Nutritional composition of crops containing magnesium and zinc

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crop nutrition composition in the form of water-dispersible granules, comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in the range of 5% to 80% w / w of the total composition, and one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition, elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and the granules of the composition comprise particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the crop nutrition composition and to a method for treating plants, seeds, crops, plant propagation material, locus, plant part, or soil with the crop nutrition composition.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules, comprising a homogeneous mixture of effective amounts of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, and one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, along with one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients. The water-dispersible granule composition of the present invention comprises particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a water-dispersible granular composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in the range of 5% to 80% w / w of the total composition, and one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, together with one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients, wherein the elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and the elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0003] The present invention relates to a method of improving plant health or enhancing nutrient uptake by a plant or plant yield by treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, location, plant part, seed, seedling, or surrounding soil with a water-dispersible granular composition of the present invention. [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 crop growth and development. Poor and insufficient availability of nutrients to plants results in a lack of proper growth and physiological development. As a result, plants become more susceptible to pest attacks. Other problems related to agriculture are environmental conditions such as drought, biotic and abiotic stress, poor soil conditions, or nutrient depletion in the soil, which leads to reduced yield and quality of agricultural products. Therefore, providing sufficient and balanced nutrition in a manner that maximizes nutrient uptake by plants, along with protection for crops, remains a major challenge. Optimizing soil conditions and managing crop nutrient use have long been felt by farmers to improve crop nutrient use efficiency. Significant research is being conducted to improve soil and plant health, provide better economic benefits to farmers, and reduce the environmental burden due to the widespread use of synthetic pesticides.

[0006] In parallel, hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiencies are widespread throughout the population on all major continents, contributing substantially to the global disease burden. Among the micronutrient deficiencies commonly afflicting people worldwide, 17.3% of the world's population is at risk of inadequate zinc intake (Ashish Sharma, Babita Patni, et al., 2012). One of the main underlying causes of this is unbalanced fertilization practices. Excessive and injudicious application of nutrients can cause serious imbalances and antagonisms, resulting in nutrient-deficient agricultural products. Therefore, growing large quantities of food while maintaining quality in terms of nutrient content is a very difficult and challenging task.

[0007] The role of micronutrients as essential elements required by plants for growth and reproduction has long been known. Micronutrients play an important role in balancing crop nutrition. It is also known that optimal levels of nutrients are required for normal plant function and growth, and any fluctuations in nutrient levels can disrupt overall crop growth, impair its health through either deficiency or toxicity, and ultimately affect essential nutrients in the human diet. It is estimated that nearly 2 billion people suffer from deficiencies in micronutrients, such as iron and zinc, due to low mineral and nutrient availability in soil and / or low mineral and element accumulation and / or bioavailability in the edible parts of crops (Graham et al., 2012; "How much nutritional iron deficiency in humans globally is due to an underlying zinc deficiency"). Furthermore, poor availability of fertilizers or nutrients to plants also leads to a lack of proper growth, making plants more susceptible to pest attack.

[0008] In addition to low concentrations of essential micronutrients in soil, one of the underlying causes of deficiency is the low availability of micronutrients in their oxidized form to plant roots. Other factors that limit the availability of essential nutrients from the soil include leaching of water-soluble nutrients by rain and irrigation, variable carbonate levels in the soil, soil salinity, soil moisture, soil alkalinity, low temperatures, and the concentrations of other elements that lead to micronutrient deficiencies, i.e., "competing trace elements." Furthermore, the ability of plants to respond to micronutrient availability ultimately affects human nutrition, both in terms of crop yield and micronutrient concentrations in edible tissues. Therefore, proper nutrition is crucial for optimizing plant nutrition and metabolism, which in turn contributes to overall crop yield and quality and a nutrient-rich human diet.

[0009] Magnesium (Mg) is an essential key element 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 sun's energy needed for photosynthesis. Magnesium also helps activate specific enzyme systems involved in normal plant metabolism. Additionally, it is required for cell division and protein formation and is an essential component for plant respiration.

