegetation of a similar nature, i.e., crops, trees, shrubs, herbs, etc. The term "plant" refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, leaves, and fruits. The term plant includes transgenic and non-transgenic plants.

[0059] The term "locus" of a plant as used herein is intended to encompass the location where the plant's propagation material is sown or placed in the soil.

[0060] The term "plant propagation material" is understood to denote reproductive parts of plants such as seeds, vegetative material such as cuttings or tubers, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and plant parts, as well as germinated plants and young plants that are transplanted after germination or emergence from the soil. These young plants may be protected by a total or local treatment by immersion before transplanting.

[0061] The particle size of the composition is defined as the size of the particles of the composition in the form of water dispersible granules (WG) or aqueous suspension (SC) as a whole, including the potassium and magnesium salts and excipients.

[0062] D50 is the particle size corresponding to the cumulative percentage reaching 50%. D50 is also called the median particle size or median particle size and represents the average of 50% of the total particles smaller than the given size.

[0063] D90 is used to indicate particle size distribution and represents the average of 90% of the total particles smaller than a given size. D90 is also the particle size corresponding to the cumulative percentage reaching 90%.

[0064] Water-dispersible granules are defined as preparations that can be easily dispersed or dissolved when added to water to obtain a fine particle suspension.As described herein, "WG" or "WDG" refers to water-dispersible granules.Water-dispersible granules are formulated as small, easily measured granules (agglomerates of fine particles) by blending and agglomerating crushed solid active ingredients with surfactants and other drug ingredients that disperse into finer / primary particles when immersed in water.Water-dispersible granules can be obtained by spray drying or by extrusion process.

[0065] As defined herein, the term "aqueous suspension" is a composition in which solid particles are dispersed or suspended in water. The terms "suspension concentrates" or "aqueous suspensions" or "aqueous dispersions" or "SC compositions" may be used interchangeably.

[0066] "Fast release" or "instant release" or "instant dispersal" can be used interchangeably and are applicable to granules that rapidly disperse and release nutrients.

[0067] As used herein, the term "water disintegrable granules" or "water disaggregable granules" refers to a granular composition comprising agglomerated granules or particles that are generally hard and resistant to easily breaking apart or crumbling. Upon contact with sufficient water or soil moisture, these granules disintegrate or break down into individual particles, releasing the active agent over an extended period of time.

[0068] Furthermore, the active doses of potassium and magnesium in the compositions applied in the field experiments are those of elemental potassium and elemental magnesium. The term "derivatives" as used in the present invention also encompasses minerals or ores containing potassium, magnesium, and the like.

[0069] The term "salt" as used in the present invention also encompasses compounds containing potassium and magnesium. Potassium compounds include potassium hydroxide, and magnesium compounds include magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide.

[0070] A mixture is defined as a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically integrated with each other. A homogeneous mixture is defined as one that has a uniform composition throughout the mixture. This is the type of mixture in which the composition is constant or the components that make up the mixture are uniformly distributed throughout the mixture.

[0071] The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition comprising a combination of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof and one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof, together with at least one excipient. The composition is in the form of a water-dispersible granule and an aqueous suspension. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipient is a surfactant.

[0072] The crop nutritional composition is in the form of a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof and one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof, together with at least one surfactant.

[0073] According to a further embodiment, the crop nutritional composition comprises fine particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns and exhibits improved physical properties in terms of dispersibility, suspendability, viscosity, dispersion spontaneity, and pourability.

[0074] Due to their excellent physical characteristics, the compositions of the present invention also find direct use in micro-irrigation or drip irrigation systems. The composition of the present invention has an elemental magnesium content ranging from 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and an elemental potassium content ranging from 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0075] The present invention relates in particular to a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; (iii) one or more surfactants; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Concerning the nutritional composition of crops.

[0076] It is further noted that enhanced efficacy in terms of crop yield and nutrient uptake and growth characteristics is observed when the composition is comprised of a water-soluble salt or derivative of potassium and a water-insoluble salt or derivative of magnesium and formulated into water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions, where the composition readily disperses in water or in the presence of soil moisture into fine particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, making the nutrients immediately available to the plant rhizosphere. The compositions of the present invention have also demonstrated excellent field efficacy, even when applied at reduced dosages.

[0077] Additionally, it has been further observed that the compositions of the present invention prevent leaching of these nutrients, making them maximally available for uptake by the crop, increasing overall yield.

[0078] The compositions of the present invention have also been found to play a crucial role in regulating soil pH and facilitate the uptake by plants of other nutrients that are trapped in the soil due to various factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.

[0079] Even more surprisingly, the inventors have realised that the compositions of the present invention also address the low availability of magnesium caused by excess potassium present in the soil due to long-term application of NPK fertilisers, thus making the magnesium rapidly available for uptake.

[0080] The composition of the present invention also satisfies the nutritional needs of plants by providing balanced uptake of essential nutrients such as potassium and magnesium.It was even more surprising to observe that the use of this composition leads to healthier plants that can withstand pest infestations, higher nutrient yields in all types of soil, and ultimately improves overall soil health.The composition of the present invention acts as a highly nutrient-utilization-efficient composition, satisfying crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by crops in a single application.

[0081] The present invention is formulated in the form of water dispersible granules (WDG or WG) or aqueous suspensions (SC).

[0082] According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is within the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is within the range of 1% to 45% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is within the range of 1% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is within the range of 2% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is within the range of 3% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is within the range of 4% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof, the content of elemental magnesium being in the range of 5% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0083] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of magnesium molybdate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium magnesium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium humate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium aluminum silicate, calcium magnesium silicate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium oxalate, magnesium fulvate, magnesium silicate, and magnesium oxide. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble salts of magnesium can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0084] According to a further embodiment, the water-insoluble magnesium derivative in the composition comprises a mineral or ore. The ore includes, but is not limited to, water-insoluble magnesium-containing ores, periclase, hydrotalcite, and magnesite. The present invention encompasses water-insoluble magnesium ores containing at least 10% magnesium selected from one or more of periclase, hydrotalcite, and magnesite. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other magnesium-containing minerals and ores can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0085] The crop nutritional composition contains a water-insoluble magnesium salt or a derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 85% w / w of the total composition. The crop nutritional composition contains a magnesium salt or a derivative thereof in the range of 3% to 85% w / w of the total composition. The crop nutritional composition preferably contains a water-insoluble magnesium salt or a derivative thereof in the range of 5% to 85% w / w of the total composition.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 85% w / w of the total composition. According to a further embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof in the range of 3% to 85% w / w of the total composition. According to a further embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules preferably comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative thereof in the range of 5% to 85% w / w of the total composition.

[0087] According to a preferred embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or a derivative thereof in an amount ranging from 1% to 65% w / w of the total composition. According to a further preferred embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt or a derivative thereof in an amount ranging from 1% to 60% w / w of the total composition.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 45% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 2% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 3% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, such that the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, such that the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 2% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, such that the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 3% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of an aqueous suspension comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of an aqueous suspension comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of an aqueous suspension comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof, wherein the content of elemental potassium in the composition of the present invention is within the range of 1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0091] According to further embodiments, water-soluble potassium salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of potassium carbonate, potassium selenide, potassium sulfate, potassium silicate, potassium hydroxide, potassium schoenite, potassium bicarbonate, potassium persulfate, and potassium humate, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-soluble salts of potassium may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0092] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition lacks potassium chloride.

[0093] According to a further embodiment, the water-soluble potassium derivative in the composition comprises a mineral or ore. The ore includes, but is not limited to, the water-soluble potassium-containing ores carnallite, leucite, schoenite, picromerite, glauconite, biotite, and langbeinite. The present invention encompasses water-soluble potassium ores containing at least 4% potassium selected from one or more of carnallite, leucite, schoenite, picromerite, glauconite, biotite, and langbeinite. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-soluble potassium-containing minerals and ores can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0094] The crop nutritional composition contains a water-soluble potassium salt or a derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 85% w / w of the total composition. The crop nutritional composition contains a water-soluble potassium salt or a derivative thereof in the range of 3% to 85% w / w of the total composition. The crop nutritional composition more preferably contains a water-soluble potassium salt or a derivative thereof in the range of 5% to 85% w / w of the total composition.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 85% w / w of the total composition. According to a further embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof in the range of 3% to 85% w / w of the total composition. According to a preferred embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof in the range of 5% to 85% w / w of the total composition.

[0096] According to a preferred embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension contains a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof in an amount ranging from 1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to a further preferred embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension contains a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof in an amount ranging from 1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to a further preferred embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension contains a water-soluble potassium salt or derivative thereof in an amount ranging from 1% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 85% w / w of the total composition; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 85% w / w of the total composition; (iii) one or more surfactants selected from one or more anionic and nonionic surfactants; and Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Concerning the nutritional composition of crops.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 65% w / w of the total composition; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 20% w / w of the total composition; (iii) one or more surfactants selected from one or more anionic and nonionic surfactants; and Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Concerning the nutritional composition of crops.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof in the range of 3 to 85% by weight of the total composition; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof in the range of 3 to 85% by weight of the total composition; (iii) one or more surfactants in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Concerning the nutritional composition of crops.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension, comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof selected from magnesium molybdate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium magnesium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium humate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium aluminum silicate, calcium magnesium silicate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium oxalate, magnesium fulvic acid, magnesium silicate, magnesium oxide, periclase, hydrotalcite, and magnesite; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof selected from potassium carbonate, potassium selenide, potassium sulfate, potassium silicate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium persulfate, potassium hydroxide, potassium schoenite, potassium humate, carnallite, leucite, picromerite, glauconite, biotite, and langbeinite; (iii) one or more surfactants; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Concerning the nutritional composition of crops.

[0101] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules and aqueous suspensions have a particle size in the range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, preferably 0.1 microns to 15 microns.

[0102] It has further been observed that the compositions of the present invention, when formulated with specific particle sizes of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, particularly 0.1 microns to 15 microns, make nutrients, specifically magnesium and potassium, readily available for plant uptake, increasing overall yield. Thus, it has been found that the particle size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns for crop nutritional compositions is important not only from the standpoint of ease of the present invention, but also from the standpoint of efficacy.

