Biologically active potassium fertilizer

Abstract

Biologically active mineral potassium fertilizer, comprising potassium chloride, bentonite and a bacterial biopreparation containing microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Azotobacter, Cellulomonas and Pseudomonas, as well as a nutrient medium for bacteria, which is an alkaline extract of organic substances of plant origin from caustobiolites of the coal series.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of agriculture and agrochemistry. Specifically, it relates to the development and production of complex fertilizers for improving soil fertility, stimulating plant growth and development, and increasing their resistance to abiotic and biotic stress. The utility model in question is a biologically active potassium fertilizer with a high content of available potassium, enriched with viable, agronomically beneficial microorganisms in high concentrations, and exhibiting long-term efficacy and soil-improving properties.

[0002] Currently, conventional potassium fertilizers such as potassium chloride (KCl) and potassium sulfate (K2SO4) are commonly used in agriculture to supply plants with potassium. Potassium chloride is the most concentrated and readily available source of potassium, containing up to 60–62% K2O. However, its significant disadvantage is its high chlorine content (up to 47%), which can be toxic to chlorine-sensitive crops (e.g., potatoes, tobacco, grapes, and some vegetables and berries), inhibit the development of beneficial soil microflora, and, with prolonged use, lead to soil salinization. Potassium sulfate contains no chlorine and is a good source of potassium and sulfur. However, it is significantly more expensive than potassium chloride, which limits its widespread use. Furthermore, like potassium chloride, potassium sulfate has no biological activity of its own and does not contribute organic matter to the soil.

[0003] Combined fertilizers based on mineral fertilizers and microbiological preparations are known in the prior art. For example, patent RU 2512277 C1 proposes a method for producing biologically active mineral fertilizers, which involves combining microbial biomass in the form of dry powder with a titer of 102-105 μl / g or liquid with a titer of 104-107 μl / g with dry or liquid mineral fertilizers. The dosage of such microbial additives is 1-6 kg per ton of fertilizer. The disadvantage of this approach is the relatively low titer of microorganisms in the initial additive and, consequently, their low titer in the final fertilizer, which in turn does not allow for effective colonization of the plant rhizosphere. Furthermore, this solution does not describe any special measures to protect microorganisms in the aggressive environment of mineral salts and during storage of the final product.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to create an easy-to-use, stable form of potassium fertilizer that includes the advantages of a highly effective biological preparation and ensures long-term action and protection of biologically active components under the conditions of a soil environment.

[0005] The object of the present utility model is to produce a biologically active mineral potassium fertilizer combining a high content of available potassium with a complex bacterial biopreparation.

[0006] The problem is solved by the biologically active mineral potash fertilizer according to the present utility model.

[0007] The said potassium fertilizer contains potassium chloride as a source of potassium, bentonite as a structure-forming, binding, protective and effect-prolonging component and a bacterial biopreparation as a complex bacterial biopreparation containing microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Azotobacter, Cellulomonas and Pseudomonas and a nutrient medium for bacteria, which is an alkaline extract of organic substances of plant origin from caustobiolites of the coal series.

[0008] Potassium chloride (KCl) is used as an economically available and highly concentrated source of potassium. Its content in the fertilizer according to the present utility model is 20-85 wt.%, with the preferred range being 80-85 wt.%, resulting in a fertilizer with a total K2O content of approximately 48-51%.

[0009] Bentonite is present in an amount of 10-60 wt.% and fulfills the following functions: - binding: ensures the formation of solid granules (e.g. 2-5 mm in size); - stabilizing and protective: forms a protective matrix for the microorganisms of the bacterial biopreparation, protecting them from osmotic stress caused by KCl, mechanical damage during granulation, dehydration during drying (≤48°C) and storage; - sorbing and prolonging effect: promotes the retention and gradual release of nutrients and components of the bacterial biopreparation; - soil improving: improves soil structure and the soil's ability to retain moisture.

[0010] The bacterial biopreparation is the main bioactive component of the fertilizer according to the present utility model and contains microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Azotobacter, Cellulomonas, and Pseudomonas, as well as a nutrient medium for bacteria, which is an alkaline extract of organic substances of plant origin from caustobiolites of the coal series. This biopreparation may also contain trace elements. The biopreparation is included in the fertilizer according to the present utility model in an amount that ensures a content of viable cells of the agronomically useful microbial biomass in the final dried granules of the fertilizer of at least 107 CFU / g.