[0010] Magnesium availability in soil depends on several factors, including the source rock material, its mobility in the soil, degree of weathering, local climate, and specific agricultural systems and management practices, such as crop type, crop intensity, crop rotation, and fertilizer application practices. Due to its high mobility within plants, magnesium deficiency symptoms first appear in lower and older leaves, after which symptoms become visible in younger leaves. Symptoms appear as yellow leaves around the margins with green veins (i.e., interveinal chlorosis). Purple, red, or brown spots may also appear on leaves. Magnesium and its importance in crop production and agriculture, despite being an essential element for plant growth and development, has been overlooked for some time due to the fact that potential magnesium deficiency is difficult to detect. Magnesium deficiency, due to low levels of exchangeable magnesium (ex-Mg) in acidic soils, is a frequent limiting factor in crop production, negatively impacting the sustainability of agricultural development. Magnesium deficiency is an inherent problem in acidic soils due to high soil saturation, cation exchange capacity with H+ ions, and the resulting long-term magnesium leaching and impaired Mg uptake. The most important agronomic tool for addressing soil acidity to combat magnesium deficiency is liming. However, depending on the type of lime, significant amounts of magnesium and calcium reach the soil, which can then interfere with the uptake of other cations, such as zinc and iron, through antagonistic effects. Magnesium deficiency is further enhanced in soils dominated by long-term NPK fertilizer practices, which have caused significant decreases in soil pH. Therefore, agricultural soils with good magnesium status are a prerequisite for ensuring magnesium uptake by crop roots and its transport to the edible parts of the plant or crop, which ultimately provides humans with nutritious food.

[0011] Zinc (Zn) has also long been known for its role as an essential micronutrient. It is responsible for driving many metabolic reactions in crops and is a key component of several enzymes and proteins critical for plant development. Zinc activates enzymes responsible for the synthesis of certain proteins. It is used in the formation of chlorophyll and some carbohydrates, and in the conversion of starch to sugar, and its presence in plant tissues helps plants tolerate cold temperatures. Zinc is an essential element in the formation of auxins, which aid in growth regulation and stem elongation.

[0012] However, zinc is immobile in the soil, causing deficiency symptoms to develop in new leaves. Typically, symptoms manifest as chlorosis of new leaves in several different patterns (often interveinal), and necrotic spots may form on the leaf margins or tips, resulting in the formation of smaller, often upward-cupped or distorted leaves. Symptoms also include poor bud development, resulting in reduced flowering and branching, short internodes, and giving the plant a rosette-like appearance. Carbohydrate, protein, and chlorophyll formation are significantly reduced in zinc-deficient plants. Zinc deficiency in soil is further due to a number of soil factors that affect its availability to plants, such as neutral to alkaline soil conditions, high bicarbonate or magnesium concentrations in the soil, high phosphate levels, and high calcium carbonate content in the soil [P. Arunachalam, P. Kannan et al., 2012; "Zinc deficiency in Indian soils with special focus to enrich zinc in peanuts"]. Furthermore, excess phosphorus (in acidic soils due to long-term application of NPK fertilizers) is known to sequester zinc and limit its availability [Ramiro Recena, Antonio Delgado et al., 2021; "Zinc uptake by plants as affected by fertilization with Zn sulfate, phosphorus availability, and soil properties"]. Furthermore, acid soil management practices involve the use of lime to balance or increase soil pH, but excessive liming can cause zinc deficiency along with other micronutrients such as iron, boron, etc. There is a strong correlation between soil Zn status and human Zn deficiency levels, so a constant and continuous supply of zinc is required for optimal growth and maximum yield.

[0013] Moreover, unbalanced fertilization practices are further exacerbating zinc and magnesium deficiencies, affecting their availability in crops and ultimately interfering with the human diet. In India, approximately 25% of the total population suffers from zinc deficiency. The prevalence of nutritional stunting due to zinc deficiency is approximately 47.9% in children under five years of age, compared to 33% in the global population.