[0103] According to another embodiment, the crop nutritional composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles having a particle size distribution with a D90 of about 20 microns. According to another embodiment, the crop nutritional composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles having a particle size distribution with a D90 of about 10 microns.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules being in the size range of 0.05 mm to 5.0 mm. According to a further embodiment, the water-dispersible granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. The crop nutrition composition in the form of water-dispersible granules can be produced by various techniques, such as spray drying, fluidized bed granulation, extrusion, freeze-drying, spheronization, etc.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules disperses into particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, preferably 0.1 microns to 15 microns, when added to water.

[0106] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition may further comprise at least one additional water-insoluble / water-soluble plant nutrient.

[0107] According to one embodiment, the additional water-insoluble plant nutrients are present in the range of 0.001% to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0108] According to a further embodiment, the additional plant nutrients comprise at least one micronutrient or trace element or a salt or derivative thereof in the range of 0.01% to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0109] According to yet a further embodiment, the micronutrient is molybdenum (Mo), wherein the molybdenum is in its elemental form or its salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof.

[0110] According to a further embodiment, the crop nutritional composition further comprises molybdenum, wherein the composition has a content of elemental molybdenum in the range of 0.001 to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0111] According to further embodiments, the molybdenum salt may be present in a water-soluble or water-insoluble form, including, but not limited to, one or more of sodium molybdate, ammonium molybdate, molybdenum trioxide, molybdenum nites, molybdenum frits, molybdenum acetate, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum carbonate, molybdenum silicate, calcium molybdate, zinc molybdenum oxide, molybdenum dioxide, molybdenum sulfide, molybdenum hexacarbonyl, molybdenum telluride, molybdenum disulfide, and molybdenum disilicide. According to further embodiments, the molybdenum may be in the form of elemental molybdenum or molybdenum powder. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other molybdenum salts may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0112] According to further embodiments, molybdenum derivatives include molybdenum complexes, minerals, or ores, including, but not limited to, one or more of bis(benzene)molybdenum (Mo(C6H6)2), tris(butadiene)molybdenum, molybdenite, wulfenite, and chilagite. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other derivatives of molybdenum may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the crop nutritional composition comprises a molybdenum salt or derivative thereof in the range of 0.001% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0114] According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition is devoid of ammonium sulfate, urea-based fertilizers, or other conventional fertilizers.

[0115] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition does not foresee the addition of water treatment plant sludge or is devoid of water treatment plant sludge.

[0116] The crop nutritional composition comprises one or more agriculturally acceptable excipients selected from one or more of a surfactant, a filler or carrier or diluent, a spreading agent, a colorant, an anti-caking agent, a binder, a buffer or pH adjuster or neutralizing agent, a disintegrant, a pigment, a stabilizer, an anti-foaming or defoaming agent, a penetrating agent, a structuring agent, a humectant, a sticking agent, an anti-freeze or freezing point depressant, a chelating or complexing or sequestering agent, a preservative or bactericide or antifungal agent or biocide or antibacterial agent or antioxidant.

[0117] According to some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of 0.01% to 98% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of 0.01% to 95% by weight of the total composition.

[0118] According to some embodiments, the surfactants used in the crop nutritional compositions include one or more of emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersing agents. According to some embodiments, the surfactants used in the compositions include one or more of anionic, nonionic, and polymeric surfactants.

[0119] Anionic surfactants include salts of fatty acids, polycarboxylates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkylaryl sulfates, alkylaryl sulfonates, aryl sulfonates, lignin sulfonates, alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates, polystyrene sulfonates, salts of alkyl phosphates, alkylaryl phosphates, styrylaryl phosphates, salts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, sodium alpha olefin sulfonates, alkylbenzene sulfonates or their salts, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sulfosuccinates, polyacrylates, alkyl ether phosphates, salts of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl phosphates, sulfosuccinate-mono and other diesters, phosphate esters, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates-isopropyl and butyl derivatives, alkylaryl ether phosphorus The surfactants include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: acid salts, salts of polyoxyethylene aryl ether phosphate esters, mono-alkyl sulfosuccinates, aromatic hydrocarbon sulfonates, ammonium lauryl sulfate, soaps, soap substitutes, sodium alkyl sulfates, sodium dodecyl sulfates, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium laurate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, alkyl carboxylates, sodium stearates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, naphthalenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid fatty acid salts, naphthalenesulfonate condensates-sodium salts, fatty alcohol sulfates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensates-sodium salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid condensates condensates-sodium salts, salts of naphthalenesulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde or alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde, or salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anionic surfactants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0120] Nonionic or polymeric surfactants include polyol esters, polyol fatty acid esters, ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols, EO and PO block copolymers, di- and tri-block copolymers; polysorbates, alkyl polysaccharides, polyoxyethylene glycols, sorbitan derivatives, fatty acid esters of sorbitan (spans) and their ethoxylated derivatives (tweens), cocamide monoethanolamine (MEA), decyl, narrow range ethoxylates, oleyl alcohol, PEG-10, polysorbate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, sorbitan, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monostearate, tristearin. The surfactants may be one or more of the following: sorbitan acid, stearyl alcohol, castor oil ethoxylates, polyglycol ethers, polyadducts of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty acid polyglycerides, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene styrylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ethers, alcohol ethoxylates—C6 to C16 / 18 alcohols, linear and branched, alcohol alkoxylates—various hydrophobic materials and EO / PO contents and ratios, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different nonionic or polymeric surfactants may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0121] According to some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0122] According to some embodiments, the dispersant used in the crop nutritional composition includes, but is not limited to, a non-ionic dispersant selected from one or more of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, ethoxylated fatty acid, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, alkyl ethoxylate, EO-PO block and graft copolymer. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different non-ionic dispersants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0123] According to some embodiments, the dispersant used in the crop nutritional composition includes, but is not limited to, an anionic dispersant selected from one or more of the following: tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate ester, lignin sulfonate, phenylnaphthalene sulfonate, alkali metal, alkylaryl sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, a mixture of the sodium salt of urea-naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate and the sodium salt of phenolsulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate, polycarboxylate, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt of sulfonated naphthalene, sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, condensation product of arylsulfonic acid and formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic sulfonate, sodium alkylaryl sulfonate, and kraft lignin. However, those skilled in the art will understand that different anionic dispersants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0124] According to some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0125] According to one embodiment, the wetting agent used in the crop nutritional composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of phenol naphthalene sulfonate, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium naphthalene sulfonate, dibutyl naphthalene sulfonic acid, alkylaryl sulfonate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, polyoxyethoxylated fatty alcohol, alkane sulfonate, alkyl benzene sulfonate, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl ether sulfate, and alkyl sulfosuccinic acid monoester, salt, or derivatives thereof.However, those skilled in the art will understand that different wetting agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0126] According to one embodiment, the humectant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0127] In some embodiments, the carrier used in the plant nutrition composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of a solid carrier, a filler, or a diluent. In other embodiments, the carrier includes a mineral carrier, a plant carrier, a synthetic carrier, or a water-soluble carrier. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different carriers can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0128] Solid carriers include natural minerals such as clays, such as china clay, acid clay, kaolin, such as kaolinite, dickite, nakruite, and synthetic and diatomaceous silica, mica, such as pyrophyllite, talc, silica, such as cristobalite and quartz, such as attapulgite and sepiolite, vermiculite, laponite, pumice, bauxite, hydrated alumina, perlite, sodium bicarbonate, limestone, natural and synthetic silicates, silica, surface-modified silica, zeolites, diatomaceous earth, loess, mirabilite, white carbon, hydrated lime, synthetic silicic acid, starch, modified starch, cellulose, plant carriers such as cellulose, rice husk, wheat flour, wood flour, starch, rice bran, wheat bran, and soy flour, sodium caseinate, sucrose, salt of sodium, potassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or derivatives or mixtures thereof.

[0129] In some embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 95% w / w of the composition. In further embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 80% w / w of the composition.

[0130] According to some embodiments, anti-foaming or defoaming agents used in the crop nutritional composition include, but are not limited to, one or more of silica, siloxane, silicon dioxide, polydimethylsiloxane, alkyl polyacrylate, ethylene oxide / propylene oxide copolymer, silicone oil, and magnesium stearate or their derivatives. Preferred anti-foaming agents include silicone emulsions, long-chain alcohols, fatty acids, and fluorine-containing organic compounds. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anti-foaming agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0131] According to one embodiment, the anti-foaming agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0132] According to certain embodiments, the pH adjuster, buffer, or neutralizer used in the composition includes both organic and inorganic acids and bases, as well as mixtures thereof. According to further embodiments, the pH adjuster, buffer, or neutralizer includes, but is not limited to, one or more of organic acids, inorganic acids, and alkali metal compounds or salts, or derivatives thereof. According to certain embodiments, organic acids include, but are not limited to, citric acid, malic acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid, or salts, derivatives thereof, and one or more of the mono-, di-, or tribasic salts of these acids or derivatives thereof. According to certain embodiments, salts of inorganic acids include, but are not limited to, one or more of alkali metal salts, such as sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium monohydrogen phosphate, potassium monohydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, etc. Mixtures can also be used to create the pH adjuster, buffer, or neutralizer. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different pH adjusters can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0133] According to one embodiment, the pH adjusting or buffering agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0134] According to certain embodiments, anti-caking agents used in the crop nutritional compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of polysaccharides, such as fumed and precipitated silica (white carbon), ester gum, petroleum resins, sodium stearate, polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether, sodium acetate, sodium metasilicate, sodium alkyl sulfosuccinate, or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anti-caking agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0135] According to one embodiment, the anti-caking agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0136] According to certain embodiments, the spreading agent used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of copolymers of maleic acid and styrene compounds, (meth)acrylic acid copolymers, fatty alcohols, vegetable oils such as cottonseed or mineral oils, petroleum distillates, trisiloxanes and modified trisiloxanes, or derivatives thereof, although one skilled in the art will recognize that different spreading agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0137] According to one embodiment, the spreading agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0138] According to certain embodiments, the binder used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of paraffin, polyamide resin, polyacrylate, polyoxyethylene, wax, latex, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gums such as xanthan gum, vegetable oils such as cottonseed, or mineral oils, petroleum distillates, modified trisiloxanes, polyglycols, synthetic resin emulsions, or salts or derivatives thereof, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that different binders can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0139] According to one embodiment, the adhesive agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0140] In some embodiments, structuring agents used in the crop nutritional compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of thickeners, viscosity modifiers, tackifiers, suspending aids, rheology modifiers, or anti-settling agents. The structuring agent prevents settling of the active ingredient particles after prolonged storage.