[0011] The composition of the mentioned biopreparation includes: - agronomically useful microbial biomass: a consortium of microorganisms comprising bacteria of the genera Bacillus, Azotobacter, Cellulomonas, Pseudomonas and optionally other bacteria, with a total concentration of the main genera of at least 1×109 CFU / ml in the starting extract; - Humic substances: including humic acids (3.0-7.0 wt.% in the extract), fulvic acids (2.0-5.0 wt.%) and amino acids (3.0-6.0 wt.%), as well as optional macro- and trace elements.

[0012] The biologically active potassium fertilizer according to the present utility model ensures: - a high titre (at least 107 CFU / g) of viable, agronomically useful microbial biomass directly in each granule of the finished product; - effective protection of the microbial component and preservation of the activity of humic substances during production (including granulation and drying at a temperature not exceeding 48°C), during storage and in a soil environment with high salt concentration (caused by potassium chloride); - long-lasting release of nutrients and biologically active components; - improving the agrophysical, agrochemical and biological properties of the soil and increasing the efficiency of potassium assimilation by plants; - convenient form of fertilizer for application and spreading by standard agricultural machinery.

[0013] The technological process for the production of biologically active potassium fertilizer according to the present utility model includes the following stages: In the first step, the dry components of the fertilizer according to the present utility model - potassium chloride and bentonite - are thoroughly mixed. In a second step, the bacterial biopreparation is produced, whereby: 1) the caustobiolites of the coal series are crushed and the resulting raw material is mixed with water, 2) the organic substances from the mixture obtained in step (1) are extracted by adding potassium hydroxide to this mixture, 3) the extraction reaction from step (2) is neutralised by adding oxidised lignite or peat, thereby obtaining a nutrient medium for the proliferation of the microorganisms, and 4) the culture medium and the microorganism mixture obtained in step (3) are introduced into a bioreactor and incubated to obtain a liquid bacterial biopreparation.

[0014] To carry out the described process for producing a bacterial biopreparation, the coal-series caustobiolites are selected from a group comprising peat, fossil coals, shale, shungite, and combinations thereof. The raw material is ground to a particle size of 1 to 200 µm. In the mixing step (1), the ratio of ground coal-series caustobiolites to water is 1:5 (coal-series caustobiolites to water). The extraction in step (2) is carried out in a stirred vessel for 3 hours at a temperature of approximately 80°C and a stirrer speed of approximately 90 rpm. Potassium hydroxide is added until a pH of 9 is reached. Lignite or peat is added in step (3) until a pH of 7.8 is reached. Neutralization in step (3) is preferably carried out by adding oxidized lignite. The duration of step (3) is about 2 hours.In addition, trace elements selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese, iodine, boron, selenium, and combinations thereof are added to the nutrient medium obtained in step (3). The mixture of microorganisms introduced in step (4) can be obtained beforehand by propagating the microorganisms on a substrate containing a nutrient medium suitable for their propagation. The incubation of the microorganisms in step (4) takes place at a temperature of 28 to 32°C, with a stirrer speed of the bioreactor of 180 rpm, and an air flow rate of 1 liter of air per 1 liter of nutrient medium introduced into the reactor for 48 hours.