[0014] Therefore, it is essential to apply balanced amounts of the most limiting nutrients, especially zinc and magnesium, to crops at different stages and also at the final harvest to obtain the highest yield while minimizing nutrient losses, and to address hidden hunger and nutrient deficiencies in humans.

[0015] Although the benefits of micronutrients are well known, their deficiency has become widespread in most agricultural regions of the world over the past few decades, resulting in micronutrients being identified as limiting factors for improving plant growth, high yields and fertilizer efficiency.

[0016] In addition, interactions between plant nutrients can be either antagonistic or synergistic, depending on the mixture of elements and their composition, concentration, etc., which can affect nutrient utilization efficiency. Application of excess nutrients can cause plants to experience "nutrient antagonism," whereby an excess of a particular element blocks the absorption of another element needed by the plant. This can occur with elements of similar size and charge (positive or negative), which can result in a deficiency in the plant. Some of the most common antagonisms are iron blocking zinc, manganese (or vice versa), magnesium blocking calcium (or vice versa), phosphorus blocking both zinc and iron, and potassium blocking both magnesium and calcium. One paper reporting antagonism between iron and zinc is titled "Effects of Zinc on Translocation of Iron in Soybean Plants," by Ambler, JE, Brown, JC, et al., 1970. Another reason for deficiency in plants is "binding," which occurs when elements mix and bind together to form compounds that are insoluble and cannot be absorbed by plant roots. Furthermore, antagonism between zinc and magnesium has been reported. One paper, titled "Effects of Nutrient Antagonism and Synergism on Yield and Fertilizer Use Efficiency; Rene PJJ Rietra, Marius Heinen, et al.; 2017," reports antagonism between zinc and magnesium. Therefore, given the Zn-Mg antagonism, developing agricultural compositions that can overcome this problem and successfully meet the nutritional requirements of plants and ultimately humans has always been challenging.

[0017] Agricultural compositions containing combinations of micronutrients are known in the art mainly in the form of powders or dusts, in which the micronutrients are mixed or blended together. However, such powder-based compositions may lead to inhomogeneous or heterogeneous mixtures of active substances, which may be undesirable in terms of application and poor uptake of nutrients by plants. Powder compositions not only have problems with practical application, such as dust generation, but also pose risks to users, mainly due to eye irritation, inhalation risk, 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 suspendability, leading to random and non-uniform distribution of active ingredients in the target area, which may cause undesirable effects and pose problems in the effective delivery of nutrients to plants or crops, and they also require large amounts to be used.

[0018] Granular or powder compositions are known in the art that involve the use of water-soluble nutrients. However, such compositions tend to be washed away during heavy rain or irrigation, and cannot be absorbed by plants, which in turn causes groundwater pollution. As soil becomes more saline, plants are unable to absorb as much water and nutrients from the soil. This not only results in a significant decrease in efficiency, but also has serious environmental consequences.

[0019] Compositions containing fertilizer granules coated with a micronutrient mixture or water-disintegrating granules of micronutrients are also known in the art. However, such compositions are designed to release the active substance very slowly, leaving the active substance trapped in the soil for a long period of time and 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. Furthermore, water-disintegrating granular compositions suffer from a unique set of drawbacks due to uneven particle disintegration and distribution. Due to the random and uneven particle size disintegration, such compositions tend to clog nozzles when applied via dripping, making them unsuitable for use in modern irrigation systems.

[0020] Traditionally, micronutrient-based compositions have been known in the art in the form of bentonite granules or pastilles, pellets, granules prepared via melting processes, etc. Such products of micronutrient combinations in the form of granules, pellets, or pastilles are composed of 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 uneven 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. Again, these types of micronutrient compositions are only suitable for broadcast application due to their unique disadvantages due to their disintegration into larger particle sizes, namely, poor dispersion and suspendability in water, leading to nozzle clogging in spray applications and posing problems in nutrient delivery to plants or crops. Due to these drawbacks, such prior art compositions containing micronutrients have negligible commercial viability or applicability in drip or sprinkler irrigation systems, which are essential irrigation modalities in modern times due to labor and water shortages.