[0141] According to some embodiments, the structuring agent used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of polyacrylics, polysaccharides, cellulose derivatives, cellulose derivatives, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives; clays, such as kaolin, smectite, attapulgite and gums, such as guar gum, xanthan gum, gelatin, dextrin, fumed silica, mixtures of fumed silica and fumed aluminum oxide, swellable polymers, poly(ethylene glycol), stachyose, cellulose, such as hemicellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxy-methylethylcellulose, hydroxyethylpropylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose, vegetable starch, such as corn starch and potato starch.However, those skilled in the art will understand that different structuring agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0142] Preferred structuring agents include one or more of xanthan gum, aluminum silicate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polysaccharides, alkaline earth metal silicates, clay, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0143] In some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 10% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 5% w / w of the composition.

[0144] According to certain embodiments, the antifreeze or freezing point depressant used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, monohydric or polyhydric alcohols, glycol ethers, glycerol, although one skilled in the art will recognize that different antifreeze agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0145] According to certain embodiments, the antifreeze or freezing point depressant is present in an amount of 0.01% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0146] According to certain embodiments, the chelating or complexing or sequestering agent used in the composition is a polycarboxylic acid, such as polyacrylic acid and various hydrolyzed poly(methyl vinyl ether / maleic anhydride); N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), N,N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-hydroxyethyl-N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, and N,N,N',N",N"-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; alpha-hydroxy acids, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and gluconic acid; orthophosphates, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate condensed phosphates, including, but not limited to, sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and sodium tetrapolyphosphate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), ethylenediaminediacetic acid (EDDA), ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDHA), cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA), fulvic acid, urmic acid, nucleic acid, cyclodextrin, humic acid, and pyrophosphate. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that different chelating agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0147] According to one embodiment, the chelating agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0148] According to some embodiments, the penetrant used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of alcohol, glycol, glycol ether, ester, amine, alkanolamine, amine oxide, quaternary ammonium compound, triglyceride, fatty acid ester, fatty acid ether, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, or dimethyl sulfoxide, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane dioleate, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane trioleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexaoleate. However, those skilled in the art will understand that different penetrants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0149] According to one embodiment, the osmotic agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0150] According to some embodiments, the moisturizer is selected from one or more of polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene copolymers, particularly block copolymers, but not limited to these.Other moisturizers are propylene glycol, monoethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), glycerol, etc.; polyhydric alcohol compounds such as propylene glycol ethers, and their derivatives.However, those skilled in the art will understand that different moisturizers can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0151] According to one embodiment, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition.

[0152] According to certain embodiments, stabilizers used in agricultural compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of peroxide compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides, zeolites, antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds, phosphate compounds, EDTA, sodium sulfite, citric acid, citrate salts, etc. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known stabilizers may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0153] According to one embodiment, the stabilizer is present in the range of 1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0154] According to certain embodiments, the preservatives are formic acid and derivatives of 2H-isothiazol-3-ones (so-called isothiazolone derivatives), such as alkylisothiazolones (e.g., 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, MIT; chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, CIT), benzisothiazolones (e.g., 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one, BIT, commercially available as Proxel® from Arch Biocides Ltd.) or 2-methyl-4,5-trimethylene-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MTIT), Proxel® or Acticide® RS and Kathon® MK, sodium propionate (Sodium The preservatives may be selected from one or more of the following: benzoate, sodium benzoate, propylparaben, sodium propylparaben (Sodium), potassium sorbate, potassium benzoate, phenylmercuric nitrate, phenylethyl alcohol, sodium, ethylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben, benzyl alcohol, benzethonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride; and the antioxidants may include, but are not limited to, one or more of imidazole and imidazole derivatives (e.g., urocanic acid), 4,4'-thiobis-6-t-butyl-3-methylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol (BHT), pentaerythrityl tetrakis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)]propionate; and amine antioxidants. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional preservatives may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0155] According to one embodiment, the preservative is present in the range of 0.01% to 2% w / w of the total composition.

[0156] According to some embodiments, pigments and colorants are selected from, but not limited to, synthetic chemicals obtained from various manufacturers. The pigments and colorants can be in lake form and can be water-soluble or water-insoluble. The dyes can be solvent dyes, acid dyes, or basic dyes. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known pigments and colorants can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0157] According to one embodiment, pigments and colorants are present in the range of 0.01% to 5% w / w of the total composition.

[0158] According to some embodiments, the disintegrants used in agricultural compositions include, but are not limited to, inorganic water-soluble salts, such as sodium chloride; water-soluble organic compounds, such as agar, hydroxypropyl starch, carboxymethyl starch ether, tragacanth, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, metal stearates, cellulose powder, dextrin, methacrylate copolymer, Polyplasdone® XL-10 (cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone).However, those skilled in the art will understand that other conventionally known disintegrants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0159] According to one embodiment, the disintegrant is present in the range of 0.5% to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0160] According to certain embodiments, the binding agents or binders used in the agricultural compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of maltodextrin, carbohydrates, including mono-, di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides, complex organic substances, synthetic organic polymers, or derivatives and combinations thereof, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known binding agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0161] According to one embodiment, the binder is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0162] The inventors have further determined that the compositions of the present invention surprisingly exhibit enhanced physical properties such as dispersibility, wetting time, suspendibility, improved viscosity, pourability, and dispersion spontaneity, providing ease of handling and also reducing material loss during handling of the product during packaging and field application.

[0163] Wettability is the state or condition of being wettable and can be defined as the degree to which a solid is wetted by a liquid, as measured by the adhesive forces between the solid and liquid phases. The wettability of a granular composition is measured using standard CIPAC test MT-53, which describes a procedure for determining the time to complete wetting of a wettable formulation. A weighed amount of the granular composition is dropped from a defined height into water in a beaker, and the time to complete wetting is determined.

[0164] According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition of the present invention has a wettability of less than 2 minutes. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a wettability of less than 1 minute.

[0165] The dispersibility of the water-dispersible granular compositions of the present invention is determined according to the standard CIPAC test, MT174. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 30%. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 50%. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 70%. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 90%. Upon contact with water, the compositions of the present invention disperse uniformly into finer particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0166] According to certain embodiments, crop nutritional compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules exhibit near-instantaneous dispersion, thus making the nutrients readily available to the crop.

[0167] According to some embodiments, the composition demonstrates greater than 85% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the composition demonstrates greater than 70% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the composition demonstrates greater than 50% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the composition demonstrates greater than 40% dispersibility under ATS.

[0168] Abrasion resistance determines the resistance of a granular material to wear. The water-dispersible granular composition has good abrasion resistance. Samples can be tested for abrasion according to the CIPAC Handbook test "MT 178.2 - Abrasion Resistance of Granules." According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the dispersible granular composition is at least 50%. According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the dispersible granular composition is at least 80%.

[0169] According to some embodiments, crop nutritional compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions pass the wet sieve retention test. This test is used to determine the amount of non-dispersible material in formulations applied as dispersions in water. The wet sieve retention value of pesticide compositions in the form of aqueous suspensions and granules is measured using the standard CIPAC test MT-185, which describes a procedure for measuring the amount of material retained on a sieve. A sample of the formulation is dispersed in water, and the resulting suspension is transferred to a sieve and washed. The amount of material retained on the sieve is determined by drying and weighing.

[0170] In some embodiments, the crop nutrition composition in the form of water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions has a wet sieve retention value of less than 2% on a 75 micron sieve. In some embodiments, the crop nutrition composition has a wet sieve retention value of less than 0.2% on a 75 micron sieve. A wet sieve retention value of less than 2% indicates that the crop nutrition composition helps prevent clogging of nozzles or filter equipment in formulations.

[0171] Suspensionability is defined as the amount of active ingredient suspended after a given time in a column of liquid of a specified height, expressed as a percentage of the amount of active ingredient in the original suspension. The test for suspensionability is performed as per the CIPAC Handbook, "MT 184 Test for Suspensionability".

[0172] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or aqueous suspensions have a suspendability of at least 30%. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a suspendability of at least 60%. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a suspendability of at least 80%. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a suspendability of at least 90%.

[0173] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention demonstrate excellent suspendability under accelerated storage conditions (ATS). According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 85% suspendability under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 60% suspendability under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 40% suspendability under ATS.

[0174] According to certain embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension is not highly concentrated and is easily pourable. The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation due to shear or tensile stresses.

[0175] According to one embodiment, the viscosity of the aqueous suspension is determined according to CIPAC MT-192. The sample is transferred to a standard measurement system. Measurements are performed under different shear conditions to determine the apparent viscosity. The temperature of the liquid is kept constant throughout the test. According to one embodiment, the aqueous suspension composition has a viscosity of 150 cps to 2000 cps at 25°C and is pourable. According to one embodiment, the aqueous suspension composition has a viscosity of 200 cps to 1000 cps at 25°C.

[0176] According to some embodiments, the aqueous suspension composition has a viscosity of less than 2000 cps at 25° C. According to some embodiments, the aqueous suspension composition has a viscosity of less than 1000 cps at 25° C. Compositions that are too viscous and highly concentrated tend to form a solid and become unpourable, and are therefore undesirable.

[0177] According to certain embodiments, the aqueous suspension compositions of the present invention are easily pourable. Pourability is a measure of the percentage of residue.

[0178] According to one embodiment, the pourability of the composition is determined by allowing the composition to stand for 24 hours and determining the amount remaining in the container after a standardized pouring procedure, as per CIPAC MT-148.1. The container is rinsed, the amount remaining is determined, and the maximum rinse residue is calculated as a percentage. According to a further embodiment, the pourability of the composition is less than 5% rinse residue. According to a further embodiment, the pourability of the composition is preferably less than 2.5% rinse residue.