[0015] The described process results in a bacterial biopreparation containing microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Azotobacter, Cellulomonas, and Pseudomonas and a bacterial nutrient medium consisting of an alkaline extract of organic substances of plant origin from carbonaceous caustobiolites. This biopreparation may additionally contain microorganisms of the genus selected from the group comprising Agrobacterium, Azospizillum, Amonas, Cellulosimicrobiome, Geobacillus, Rhizobium, Arthrobacter, Verticillium, Beijerinckia, Lactobacillus, Cytophaga, Archangium, Sorangium, Polimiqsa, Cellvibrio, Clostridium, Micromonosporzoachalcea, Streptomyces, Cellulosea, Stpeptosporangium, Trichoderma, Aspergilus, and combinations thereof. The dry matter content in the biopreparation is 10.0 to 20.0 wt.%, preferably 15.0 wt.%, and the content of organic substances in the biopreparation is 2.5 to 15.0 wt.%, preferably 12.5 wt.%.The organic substances contained in the biopreparation are humic acids, fulvic acids, and amino acids. The humic acids are contained in an amount of 3.0 to 7.0 wt.%, preferably 5.0 wt.%, the fulvic acids in an amount of 2.0 to 5.0 wt.%, preferably 3.0 wt.%, and the amino acids in an amount of 3.0 to 6.0 wt.%, preferably 4.5 wt.%. In a preferred embodiment, the biopreparation can additionally contain macroelements selected from the group comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and combinations thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the macroelements are contained in the biopreparation in the following amounts: 0.5 to 3.0 wt.%, preferably 1.5 wt.%, nitrogen; 0.5 wt.% or less, preferably 0.01 wt.%, phosphorus; 4.0 to 8.0 wt.%, preferably 6.0 wt.%, potassium; 0.02 to 0.1 wt.%, preferably 0.05 wt.%, magnesium.Likewise, the biopreparation may additionally optionally contain trace elements selected from the group comprising copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese, iodine, boron, selenium, and combinations thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, trace elements are contained in the biopreparation in the following amounts: 10 to 20 mg / kg, preferably 15 mg / kg, copper; 100 to 130 mg / kg, preferably 120 mg / kg, zinc; 1.5 to 3.0 mg / kg, preferably 2.17 mg / kg, cobalt; 15 to 25 mg / kg, preferably 20 mg / kg, molybdenum; 15 to 25 mg / kg, preferably 20 mg / kg, manganese; and 5 to 15 mg / kg, preferably 10 mg / kg, selenium.

[0016] In a third stage, the liquid bacterial biopreparation obtained in the second stage is added to the dry mass obtained in the first stage until the components are completely and evenly mixed.

[0017] In a fourth step, the moistened mass is granulated (e.g. by extrusion or rolling) to a granulate size of 2-5 mm.

[0018] In a fifth stage, the produced granules are dried at a temperature not exceeding 48 °C, to a moisture content of not more than 5-8%. These temperature conditions are crucial for the viability of the microorganisms.

[0019] Based on the above, the biologically active potassium fertilizer according to the present utility model can be produced by a process in which: 1) dry fertilizer components are mixed, which according to the present utility model are potassium chloride and bentonite, and 2) the liquid bacterial biopreparation is added until the components are completely and evenly mixed, wherein said liquid bacterial biopreparation is prepared by a process comprising the following steps: a) Grinding the caustobiolites of the coal series and mixing the resulting raw material with water, b) extracting the organic substances from the mixture obtained in step (1) by adding potassium hydroxide to this mixture, c) neutralising the extraction reaction from step (2) by adding oxidised lignite or peat, thereby obtaining the nutrient medium for the proliferation of microorganisms, and d) introducing the nutrient medium and the mixture of microorganisms obtained in step (3) into a bioreactor and obtaining a liquid bacterial biopreparation by incubation.

[0020] The above-mentioned process for producing the biologically active potassium fertilizer according to the present utility model may additionally include the following steps: 3) Granulation of the moistened mass (e.g. by extrusion or rolling) to a granulate size of 2-5 mm, and 4) Drying of the produced granules at a temperature not exceeding 48 °C, to a moisture content not exceeding 5-8%.

[0021] The result of all the above steps is a granulated biologically active potassium fertilizer with a unique composition: KCl, bentonite, and a dual-action bacterial biopreparation containing humates and a high concentration of beneficial microorganisms. The granulated form of the fertilizer protects the microorganisms in the bentonite matrix in the presence of a high KCl concentration. The gentle low-temperature drying technology allows for a high titer (no less than 107 CFU / g) of viable microorganisms to be maintained in the final product. The stated properties of the fertilizer according to the present utility model ensure its complex and long-lasting effect.