[0021] Furthermore, other formulations disclosed in the art may instruct people to reach liquid compositions.However, such compositions have low loadings of active substances due to the presence of a large amount of solvent as a carrier, and therefore are not very effective in meeting the nutritional requirements of plants.Also, because they are liquid, they are not feasible during the transportation of large amounts of such products. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0022] Suitable water-dispersible granular compositions containing magnesium in combination with zinc that would make them available to plants in effective amounts, thus meeting the balanced nutritional requirements of plants and addressing drawbacks such as nutrient antagonism of such compositions known in the art, are not known. [Means for solving the problem]

[0023] The present inventors have surprisingly found that the compositions of the present invention comprising magnesium and zinc are not only effective in overcoming the antagonism between these individual nutrients, but also exhibit synergistic effects.The compositions of the present invention, when formulated with specific particle sizes, have been found to make the nutrients magnesium and zinc readily available for plant uptake.

[0024] It has been observed that the composition of the present invention, which comprises a combination of water-insoluble salts, complexes or derivatives of magnesium and zinc in a specific ratio, is formulated into a water-dispersible granular form with a specific particle size distribution, and has surprising effects. It has been found that the composition of the present invention addresses the problem of nutrient antagonism in soil, i.e., between magnesium and zinc, between magnesium and potassium, etc.

[0025] It has further been observed that the composition of the present invention prevents the leaching of these nutrients, making them maximally available for uptake by crops and increasing overall yield.More surprisingly, the inventors have discovered that the composition of the present invention also addresses the difficulty in obtaining zinc due to excess phosphorus in highly acidic soils caused by the long-term application of NPK fertilizers.The composition of the present invention not only facilitates the uptake of zinc trapped in such soils, but also makes available other nutrients trapped in the soil.

[0026] It has been found that the composition of the present invention plays a crucial role in facilitating nutrient uptake, even in soils that have been degraded or whose pH has changed due to the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.In particular, the composition of the present invention surprisingly overcomes the problem of providing sufficient amounts of zinc and magnesium to crops, which has been observed due to the excessive use of NPK fertilizers, which limits the availability of magnesium and zinc.The composition of the present invention satisfies the nutritional needs of plants by providing balanced uptake of essential nutrients such as zinc and magnesium.It is even more surprising to observe that balanced uptake of nutrients 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 solution with multiple nutrients that is improved in uptake by crops in a single application.

[0027] The inventors of the present application have determined that a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, along with one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients, wherein the composition comprises particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, demonstrates excellent field efficacy.

[0028] The compositions of the present invention also exhibit excellent physical characteristics such as suspendability, dispersibility and wettability.

[0029] The present inventors have determined that a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, along with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, provides the nutrients magnesium and zinc readily available for uptake by plants, increases overall yield in a variety of crops, and improves plant physiological parameters.

[0030] The water-dispersible granular compositions of the present application comprise an intimate mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in a concentration range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in a concentration range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients, wherein elemental zinc is present in a range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition and elemental magnesium is present in a range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0031] Additionally, the water-dispersible granular crop nutritional composition disperses upon contact with water into particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0032] The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, together with an effective amount of one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients.

[0033] The present invention relates to a method of improving plant health or enhancing nutrient uptake by a plant or plant yield by treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, location, plant part, seed, seedling, or surrounding soil with a water-dispersible granular composition of the present invention.

[0034] Because they exhibit excellent physical characteristics such as suspendability, dispersibility and wetting, the compositions of the present invention also find direct use in micro-irrigation or drip irrigation systems. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] 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 is 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 percentages of components in the composition are presented as weight percents of the total weight of the composition. Furthermore, the active doses of zinc and magnesium in the composition applied in field experiments are those of elemental zinc and magnesium.