[0179] In one embodiment, dispersion spontaneity is measured according to CIPAC MT 160. This involves preparing a 250 ml mixture of formulation and water, inverting the measuring cylinder only once to mix. After standing under defined conditions, the top nine-tenths is removed and the remaining tenth is assayed chemically, gravimetrically, or by solvent extraction. Dispersion spontaneity is easily calculated.

[0180] In some embodiments, the suspension concentrate composition has a dispersion spontaneity of 30%. In some embodiments, the composition has a dispersion spontaneity of 60%. In some embodiments, the composition has a dispersion spontaneity of 80%. In some embodiments, the composition has a dispersion spontaneity of 95%.

[0181] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention demonstrate excellent stability against heat, light, temperature, and solidification. According to some embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 3 years. According to further embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 2 years. According to further embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 1 year. According to further embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 6 months.

[0182] According to some embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 4 Newtons. According to further embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 3 Newtons. According to further embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 2 Newtons. According to further embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 1 Newton.

[0183] More preferably, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has zero hardness. Reference to zero hardness refers to the fact that the hardness of the granules cannot be measured by a hardness measuring device. The hardness exhibited by the granules can be estimated by a hardness tester, such as that provided by the Vinsyst portable benchtop hardness tester VTHT series.

[0184] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; (iii) one or more surfactants; 1. A process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule or aqueous suspension, comprising: the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Regarding the process.

[0185] Crop nutrition compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules are prepared by a variety of techniques, such as spray drying, fluidized bed granulation, extrusion, freeze-drying, spheronization, and the like.

[0186] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules, comprising: i. one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; ii. one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; iii. one or more surfactants; in water to obtain a slurry or wet mix; The resulting slurry or wet mix is ​​then dried, for example in a spray dryer, fluid bed dryer, or any suitable granulation equipment, to obtain water-dispersible granules comprising particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition. Regarding the process.

[0187] The water dispersible granules are further sieved to remove undersized and oversized granules to obtain the desired size.

[0188] According to another embodiment, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water dispersible granules comprises: i. one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; ii. one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; iii. one or more surfactants; They can also be made by dry milling in an air mill or jet mill to obtain a mixture with a fine particle size. Water is added to the dry powder and the mixture is blended to obtain a dough or paste or wet mix, which is then extruded through an extruder to obtain granules containing particles in the size range of 0.1 micron to 30 microns. The water-dispersible granules are further sieved to remove undersized and oversized granules and obtain the desired size.

[0189] According to one embodiment, the process for the preparation of a crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension comprises the steps of: i. one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; ii. one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; iii. milling one or more of the surfactants in water to obtain a homogeneous suspension having a particle size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns; wherein the composition has an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1 wt. % to 50 wt. % of the total composition; the composition has an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant ranges from 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0190] According to one embodiment, the process for preparing an aqueous suspension composition involves homogenizing one or more surfactants in water by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. One or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof and one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof are added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture is continuously stirred for about 5 to 10 minutes until the entire mixture is homogenized. The resulting suspension is then passed through a wet mill to obtain a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 30 microns, preferably from 0.1 to 10 microns. If necessary, one or more excipients, such as a structuring agent or, optionally, a biocide or preservative, are added to the resulting suspension while the mixture is continuously homogenized.

[0191] According to certain embodiments, the present invention further relates to the use of the crop nutritional composition as at least one of a nutrient composition, a crop strengthener composition, a soil conditioner composition, a crop protection and yield enhancer composition.

[0192] The present invention relates to a method for improving plant health or enhancing nutrient uptake by a plant or plant yield, comprising treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, a location or plant part thereof, a seed, a seedling, or the surrounding soil with a crop nutritional composition of the present invention.

[0193] The present invention further relates to a method of treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as magnesium, potassium available to the plants and by liberating other micronutrients and trace elements present in the soil that were previously unavailable due to a variety of factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.

[0194] The present invention also relates to a method for biofortification of plants with essential micronutrients.

[0195] The composition of the present invention can be applied by various methods.The method of applying to soil includes any suitable method that ensures that the composition penetrates into the soil, such as seedling tray application, furrow application, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, soil drench, soil injection or incorporation into the soil and other such methods.The composition can also be applied in the form of foliar spray.

[0196] It has further been observed that the compositions of the present invention prevent the leaching of these nutrients, making them maximally available for uptake by the crop, increasing overall yield.

[0197] It has also been observed that when the composition of the present invention is formulated with specific particle size, it can further enhance the availability of nutrient magnesium and potassium for plant uptake.It has also been found that the composition of the present invention plays a crucial role in adjusting soil pH, and facilitates plant uptake of other nutrients that are trapped in soil due to various factors, mainly due to the soil degradation caused by excessive use of synthetic fertilizers or the antagonism between nutrients.

[0198] Even more surprisingly, the inventors have realised that the compositions of the present invention also address the low availability of magnesium caused by excess potassium present in the soil due to long-term application of NPK fertilisers, thus making the magnesium rapidly available for uptake.

[0199] The composition of the present invention satisfies the nutritional needs of plants by providing balanced uptake of essential nutrients such as potassium and magnesium.It was even more surprising to observe that the use of this composition leads to healthier plants that can withstand pest infestations, higher nutrient yields in all types of soil, and ultimately improves overall soil health.The composition of the present invention acts as a composition with high nutrient utilization efficiency, while satisfying crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by crops in a single application.

[0200] The rate or dosage of the composition of the present invention will depend on the type of use, the type of crop, or the specific active ingredient in the composition, but will be such that the active ingredient is in an effective amount to provide the desired effect, such as crop protection, crop yield, and nutrient uptake. [Example]

[0201] A. Preparation example: The following examples illustrate the basic methodology and versatility of the compositions of the present invention. The water-insoluble salts or derivatives of magnesium and water-soluble salts or derivatives of potassium exemplified in the preparation examples can be replaced with any other water-insoluble salts or derivatives of magnesium and any other water-soluble sources of potassium as described herein, with the stated concentration ranges varied. The composition forms, excipients, and active substance and excipient concentrations used in these examples can be replaced with other forms, excipients, and active substance and excipient concentrations as described in the present invention. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0202] [A. Water-dispersible granular composition] <1. A water-dispersible granular composition of 18% magnesium hydroxide (7.50% elemental Mg) and 38% potassium carbonate (21.35% elemental K)> A water-dispersible granular composition was prepared by blending 4 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 34 parts sodium citrate, 18 parts magnesium hydroxide, and 38 parts potassium carbonate to obtain a homogeneous slurry. The resulting slurry was wet-milled (with water) with 6 parts sodium tripolyphosphate in suitable wet-milling equipment for 1 hour to obtain an average particle size of less than 2.5 microns, and then spray-dried to obtain granules.

[0203] The composition has a particle size in the range of 0.1 to 5 microns. The granule size of the composition is in the range of 0.05 to 1.5 mm. The composition has 80% dispersibility, 90.2% suspendability, 0.05% wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve, less than 5 seconds of wettability, and zero hardness. The composition further demonstrated approximately 80% suspendability and 70% dispersibility under accelerated storage conditions.

[0204] <2. A water-dispersible granular composition of 8% magnesium molybdate (1.05% elemental Mg) and 81% potassium carbonate (45.51% elemental K)> A water-dispersible granular composition was prepared as in Example 1 by mixing 3 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 2 parts sodium salt of naphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde condensate, 1 part blend of salts of naphthalenesulfonic acid and phenolsulfonic acid condensation products, 8 parts magnesium molybdate, 1 part clay, 4 parts sodium sulfate, and 81 parts potassium carbonate. The resulting slurry was wet-milled in a suitable wet-milling equipment and then spray-dried / fluid-bed dried to obtain granules.

[0205] The composition has a particle size within the range of 0.1 microns to 10 microns. The granule size of the composition is within the range of 0.1-2.5 mm. The composition has a dispersibility of 92%, a suspendability of 95%, a wet sieve retention of 0.02% on a 75 micron sieve, and a wettability of less than 2 seconds. The composition has a hardness of zero. The composition further demonstrated approximately 85% suspendability and 85% dispersibility under accelerated storage conditions.

[0206] <3. A water-dispersible granular composition of 80% magnesium oxide (48.26% elemental Mg) and 5.5% potassium schoenite (1.07% elemental K)> A water-dispersible granular composition was prepared as in Example 1 by mixing 6 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 4 parts sodium salt of naphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde condensate, 3.5 parts of a blend of salts of naphthalenesulfonic acid and phenolsulfonic acid condensation products, 1 part sodium citrate, 80 parts magnesium oxide, and 5.5 parts potassium schoenite. The resulting slurry was wet-milled using a suitable amount of water in a suitable wet-milling equipment, and then spray-dried / fluid-bed dried to obtain granules.

[0207] The composition has a particle size in the range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. The granule size of the composition is in the range of 0.1-3.0 mm. The composition has a dispersibility of 65%, a suspendability of 70%, a wet sieve retention of 0.2% on a 75 micron sieve, and a wettability of less than 50 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 60% suspendability and 55% dispersibility under accelerated storage conditions.

[0208] <4. A water-dispersible granular composition of 34% magnesium oxide (20.503% elemental Mg) + 11% potassium silicate (5.575% elemental K)> A water dispersible composition was prepared as in Example 1 by blending 34 parts magnesium oxide, 11 parts potassium silicate, 6 parts polycarboxylate, 6 parts Kraft lignin polymer, 4 parts sodium salt of naphthalene sulfonate condensate, 3 parts sodium citrate, 3 parts sodium lauryl sulfate and 33 parts clay with water, followed by grinding and drying in suitable equipment to obtain granules with a particle size of 2.5 microns D50 and 7 microns D90.

[0209] The composition has a granule size of 0.1 mm to 3 mm, 45% dispersibility, 50% suspension, and a wettability of less than 35 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 40% suspension, 40% dispersibility, and 40 seconds wettability under accelerated storage conditions.

[0210] <5. A water-dispersible granular composition of 7% calcium magnesium phosphate (1.068% elemental Mg) + 42% leucite (7.522% elemental K)> A water-dispersible composition was prepared as in Example 1 by blending 5 parts sodium citrate, 7 parts calcium magnesium phosphate, 42 parts leucite, 10 parts sodium sulfate, 5 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 2 parts sodium salt of naphthalene sulfonate condensate, 2 parts sodium lauryl sulfate, 1 part polycarboxylate, 10 parts lactose, and 16 parts clay with water in a blender to obtain a slurry. The obtained slurry was wet-milled using a suitable amount of water in a suitable wet-milling equipment, and then spray-dried / fluid-bed dried to obtain granules having a size of less than 3.5 mm.