[0022] The proposed granulated biologically active potassium fertilizer is intended for widespread use in agriculture for main application, pre-sowing application, and top dressing of various crops (cereals, industrial crops, vegetables, fruits and berries, fodder, and ornamental plants). The fertilizer is particularly effective on soils with low levels of available potassium and organic matter, under dry conditions, and on chlorine-sensitive crops. The granulated form allows for convenient application and long-term effectiveness. The use of the fertilizer according to the present utility model contributes to increasing yield and production quality, improving soil fertility, and plant resistance to stress.

[0023] The examples listed below describe one of the embodiments of the utility model, but do not limit it.

[0024] To confirm the effectiveness of the fertilizer according to the present utility model, laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate its biological activity on cucumber seeds of the "Competitor" variety in Petri dishes. The experimental methodology was adapted to the standard GOST R 54221-2010. The titer of microorganisms in the fertilizer, determined according to the requirements of GOST R 54653-2011, was 1.5 × 107 CFU / g.

[0025] To obtain comparative data, the following processing groups were used: 1. Water (control) 2. KCI solution 3. K2SO4 solution 4. KCI solution + bacterial biopreparation included in the fertilizer composition according to the present utility model (without bentonite, non-granulated) 5. KCl solution + suspension of a mixed microbial biomass (a mixture of Bacillus subtilis and Azotobacter chroococcum with a total titer comparable to that of the above-mentioned bacterial biopreparation). 6. Fertilizer suspension according to the present utility model.

[0026] The K2O concentration was adjusted with potassium (2-6) (50 mg / l) in all treatments. Root length, raw weight, and leaf area of ​​a plant were evaluated over 7 days. Experimental results: Root length, mm (M±m) Weight of the plant, mg (M±m) AreaLeaf area, cm 2 (M±m) Biological activity (by weight), % to control 1. Water (control) 25,0 ± 1,3 42,0 ± 2,0 3,5 ± 0,2 100% 2. Potassium chloride (KCl) 21,0 ± 1,1 35,0 ± 2,0 3,1 ± 0,2 83% 3. Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) 24,0 ± 1,4 38,0 ± 3,0 3,3 ± 0,3 90% 4. KCI + bacterial biopreparation 27,0 ± 1,2 46,0 ± 2,0 4,0 ± 0,3 110% 5. KCl + microbial biomass 29,0 ± 1,5 51,0 ± 3,0 4,2 ± 0,4 121% 6. Fertilizer suspension according to the present utility model 33,0 ± 1,6 59,0 ± 3,0 4,8 ± 0,4 140%

[0027] The differences between Group 6 and all other groups were statistically plausible (p < 0.05). The fertilizer according to the present utility model showed an increase in root length of approximately 57.1% and plant weight of approximately 68.6% compared to pure KCl, demonstrating the high biological activity and synergistic effect of the composition. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] RU 2512277 C1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Biologically active mineral potassium fertilizer, comprising potassium chloride, bentonite and a bacterial biopreparation containing microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Azotobacter, Cellulomonas and Pseudomonas, as well as a nutrient medium for bacteria, which is an alkaline extract of organic substances of plant origin from caustobiolites of the coal series. [2] Biologically active mineral potassium fertilizer according to claim 1, wherein the bacterial biopreparation additionally contains microorganisms of a genus selected from the group comprising Agrobacterium, Azospizillum, Amonas, Cellulosimicrobiom, Geobacillus, Rhizobium, Arthrobacter, Verticillium, Beijerinckia, Lactobacillus, Cytophaga, Archangium, Sorangium, Polimiqsa, Cellvibrio, Clostridium, Micromonosporzoachalcea, Streptomyces, Cellulosea, Stpeptosporangium, Trichoderma, Aspergilus and combinations thereof. [3] Biologically active mineral potassium fertilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nutrient medium contained in the bacterial biopreparation is an alkaline extract of organic substances of plant origin from caustobiolites of the coal series selected from the group comprising peat, lignite, leonardite and sapropel. [4] Biologically active mineral potassium fertilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in the form of granules, containing the said components in the following proportions, wt.%: 20-85% by weight potassium chloride (KCl), 10-60 wt.% bentonite, the rest up to 100 wt.% of the bacterial biopreparation, which ensures the content of viable cells of microorganisms in the fertilizer granules in a titer of not less than 107 CFU / g.