[0036] The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The terms "including" and / or "having," as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).

[0037] The terms "plants" or "crops" as used in this application are interchangeable and wherever the term "plants" is used it shall also refer to vegetation of a similar nature, i.e., crops, trees, shrubs, herbs, etc.

[0038] The term "derivatives" as used in this application also encompasses zinc-containing minerals, magnesium-containing minerals, and the like.

[0039] The term "salt" as used in this application also encompasses compounds containing zinc and magnesium. Zinc compounds can include zinc oxide, and magnesium compounds can include magnesium oxide.

[0040] Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is defined as a measure of how well a plant uses available 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] The present invention relates to a composition for crop nutrition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof and one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient.

[0044] The water-dispersible granular composition of the present invention comprises a homogeneous mixture of 5% to 80% by weight of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, 1% to 50% by weight of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, and at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein the elemental zinc is present in a range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and the elemental magnesium is present in a range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. Furthermore, when added to water, the crop nutritional composition disperses into fine particles within a size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, exhibiting improved dispersibility and suspendability. In one embodiment, the pesticidal excipient is a surfactant.

[0045] The inventors have surprisingly found that the composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules containing magnesium and zinc together is not only effective but also synergistic. The inventors have also noted that application of the composition results in greater and balanced uptake of nutrients.

[0046] It has been observed that surprising effects are noticed when the compositions of the present invention, which comprise a combination of water-insoluble salts, complexes, or derivatives of magnesium and zinc in specific ratios, are formulated into a water-dispersible granular form with a specific particle size distribution.

[0047] More surprisingly, the present inventors have discovered that the composition of the present invention also addresses the difficulty in obtaining zinc due to the presence of excess competing nutrients, such as phosphorus, in highly acidic soils caused by the long-term application of NPK fertilizers.The composition of the present invention not only facilitates the uptake of zinc trapped in such soils, but also makes available other nutrients trapped in the soil.It has further been observed that the composition of the present invention prevents the leaching of these nutrients, making them available to the maximum extent possible for uptake by crops, and increasing overall yield.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 5.0 mm. According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 4.0 mm. According to further embodiments, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 3.0 mm. Preferably, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 2.5 mm. Preferably, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 2 mm. Preferably, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm. Preferably, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, the granules of which are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 1 mm. More preferably, the crop nutritional composition is in the form of water dispersible granules, the granules being in the size range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition composition in the form of water-dispersible granules disperses into particles within a size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns when added to water, preferably within a size range of 0.1 microns to 25 microns, and more preferably within a size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. It has further been observed that when the composition of the present invention is formulated with a specific particle size of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, it makes the nutrients magnesium and zinc 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 the crop nutrition composition is important not only from the standpoint of ease of application, but also from the standpoint of efficacy.

[0050] According to another embodiment, the crop nutritional composition of the present invention in the form of a water-dispersible granule comprises particles having a particle size distribution with a D50 of about 20 microns, more preferably the water-dispersible granule comprises particles having a particle size distribution with a D50 of about 10 microns.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the water-dispersible granular crop nutritional composition is in the form of microgranules, where the granules disperse into fine particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0052] According to certain embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, zinc sulfide, zinc molybdate, zinc phosphate, zinc nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), zinc borate, zinc silicate, zinc pyrophosphate, zinc citrate, complexes or derivatives thereof, however, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0053] According to certain embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, or derivative thereof comprises one or more zinc-containing minerals selected from, but not limited to, zinc ores including one or more of periclase, danbaite, ashobelite, sphalerite, and wurtzite. However, the above list of ores or minerals is exemplary and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0054] According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 10% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 5% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 3% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 3% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 3% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 3% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 3% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0056] According to a further embodiment, the water-insoluble zinc salt, complex, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 45% by weight of the total composition.