[0211] The composition has a particle size of less than 20 microns. The composition has a dispersibility of 60%, a suspendibility of 65%, a wet sieve retention of 0.13% on a 75 micron sieve, and a wettability of less than 55 seconds. The composition further demonstrated a suspendability of about 55% and a dispersibility of 50%, a wettability of 1 minute under accelerated storage conditions.

[0212] <6. A water-dispersible granular composition of 27% magnesium hydroxide (11.25% elemental Mg) + 30% potassium silicate (15.21% elemental K) + 0.095% molybdenum disulfide (0.057% elemental Mo)> A water-dispersible composition was prepared as in Example 1 by blending 3 parts sodium citrate, 27 parts magnesium hydroxide, 30 parts potassium silicate, 0.095 parts molybdenum disulfide, 7.905 parts sodium sulfate, 9 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 4 parts sodium salt of naphthalene sulfonate condensate, 1 part sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts polycarboxylate, and 16 parts clay with water in a blender to obtain a slurry. The resulting slurry was wet-milled using a suitable amount of water in suitable wet-milling equipment, and then spray-dried to obtain granules in the size range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm.

[0213] The composition has a particle size in the range of 0.1 microns to 15 microns. The composition has 85% dispersibility, 80% suspension, a wet sieve retention of 0.15% on a 75 micron sieve, and a wettability of less than 30 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 70% suspension and 75% dispersibility, with a wettability of 55 minutes under accelerated storage conditions.

[0214] B. Aqueous Suspension Composition <7. Aqueous suspension composition of 40% magnesium hydroxide (16.67% elemental Mg) + 10% potassium bicarbonate (3.91% elemental K)> 50g of ethylene oxide (EO) / propylene oxide (PO) copolymer and 80g of propylene glycol were added to water (enough to make 1L of composition) and homogenized by transferring them to a vessel equipped with a stirrer. 400g of magnesium hydroxide and 100g of potassium bicarbonate were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 20 minutes until the entire mixture was homogenized. 1 part of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion was added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain an aqueous suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce particle size. 1.2g of xanthan gum, 1g of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, and 1.5g of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added while continuously homogenizing to obtain an aqueous suspension.

[0215] The composition had a particle size distribution of 1.32 microns D50 and 2.85 microns D90, a viscosity of 250 cps, and a suspendability of 95.2%, a dispersion spontaneity of 92%, and a wet sieve retention of 0.01% at 75 microns. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.5%. The composition has a suspendability of 85% under accelerated storage conditions.

[0216] <8. Aqueous suspension composition of 15% magnesium oxalate (3.246% elemental Mg) + 6% potassium schoenite (1.17% elemental K)> 80 parts of tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate ester and 120 parts of monoethylene glycol were added to water (enough to make 1 L of composition) and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 150 parts of magnesium oxalate and 60 parts of potassium schoenite were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture was homogenized. 1 part of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion was added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain an aqueous suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce particle size. 1.5 parts of xanthan gum, 1 part of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, and 1.5 parts of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added while continuously homogenizing to obtain an aqueous suspension.

[0217] The composition had a particle size distribution of 1.52 microns D50 and 2.75 microns D90, a viscosity of 450 cps, a dispersion spontaneity of 93.10, a wet sieve retention at 75 microns of 0.01% and a suspendability of 90.2%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.4%. The composition has a suspendability of 80% under accelerated storage conditions.

[0218] <9. Aqueous suspension composition of 25% magnesium oxide (15.076% elemental Mg) + 3% potassium carbonate (1.69% elemental K)> This composition was prepared as in Example 6 using 40 parts polyethoxylated alcohol, 50 parts kaolin and 100 parts monoethylene glycol, 250 parts magnesium oxide, 1 part polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, 1 part xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 30 parts potassium carbonate and 1.5 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion in water (sufficient to make 1 L of composition).

[0219] The composition had a particle size in the range of 0.1 to 8 microns, a viscosity of 385 cps, a spontaneity of dispersion of 88.10%, a wet sieve retention at 75 microns of 0.05%, and a suspensibility of 70%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.7%. The composition has a suspensibility of 50% under accelerated storage conditions.

[0220] <10. Aqueous suspension composition of 48% magnesium phosphate (13.32% elemental Mg) + 5% potassium silicate (2.53% elemental K)> This composition was prepared as in Example 6 using 50 parts polyoxyethylene glycol, 80 parts monoethylene glycol, 480 parts magnesium phosphate, 1 part polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, 1 part glycerin, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 50 parts potassium silicate, and 1.5 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion in water (enough to make 1 L of composition).

[0221] The composition had a particle size range of 0.1 to 3 microns, a viscosity of 550 cps, a dispersion spontaneity of 81.10%, a wet sieve retention at 75 microns of 0.09%, and a suspensibility of 70%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.8%. The composition has a suspensibility of 60% under accelerated storage conditions.

[0222] B. Field Survey: <Experiment 1: To study the effect of WDG and SC compositions of "water-insoluble magnesium salts and water-soluble potassium salts" on rice crops> [Field Experiment Methodology] A field trial was conducted at Chiroda, Gandhinagar to assess the effect of embodiments of the composition of the present invention on rice (paddy) yield.

[0223] The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times during the kharif season. A plot size of 40 square meters (8 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. The prescribed doses of the test product were applied as top dressing 15 days after transplanting the rice. The rice crop in the trial field was grown in accordance with good agricultural practice. Seeds of rice variety Gurjari were used to raise seedlings, and 25-day-old seedlings were used for transplanting in the trial field at a planting spacing of 30 cm between rows and 25 cm between plants. The active doses of potassium and magnesium applied in the field experiments were of elemental potassium (P) and elemental magnesium (Mg).

[0224] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Chiroda, Gandhinagar b) Crop: Rice (variety: Gurjari) c) Experimental Season: Khalif 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 8 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 square meters h) Transplant date: 18.06.2023 i) Applicable date: 03.07.2023 j) Application method: Top dressing k) Harvest date: 02.10.2023

[0225] Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 1, listing the efficacy of WDG, SC compositions of "water-insoluble magnesium (Mg) salt and water-soluble potassium (K) salt" prepared according to embodiments of the present invention. Nutrient uptake in rice seeds was also measured by laboratory analysis.

[0226] [Table 2]

[0227] [Table 3]

[0228] From the observed data in Table 1, it can be seen that compositions T1 and T4, as an embodiment of the present invention, demonstrate synergistic behavior.

[0229] "Synergism" is as defined by Colby SR in his article entitled "Calculation of the synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combinations," published in Weeds, 1967, 15, pp. 20-22. The expected effect of a given combination of two active ingredients can be calculated as follows: E=X+Y-(XY) / 100 During the ceremony, E = expected effect in % of a mixture of two products X and Y at a defined dose X = % observed effect of product A Y = % observed effect of product B

[0230] The synergy factor (SF) is calculated by Abbott's formula (Equation (2) (Abbott, 1925)). SF = observed effect / expected effect In the formula, SF>1 for a synergistic reaction; SF<1 for an antagonistic reaction; SF=1 for an additive reaction

[0231] A synergistic effect of the combination can be inferred if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is greater than the expected percentage, an additive effect can only be inferred if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is equal to the expected percentage, and an antagonistic effect of the combination can be inferred if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is lower than the expected percentage.

[0232] From the observed data in Table 1, it can be concluded that compositions T1 and T4 as an embodiment of the present invention demonstrate synergistic behavior. This synergistic behavior of "water soluble potassium salt plus water insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of WDG, SC as an embodiment of the present invention can be observed from the yield of rice crop.

[0233] Based on the data and calculations, the expected percentage increase in rice crop yield was 26.80% and 24.33% for treatments T1 and T4, respectively. However, from Table 1 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T1 with 18% magnesium hydroxide (elemental Mg: 7.5%) + 38% potassium carbonate (elemental K = 21.35%) - water dispersible granular composition (WDG) and treatment T4 with 9% magnesium carbonate (elemental Mg: 2.59%) + 5% potassium silicate (elemental K: 2.53%) - suspension concentrate (SC), both as embodiments of the composition of the present invention, showed yield increases of 66.99% and 61.86%, respectively. The synergism factors for treatments T1 and T4 are 2.49 and 2.54, depicting the synergistic nature of the compositions. On the other hand, treatments T2 with 18% magnesium hydroxide (elemental Mg: 7.5%) WDG and T3 with 38% potassium carbonate (elemental K: 21.35%) SG demonstrated an increase of 12.50% and 16.35% in rice crop yield, respectively.

[0234] A similar trend in terms of yield was observed for treatment T4 when compared with treatments T5 and T6, which also demonstrate the synergistic behavior of the compositions of the present invention. Treatments T5 with 9% magnesium carbonate (elemental Mg: 2.59%) SC and T6 with 5% potassium silicate (elemental K: 2.53%) SL demonstrated yields of only 10.58% and 15.38%, respectively. Thus, treatments T1 and T4 with the WDG and SC compositions according to embodiments of the present invention demonstrated a synergistic effect compared to the application of individual active substances.

[0235] The results were even more surprising when treatments T2–T3 and T5–T6 were applied to the soil with the same doses of potassium and magnesium salts (as those of T1 and T4), i.e., 1067.42 g / ha potassium, 375.12 g / ha magnesium and 253.45 g / ha potassium, 259.47 g / ha magnesium, respectively.

[0236] It was also observed that the leaves of rice plots treated with treatments T4 and T1 were greener compared to treatments T2-T3, T5-T6 and untreated plots where yellowing of leaves was observed.

[0237] It can also be seen from the observed results that the plant height and number of shoots in the rice crop were found to be higher in treatment T1 compared to the individual applications of active substance. Compared to treatments T2-T3, it can be noted that treatment T1 has a plant height of 75.50 cm and a number of shoots of 33, while treatments T2 and T3 have a plant height of 69.30 and 68.30 cm and 24 and 23 shoots, respectively. The untreated control depicts a plant height of 65 cm and 19.5 shoots.

[0238] Furthermore, when compared with the commercially available product Kaimag Potassium Schoenite-treated T7, the compositions of the present invention (T1, T4) containing a combination of water-soluble potassium salt and water-insoluble magnesium salt also demonstrated excellent efficacy, despite being applied at low doses of potassium and magnesium. For example, compared with the untreated, treatment T7 showed an increase in yield of 16.60%, while the number of shoots was 24.5 and the plant height was 70.20 cm. Furthermore, it can be seen that only 1200 mg and 550 mg of potassium and magnesium, respectively, were available for uptake in T7. Conversely, treatments T1 and T4 show much higher uptake of the same nutrients.

[0239] It can further be seen from Table 1 that treatments T1 and T4 with compositions according to embodiments of the present invention showed a surprising uptake of nutrients such as magnesium and potassium compared to treatments T2-T3 and T5-T6 (where potassium and magnesium salts were used individually), even when these active substances were applied at the same dosage application in each treatment. It can be seen that 1820 mg and 1810 mg of potassium and magnesium were available for uptake for the WDG composition of T1, whereas only 205 mg, 1100 mg of potassium and 900 mg, 110 mg of magnesium were available for uptake by the plant for treatments T2 and T3, respectively.

[0240] It can also be noted that in treatment T3 (lacking magnesium), magnesium uptake was found to be very low due to the high potassium dose applied. Furthermore, even when both magnesium and potassium were supplied together at high doses, magnesium uptake was found to be poor in treatment T7 compared to the individual magnesium applications, i.e., T2 and T5. However, it was quite surprising to observe that in the inventive composition T1, formulated in a specific formulation using a specific combination of a water-soluble potassium salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt with a specific particle size, magnesium uptake was found to be substantially increased despite the high potassium dose supplied, thereby also helping magnesium to overcome potassium-induced soil antagonism.

[0241] It was noticed that this significant increase in nutrient availability, especially magnesium, observed in treatments T1, T4 compared to treatments T2-T3, T5-T6, and T7 is due to the nature of the composition formulated as an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., in the form of water dispersible granules and aqueous suspensions with particle sizes in the range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, which facilitated an increase in the availability of the full range of nutrients present in the composition, especially magnesium and potassium, for uptake by the crop.

[0242] The compositions of the present invention, i.e., T1 and T4, also show significant increases in nitrogen and iron uptake in rice crops that were not observed with the individual compositions and the untreated, i.e., T2-T3, T5-T6, and T7.

[0243] From the above data, it can be concluded that the compositions containing different dosages of "water-soluble potassium salt and water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of WDG and SC according to the embodiments of the present invention are synergistic in nature and demonstrated significantly higher nutrient uptake, higher yield, plant height, and number of new shoots in rice crops at the stated concentration ranges. Therefore, the compositions of the present invention were found to have very high nutrient utilization efficiency.

[0244] The inventors of the present invention have further observed that apart from the magnesium and potassium salts listed in Table 1 above, other magnesium and potassium salts as per the present application also exhibit similar effects in terms of synergy when applied as per the embodiments of the present invention.

[0245] <Experiment 2: To study the effect of WDG, SC composition of "water-insoluble magnesium salt and water-soluble potassium salt" on peanut crops> A field trial was conducted in Jalgaon, Maharashtra to evaluate embodiments of the composition of the present invention on groundnut crop, variety BG1. The trial was laid down in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 35 square meters (7 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Test nutrient compositions containing various potassium and magnesium salts alone and their combinations at varying concentrations and salt levels in WDG and SC were applied at the base of the plant at the time of sowing of the groundnut crop at defined doses. The active doses mentioned in the field experiments include doses of elemental potassium (K) and elemental magnesium (Mg).

[0246] The details of the experiment are as follows: a) Trial location: Jalgaon, Maharashtra b) Crop: Peanut (BG-1) c) Experimental season: Rabi 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 8 g) Plot size: 7m x 5m = 35 square meters h) Applicable date: 11.01.2023 i) Sowing date: 11.01.2023 j) Application method: stock origin k) Harvest date: 16.04.2023

[0247] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 2 to list the efficacy of WDG, SC compositions of "water insoluble magnesium salt and water soluble potassium salt" prepared as per embodiments of the present invention. Nutrient uptake in peanut seeds was also measured by laboratory analysis.

[0248] [Table 4]

[0249] [Table 5]

[0250] From the observed data in Table 2, it can be seen that compositions T1 and T4 as an embodiment of the present invention demonstrate synergistic behavior in terms of peanut kernel yield. From Table 2, it can be observed that for treatments T1 and T4 as an embodiment of the present invention, the synergy factors are 2.73 and 2.76, which depicts the synergistic nature of the SC and WDG compositions of "48% Magnesium Phosphate (Elemental Mg: 13.32%) + 5% Potassium Silicate (Elemental K: 2.53%)" and "24% Magnesium Silicate Hydrate (Elemental Mg: 4.18%) + 5% Potassium Hydroxide (Elemental K: 3.48%)".

[0251] Based on the data presented in Table 2 and the calculations made, the expected percentage increase in peanut kernel yield was found to be 11.40% and 11.84% for treatments T1-T3 and T4-T6, respectively. However, from Table 2 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T4 showed a yield increase of 32.68% and treatment T1 showed a yield increase of 31.22% compared to the untreated control, depicting a synergistic effect, as per an embodiment of the present invention.

[0252] It was further observed that treatments T2, T5 and T3, T6, i.e., application of magnesium and potassium individually, demonstrated an increase in yield of only 7.80%, 7.32%, 3.90% and 4.88% compared to the compositions of the present invention, i.e., T1, T4.

[0253] Furthermore, treatments T1 and T4 exhibited the highest uptake of nutrients such as Mg and K when compared to the values ​​observed for treatments T2–T3 and T5–T6 and T7 (i.e., commercially available samples) and the untreated control, improving plant physiological parameters such as the number of pods / plant and the number of plant branches.

[0254] Additionally, compared to the commercially available sample Mosaic K-Mag potassium magnesium sulfate (T7) - a water-soluble powder, which is a source of both potassium and magnesium, treatments T1 and T4 exhibited superior effects in terms of yield, nutrient uptake, and growth parameters. In T7, where potassium was applied at a rate as high as 1917 g / ha and magnesium at a rate as high as 1100 g / ha, the yield increase was only 16.59%, while in T4, where potassium was applied at a rate of only 522.68 g / ha and magnesium at a rate of only 627.48 g / ha - much lower rates than those applied in treatment T7 - ​​the yield increase was 32.68%.

[0255] It is also noteworthy that even when T7 was applied in combination with a high dose of magnesium and a high dose of potassium, magnesium uptake was found to be very low compared to the individual applications of magnesium, i.e., T2 and T5. Furthermore, treatments T3 and T6 (lacking magnesium) were also observed to exhibit poor uptake of magnesium from the soil due to the high potassium application. Conversely, treatments T1 and T4, i.e., compositions of the present invention using a combination of a water-soluble potassium salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt, demonstrated significant uptake of magnesium compared to the remaining treatments, particularly T7, which was applied with a high dose of magnesium. Therefore, the superior efficacy exhibited by the compositions of the present invention is due to the combination of a water-soluble potassium salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt formulated into a WDG, SC composition having a particle size within the range of 0.1 to 30 microns, which in turn helped overcome the soil antagonism between potassium and magnesium.

[0256] Experiment 3: Evaluating the effect of particle size distribution in soybean in a composition containing potassium silicate and magnesium oxide - WDG, SC compositions [Field Experiment Methodology] A field trial was conducted in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to observe the effects of a WDG, SC composition containing a water-soluble potassium salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt on soybean. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times during the kharif season. A plot size of 30 square meters (6 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Test product compounds, potassium salts, magnesium salts, and their combinations in the WDG, SC composition according to the present invention at varying concentrations, were applied to the soil at the time of sowing at prescribed doses. Soybean crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0257] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Indore, Madhya Pradesh b) Crop and variety: Soybean (JS335) c) Experimental Season: Khalif 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 8 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 07.07.2023 i) Applicable date: 07.07.2023 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 10.10.2023

[0258] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 3 to summarize the efficacy of the WDG, SC composition prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention. Nutrient uptake in soybean seeds was also measured by laboratory analysis.

[0259] [Table 6]

[0260] [Table 7]

[0261] Based on the data and calculations made, it is observed that for treatment T1, i.e., the composition of the present invention comprising 5% potassium silicate (elemental K: 2.53%) + 75% magnesium oxide (elemental Mg: 45.24%) with particle size of 0.1-30 microns, the percentage increase in soybean yield was found to be 48.03%. Furthermore, it is clearly seen that treatments T3-T6, i.e., the same composition with the same dosage of potassium and magnesium as T1 but applied with varying particle sizes, showed an increase in yield from 6.58% to 18.42% over the untreated.

[0262] It is therefore notable that when the composition is comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, superior efficacy in terms of yield and protein content was observed for the water-dispersible granular formulation compared to the same composition formulated with different particle sizes. The results were even more surprising when treatments T1, T3-T6 all had the same dosage of potassium and magnesium salts.

[0263] Also, when comparing T1 with T7, a water-disintegrating granule (control sample) containing a combination of 4% potassium chloride (elemental K: 2.10%) + 89.847% magnesium hydroxide (elemental Mg: 37.45%) - formulated at 0.1 to 100 microns with a hardness of 29N, there is an increase of around 40% in yield with the application of treatment T1.

[0264] Similarly, a substantial increase in yield compared to T3-T7 was observed for the suspension concentrate formulated at 0.1-30 microns, ie, T2, a composition of the present invention.

[0265] From Table 3, it can also be observed that there is a significant increase in the availability of potassium and magnesium plus other nutrients (sequestered in the soil) observed for T1, T2 over that observed for T3-T7 and untreated T8. Thus, treatments T1 and T2, with particle sizes in the range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, also facilitated the availability of the full range of micronutrients present in the composition for uptake by the crop.