[0057] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of magnesium molybdate, magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia), calcium magnesium phosphate, magnesium triphosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium aluminum silicate, calcium magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium silicate, magnesium oxide, complexes or derivatives thereof. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, derivatives or mixtures thereof may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0058] According to certain embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, or derivative thereof comprises one or more magnesium-containing minerals selected from, but not limited to, magnesium ores including one or more of periclase, hydrotalcite, ceraite, serrite, pertsevite, suanite, magnesite, seiberite, and neighborite. However, the above list of ores or minerals is exemplary and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0060] According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 70% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 60% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 5% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0061] According to another embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in the range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and one or more surfactants in the range of 1% to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0062] According to one embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule comprises a homogenous mixture of one or more of magnesium oxide or magnesium silicate or magnesium carbonate or magnesium phosphate or magnesium hydroxide in the range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition and one or more of zinc oxide or zinc carbonate or zinc silicate or zinc hydroxide or zinc phosphate in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, together with one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients, wherein the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0063] According to one embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule comprises a homogeneous mixture of one or more of magnesium oxide or magnesium silicate or magnesium carbonate or magnesium phosphate or magnesium hydroxide in the range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition, one or more of zinc oxide or zinc carbonate or zinc silicate or zinc hydroxide or zinc phosphate in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, plus one or more surfactants in the range of 1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, wherein the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0064] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition may further comprise at least one additional water-insoluble plant nutrient.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the additional water-insoluble plant nutrients are present in the range of 0.01% to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0066] According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition lacks fertilizers composed primarily of alginic acid, urea, humic acid, phosphorus pentoxide, or sulfur, or other conventional fertilizers.

[0067] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition lacks water-insoluble iron or boron salts or complexes or derivatives thereof.

[0068] According to one embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule comprises a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in the range of 5% to 80% by weight of the total composition and one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, together with one or more pesticidally acceptable excipients, wherein the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, and the composition is devoid of one or more water-insoluble iron salts or their complexes or derivatives.

[0069] According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule contains at least one pesticidal excipient. According to further embodiments, the pesticidal excipient used in the water-dispersible granule formulation includes at least one wetting agent, surfactant, emulsifier, dispersant, hydrocolloid, binder or filler or carrier or diluent, disintegrant, buffer or pH adjuster or neutralizer, anti-foaming agent, anti-settling agent, anti-caking agent, penetrating agent, adhesive, tackifier, pigment, colorant, stabilizer, and mixtures thereof. According to some embodiments, the surfactant includes one or more of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, and polymeric surfactants. According to some embodiments, the surfactant includes one or more of emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersants. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that additional pesticidal excipients can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Pesticidal excipients are commercially produced and available through various companies.

[0070] In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of 0.01% to 94% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of 0.01% to 90% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 94% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 90% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 75% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 55% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 35% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 25% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 15% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 5% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 1% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 0.1% by weight of the total composition.

[0071] 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, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, and polymeric surfactants.

[0072] Anionic surfactants include salts of fatty acids, benzoates, polycarboxylates, salts of alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkylaryl sulfates, alkyl diglycol ether sulfates, salts of alcohol sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, aryl sulfonates, lignin sulfonates, alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates, polystyrene sulfonates, salts of alkyl phosphates, alkylaryl phosphates, styrylaryl phosphates, and sulfonate docusates. Docusates), salts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether sulfates, alkyl sarcosinates, sodium alpha-olefin sulfonates, alkylbenzene sulfonates or their salts, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sulfosuccinates, polyacrylates, polyacrylates - free acid and sodium salts, salts of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates, salts of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl phosphate esters, sulfosuccinates - mono- and other diesters, phosphate esters, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates - isopropyl and butyl derivatives, alkyl ether sulfates - sodium and ammonium salts;Alkyl aryl ether phosphates, ethylene oxide and its derivatives, salts of polyoxyethylene aryl ether phosphate esters, mono-alkyl sulfosuccinates, aromatic hydrocarbon sulfonates, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, ammonium lauryl sulfate, docusate salts, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, magnesium laureth sulfate, phospholipids, potassium lauryl sulfate, soap, soap substitutes, sodium alkyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium laurate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate The surfactants and / or surfactants may include, but are not limited to, one or more of sodium, myreth sulfate, sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, alkyl carboxylates, sodium stearate, alpha olefin sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate fatty acid salts, naphthalene sulfonate condensates-sodium salts, fluorocarboxylates, fatty alcohol sulfates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate condensates-sodium salts, naphthalene sulfonate condensates-sodium salts, salts of naphthalene sulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde or alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde, salts or derivatives thereof;