[0266] Experiment No. 4: To evaluate the efficacy of different formulations of water-soluble potassium salts plus water-insoluble magnesium salts in commercially cultivated wheat fields. [Field Experiment Methodology] A field trial was conducted in Punjab (Malerkotla) to determine the efficacy of the WDG, SC composition of the present invention, which contains a water-soluble potassium salt plus a water-insoluble magnesium salt, in wheat. The trial was conducted during the rabi season in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 30 square meters (6 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Test product compounds and their combinations in water-dispersible granular compositions as per the present invention, varying in concentration range, were applied to the soil at the time of the first irrigation of wheat (25 days after sowing) at the prescribed doses. Wheat crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0267] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Malerkotla, Punjab b) Crop: Wheat (variety PBW-660) c) Experimental season: Rabi 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 8 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 10.11.2022 i) Applicable date: 10.11.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 2.04.2023

[0268] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 4, summarizing the efficacy of water-dispersible granular compositions and aqueous suspension compositions prepared according to embodiments of the present invention. Nutrient uptake in wheat seeds was also measured by laboratory analysis.

[0269] Here, the same composition, i.e., magnesium oxide + potassium carbonate, was formulated in different formulations such as WDG, SC, powder, pellets and water-disintegrating granules and applied at exactly the same active doses of potassium and magnesium, i.e., 1544.95 g / ha and 995.28 g / ha to assess the effect of different formulations.

[0270] [Table 8]

[0271] [Table 9]

[0272] From Table 4, it can be clearly seen that Treatment T1 with 30% magnesium oxide (elemental Mg: 18.10%) + 50% potassium carbonate (elemental K: 28.09%)-WDG and Treatment T2 with 6% magnesium oxide (elemental Mg: 3.62%) + 10% potassium carbonate (elemental K: 5.62%)-SC, both as embodiments of the present invention, demonstrated yield increases of 33.11% and 30.82% in wheat grain yield. However, Treatments T3-water-disintegrating granular composition, T4-powder composition, and T5-pellet composition, all applied with the same active doses of potassium and magnesium as applied for T1, demonstrated only 6.23%, 6.56%, and 5.25% increases in grain yield, respectively.

[0273] Furthermore, with reference to treatments T6-T7, based on the data and calculations made, the expected percentage increase in yield was 8.34%. It can therefore be noted that treatments T1 and T2 demonstrated a synergistic effect compared to the same treatments with pellets, water-disintegrating granules, or with powder compositions, and with the application of the individual active substances, i.e., treatments T6-T7. The results were even more surprising when all of treatments T1 to T6 were applied to the soil with the same doses of potassium and magnesium, i.e., 1544.95 g / ha potassium and 995.28 g / ha magnesium.

[0274] It was further observed that treatments T1 and T2 with the compositions as per embodiments of the present invention showed increased green colour and improved plant height and number of shoots, root development compared to the pellet, water disintegrable granule and powder compositions, i.e. treatments T3 to T5.

[0275] Furthermore, it is noteworthy that in treatment T8 (untreated), magnesium uptake was 39.2 mg / kg, which was significantly reduced to 38.4 mg / kg by treatment T7, i.e., the individual application of potassium, thus confirming the fact that potassium inhibits the uptake of magnesium (available from the soil). However, when comparing T1-T5 (applied with the same potassium and magnesium doses), it was surprising to observe a substantial increase in magnesium uptake observed in T1-T2, i.e., 75 mg and 72 mg per kg of wheat seeds, respectively, despite the application of a high potassium dose of 1544.95 g / ha combined with magnesium applied at 995.28 g / ha. On the other hand, magnesium uptake was found to be substantially reduced for T3-T5 (i.e., with different formulations), at 41.3-41.7 mg per kg of seeds. Therefore, the compositions of the present invention also overcome the antagonism between potassium and magnesium.

[0276] It is therefore noteworthy that the composition of "water-soluble potassium salt and water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of a WDG, SC composition according to an embodiment of the present invention is synergistic in nature and has shown a surprising enhancement in yield and improvement in plant physiological parameters compared to other known formulation types.

[0277] <Experiment 5: Studying the efficacy of the composition of the present invention in WDG and SC forms on cucumber crops> A field trial was conducted in Indore to observe the effect of a composition of the present invention comprising a water-soluble potassium salt plus a water-insoluble magnesium salt on cucumber. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with five treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times during the kharif season. A plot size of 30 square meters (6 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. The composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules and aqueous suspensions was applied to the foliage at the pre-flowering stage. Cucumber crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0278] The details of the experiment are as follows: a) Trial location: Indore, MP b) Crop: Cucumber (variety Malini) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2023 (July 2023 to October 2023) d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 5 g) Lot size: 5 x 6 = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 06.07.2023 i) Applicable date: 25.08.2023 j) Application method: Foliar fertilization (before flowering) k) Harvest date: 17.10.2023

[0279] Observations for flowering were recorded at 40 DAA and mean data for fruit yield at harvest are presented in Table 5. Observations for plant vigor were made 30 days after application on a 0-200% rating scale, where UTC (untreated control) should always be 100%.

[0280] [Table 10]

[0281] From Table 5, it can be seen that the percentage yield of cucumber crops in treatments T1 and T2, i.e., upon application of the WDG, SC composition according to an embodiment of the present invention, increased by 40-42% compared to the untreated control. Plant vigor also increased by 25-30% compared to the untreated control, and the number of fruits per plant also increased significantly. This demonstrates the superior properties of the composition of the present invention, which contains a combination of a water-soluble potassium salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt.

[0282] It is further noted from the above data that the compositions of treatments T1 and T2, although applied at reduced doses when compared to the individual compositions, i.e., T3 and T4, are superior in terms of yield increase, plant vigor, and number of fruits per plant, with treatments T3 and T4 showing only a 6.25% and 13.75% yield increase over the untreated.

[0283] From the foregoing data, it can be concluded that compositions comprised of "water-soluble potassium salts and water-insoluble magnesium salts" in the form of WDG, SC as embodied in the present invention demonstrated enhanced efficacy with varying water-soluble potassium salts and water-insoluble magnesium salts over the stated concentration range, even when applied at reduced doses than the individual active agents.

[0284] Experiment No. 6: To study the effect of a composition containing a combination of different types of potassium and magnesium salts on tomato crops. Based on the tomato crop, experimental fields were selected where the soil nutrient content was below the deficiency level, which is likely to cause nutrient deficiency symptoms.

[0285] The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments including an untreated control replicated four times. A plot size of 40 square metres (8m x 5m) was maintained for each treatment. The compositions tested included different formulations including potassium salts, magnesium salts alone, and a combination of potassium and magnesium salts. Tomato crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices. Seeds of tomato, Abhilash, were used in the study and planted at a spacing of 120cm between rows and 45cm between plants. The details of the experiment are as follows:

[0286] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Nashik (Maharashtra) b) Crop: Tomato (variety Abhilash) c) Experimental Season: Khalif 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 9 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 square meters h) Applicable date: 17.07.2022 i) Application method: side strip / groove arrangement j) Transplant date: 17.07.2022 k) Picking date: 30.10.2022, 10.11.2022, 15.11.2022

[0287] Fruit set was monitored by tagging newly opened flowers once a week and counting the number of tagged flowers that had set fruit one week later. Fruit was harvested six times and weighed each time.

[0288] Here, the inventors tested various combinations of potassium and magnesium salts and present the average data of all observations in Table 6 to illustrate the effect of a combination of a water-soluble salt of potassium and a water-insoluble salt of magnesium in the form of a composition of the present invention on tomato yield, fruit weight and other parameters.

[0289] [Table 11]

[0290] [Table 12]

[0291] From the data presented in Table 6, it can be seen that T1 and T5 with the composition of the present invention, i.e., a combination of a water-soluble potassium (K) salt and a water-insoluble magnesium (Mg) salt, demonstrated significant increases in yield, fruit weight, and number of flowers per plant compared to the other treatments, i.e., T2-T4 and T6, as shown in the table. In particular, when comparing T1-T4, which were applied with approximately the same doses of potassium and magnesium salts and in the same granular formulation, treatment T1 with a water-soluble K salt and a water-insoluble Mg salt showed an increased increase in yield of around 38%, while treatment T2 with a combination of a water-soluble Mg salt and a water-soluble K salt, treatment T3 with a combination of a water-insoluble Mg salt and a water-insoluble K salt, and treatment T4 with a combination of a water-soluble Mg salt and a water-insoluble K salt showed yield increases of around 10-12%.

[0292] This unexpected and surprising increase in yield was attributed to the combination of water soluble K salt and water insoluble Mg salt and was not observed in other combinations, i.e., water soluble Mg salt and water soluble K salt, water insoluble Mg salt and water soluble K salt, water soluble Mg salt and water insoluble K salt, etc. The same trend was observed in the case of tomato fruit weight, where treatment T1 showed an increase of 24.23% while the expected fruit weight was 11.32%, while T2-T4 depicted around 7-10% increase in yield, demonstrating the synergistic nature of the present invention.

[0293] Similarly, treatment T5, a suspension concentrate formulation containing a combination of water-soluble K salts and water-insoluble Mg salts, demonstrated a 35.82% increase in yield and a 22.55% increase in fruit weight when compared to treatment T6, a combination of water-soluble K salts and water-soluble Mg salts in a liquid formulation, which showed an 11.94% and 7.67% increase in yield and fruit weight, respectively, compared to the untreated treatment.

[0294] Experiment No. 7: Studying the Effect of the Composition of the Present Invention Compared to Traditional Fertilizer Practices A field trial was conducted in Junagadh (Gujarat) (India) to observe the effect of the composition of the present invention in the form of WDG on the availability of magnesium, potassium along with nitrogen and phosphorus in onion crops along with the effect of application of traditional fertilizer practices over a period of time.

[0295] The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with the following treatments, including an untreated control, replicated seven times: Plot size of 40 square meters (8 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment.

[0296] The planted onion seedlings were grown under GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) until harvest or full onion bulb development.

[0297] The details of the experiment are as follows: a) Trial location: Junagadh, Gujarat b) Crop: Onion (variety Red Onion-11) c) Experimental season: Rabi 2022~2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 13 f) Processing: 4 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 square meters h) Applicable date: 22.11.2022 i) Seedling planting date: 22.11.2022 j) Application method: base of plant (soil fertilization) k) Harvest date: 02.03.2023

[0298] Observations of nutrient uptake were recorded and average data are presented in Tables 7A and 7B, which list the availability of magnesium and potassium, along with nitrogen and phosphorus.

[0299] Table 7A: Trials were conducted to evaluate yield and nutrient availability with the application of traditional fertilizer practices.

[0300] NPK traditional fertilizer 19:19:19 (treatment T1) was applied at the time of transplanting onion seedlings, followed by Kymag potassium schoenite - a commercially available potassium-magnesium source (treatment T2) after 45 days.

[0301] The average values ​​were calculated and presented below.

[0302] [Table 13]

[0303] Table 7B: Trials were conducted to evaluate yield and nutrient availability with application of compositions as per embodiments of the present invention.

[0304] A traditional 19:19:19 NPK fertilizer (Treatment T1) was applied at the time of transplanting onion seedlings, followed by a WDG composition according to an embodiment of the present invention (Treatment T2) 45 days later.

[0305] The average values ​​were calculated and presented as follows:

[0306] [Table 14]

[0307] From Table 7A, it can be seen that treatment T1 i.e. traditional NPK practice followed by T2 i.e. commercial K-Mg product were applied at high doses of 10Kg / ha and 5.5Kg / ha respectively and still the plants showed very poor uptake of primary nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus as well as magnesium and potassium as compared to untreated.

[0308] Hence, it was observed that traditional practice of application of NPK and other treatments, even at higher doses applied, did not meet the nutritional requirements of the plants and even failed to provide adequate uptake of primary nutrients such as magnesium, potassium and nitrogen and phosphorus.

[0309] It can further be seen from Table 7B that despite reducing the dosage of traditional NPK fertilizer by up to half, the treatment followed by the composition as an embodiment of the present invention when applied to crops surprisingly showed a significant increase in uptake of primary nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus as well as magnesium and potassium and also in yield compared to untreated.

[0310] Thus, the composition of the present invention not only helps to increase the uptake of nutrients such as nitrogen, which is not observed in the application of traditional NPK fertilizers despite being applied at high doses, but also helps to reduce the dose of traditional NPK fertilizers, thus portraying the high nutrient utilization efficiency of the composition.

[0311] Experiment No. 8: To study the effect of the composition of the present invention on yield and growth parameters in eggplant crops The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times during the kharif season. A plot size of 40 square meters (8m x 5m) was maintained for each treatment. The compositions tested included water-insoluble Mg salts and water-soluble K and molybdenum salts, either in combination or alone. The eggplant crop at the trial site was grown in accordance with good agricultural practices. Seeds of eggplant, Pusa purple long, were used in the study and planted at a spacing of 120cm between rows and 45cm between plants. The experimental details are as follows:

[0312] [Table 15]

[0313] Plant vigor observations were made 50 days after application on a 0-200% rating scale, where UTC (untreated control) should always be 100%. Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 8.

[0314] [Table 16]

[0315] From Table 8, it can be observed that treatment T1 with the WDG composition "27% magnesium hydroxide (11.25% elemental Mg) + 30% potassium silicate (15.21% elemental K) + 0.095% molybdenum disulfide (0.057% elemental Mo) - WDG" as an embodiment of the present invention was highly effective and demonstrated increased eggplant yield compared to the individual treatments of active substances (T2, T3, and T4). It can be seen that treatments T1 through T4 were applied at the same active doses, i.e., 836.39 g / ha potassium, 618.95 g / ha magnesium, and 3.3 g / ha molybdenum. The observed % increase in yield for T1 was 43.08%, while the observed % increase in yield for T2 through T4 was 15.38%, 7.69%, and 6.6%, respectively.

[0316] From the observed results, it can be seen that the number of fruits per plant and plant vigor in eggplant crops was higher in treatment T1 compared to the individual treatments of the active substances. It was also observed that other plant growth parameters such as plant height, number of branches, and leaf greenness in eggplant plots treated with treatment T1 were better compared to treatments T2-T4 and untreated plots where yellow leaves and poor plant growth were observed.

[0317] Therefore, treatment T1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is synergistic and provides higher crop yields and improved growth parameters compared to the application of the individual active substances when applied at the same dose.It should also be noted that the presence of molybdenum in addition to the water-insoluble magnesium salt and water-soluble potassium salt in the composition of the present invention confers additional benefits when applied to crops.

[0318] Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have also tested the WDG and SC compositions of the present invention on other crops such as chili pepper and corn, and observed that the compositions of the present invention can also enhance crop yield and crop characteristics such as straw weight, oil content, crop green color depth, fruit weight, improved photosynthesis, increased chlorophyll content, and plant height, as well as enhance the nutritional value of the crops.

[0319] Because water-soluble potassium salts tend to leach, it was expected that the composition of the present invention would not provide the desired efficacy when applied in the field.Furthermore, due to the use of water-soluble potassium salts, it was expected that the composition of the present invention would provide potassium more rapidly than magnesium, and therefore, considering the K-Mg antagonism in the soil, would result in poor magnesium uptake by plants.However, it was surprising to observe that the composition of the present invention demonstrated enhanced effects not only in terms of crop yield, but also in terms of Mg and K uptake, demonstrating synergistic effects.

[0320] Thus, it can be seen that the excellent effect of the composition of the present invention is due to the combination of elements: a water-soluble K salt and a water-insoluble Mg salt formulated in a WDG, SC composition and having a particle size of 0.1 to 30 microns.

[0321] The composition of the present invention has been observed to demonstrate enhanced, effective, and superior performance in the field. The composition of the present invention minimizes the number of applications or the amount of nutrients, fertilizers, or pesticides. Moreover, the composition of the present invention exhibits surprisingly high field efficacy compared to known compositions, even when applied at reduced dosages. The composition is highly safe for users and the environment. This novel composition improves plant yield, balanced uptake of all nutrients, reduces leaf yellowing, and helps plant physiological parameters, providing a nutritious crop.

[0322] Additionally, various advantageous properties associated with compositions according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, improved stability, improved toxicological and / or ecotoxicological behavior, improved crop characteristics including crop yield, crop quality and characteristics, and other benefits well known to those skilled in the art.

[0323] From the foregoing, it will be seen that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. (i) one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; (ii) one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; and (iii) one or more surfactants; and A crop nutritional composition comprising: the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition having an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. A nutritional composition for crops, characterized in that

2. 2. The crop nutritional composition of claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative is selected from one or more of magnesium molybdate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium magnesium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium humate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium aluminum silicate, calcium magnesium silicate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium oxalate, magnesium fulvic acid, magnesium silicate, magnesium oxide, periclase, hydrotalcite, and magnesite.

3. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the potassium salt or derivative is selected from one or more of potassium carbonate, potassium selenide, potassium sulfate, potassium silicate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium persulfate, potassium hydroxide, potassium schoenite, potassium humate, carnallite, picromerite, glauconite, biotite, and langbeinite.

4. 10. The crop nutrition composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises one or more of an anionic and a nonionic surfactant.

5. 10. The crop nutrition composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises one or more of an emulsifier, a wetting agent, and a dispersing agent.

6. 6. The crop nutritional composition of claim 5, wherein the dispersing agent is a non-ionic dispersing agent selected from one or more of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers, ethoxylated fatty acids, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl ethoxylates; EO-PO block copolymers, graft copolymers, addition products of ethylene oxide and fatty acid esters, kraft lignin polymers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, ethoxylated alkylphenols, and polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ethers.

7. 6. The crop nutritional composition of claim 5, wherein the dispersing agent is an anionic dispersing agent selected from one or more of sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate esters; lignin sulfonates, phenylnaphthalene sulfonates, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, lignin derivatives, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, a mixture of the sodium salt of a naphthalene sulfonate urea formaldehyde condensate and the sodium salt of a phenolsulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate, polycarboxylates, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates, sodium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, condensation products of arylsulfonic acids and formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic sulfonates, and sodium alkylaryl sulfonates.

8. 10. The crop nutritional composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more agriculturally acceptable excipients selected from one or more of fillers or carriers or diluents, spreading agents, colorants, anti-caking agents, disintegrants, binders, buffers or pH adjusters or neutralizing agents, pigments, stabilizers, anti-foaming or defoaming agents, penetrating agents, UV absorbers, structuring agents, humectants, adhesives, anti-freeze or freezing point depressants, chelating or complexing or sequestering agents, preservatives or bactericides or antifungals or biocides or antibacterial agents or antioxidants.

9. 10. The crop nutritional composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous suspension composition further comprises a structuring agent selected from one or more of a thickening agent, a suspending agent or suspending aid, a viscosity or rheology modifier, a tackifier, and an anti-settling agent.

10. 10. The crop nutritional composition of claim 9, wherein the structuring agent is present in the range of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

11. 10. The crop nutrition composition of claim 1, wherein the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 30%.

12. 10. The crop nutrition composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has a suspendability of at least 30%.

13. 10. The crop nutrition composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous suspension composition has a viscosity of 150 cps to 2000 cps at 25°C.

14. 2. The crop nutritional composition of claim 1, further comprising elemental molybdenum, or a salt or derivative thereof, or a mixture thereof, wherein the composition has an elemental molybdenum content in the range of 0.001 to 10% by weight of the total composition.

15. 10. A process for the preparation of a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules according to claim 1, comprising: A. i. one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; ii. one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; iii. one or more surfactants; in water to obtain a slurry or wet mix; B. drying the slurry or wet mix to obtain granules; Including, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition having an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. A process characterized by:

16. 10. A process for the preparation of a crop nutritional composition in the form of an aqueous suspension according to claim 1, comprising: i. one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; ii. one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; iii. one or more surfactants; in water to obtain a homogeneous suspension having a particle size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns; the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition having an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; The surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition. A process characterized by:

17. 10. The crop nutrition composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is at least one of a fertilizer composition, a nutrient composition, a crop supplement composition, a soil conditioner composition, and a yield enhancer composition.

18. 10. A method for improving plant health or yield, comprising treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, a location or plant part thereof, a seed, a seedling, or surrounding soil with the crop nutritional composition of claim 1.

19. i. one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts or derivatives thereof; ii. one or more water-soluble potassium salts or derivatives thereof; iii. one or more surfactants; 1. A method for treating plants and meeting their nutritional requirements by enhancing magnesium and potassium uptake by applying a crop nutritional composition comprising: the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or an aqueous suspension, the composition having an elemental magnesium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the composition having an elemental potassium content in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition; the surfactant is in the range of 0.1 to 40% by weight of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. A method characterized by:

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