[0073] Nonionic surfactants include polyol esters, polyol fatty acid esters, polyethoxylated esters, polyethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols, ethoxylated and propoxylated alcohols, ethylene oxide (EO) / propylene oxide (PO) copolymers; EO and PO block copolymers, di-, tri-block copolymers; block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, poloxamers, polysorbates, alkyl polysaccharides, such as alkyl polyglucosides and mixtures thereof, amine ethoxylates, sorbitan fatty acid esters, glycol and glycerol esters, glucosidyl alkyl ethers, sodium tallow fatty acids, polyoxyethylene glycols, sorbitan alkyl esters, sorbitan derivatives, fatty acid esters of sorbitan (spans) and their ethoxylated derivatives (tweens), and sucrose esters of fatty acids. Cocamide diethanolamine (DEA), cocamide monoethanolamine (MEA), decyl glucoside, decyl polyglucose, glycerol monostearate, lauryl glucoside, maltoside, monolaurin, narrow range ethoxylates, Nonidet® P-40, nonoxynol-9, nonoxynol, octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether, N-octyl beta-D-thioglucopyranoside, octyl glucoside, oleyl alcohol, PEG- Sunflower Glycerides, Pentaethylene Glycol Monododecyl Ether, Polidocanol, Poloxamer, Poloxamer 407, Polyethoxylated Tallowamine, Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate, Polysorbate, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan, Sorbitan Monolaurate, Sorbitan Monostearate, Sorbitan Tristearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Surfactin, Glyceryl LaurateLaureate, lauryl glucoside, nonylphenol polyethoxyethanol, nonylphenol polyglycol ether, castor oil ethoxylate, polyglycol ether, polyadduct of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, block copolymer of polyalkylene glycol ether and hydroxystearic acid, tributylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, eth-propoxylated tristyrylphenol, ethoxylated alcohol, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty acid polyglyceride, fatty acid alcohol polyglycol ether, acetylene glycol, acetylene alcohol, oxyalkylene block polymer, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether, polyoxyethylene styrylaryl ether, gum arabic, karaya gum, ghatti gum (gum dhawada), larch gum, welan gum, albizia gum, taro gum, Bharat gum gum), cashew gum, cordio gum, grewea gum, hakea gum, khaya gum, kathira gum, kondagog gum, leucaena, seed gum, marsh nut gum, mucuna gum, moringa gum, neem gum, sesbanic gumgum), Polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ethers, Polyethylene glycol, Polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, Polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, Polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid esters, Alcohol ethoxylates - C6 to C16 / 18 alcohols, linear and branched, Alcohol alkoxylates - various hydrophobic substances and EO / PO content and ratio, Fatty acid esters - mono and diesters, Lauric acid, stearic acid and oleic acid, Glycerol esters - with and without EO, Lauric acid, stearic acid, Cocoa and tall Oil-derived, ethoxylated glycerin, sorbitan esters - with and without EO; lauric, stearic and oleic acid based, mono and triesters (Trimesters), castor oil ethoxylates - 5 to 200 moles EO, non-hydrogenated and hydrogenated, block polymers, amine oxides - ethoxylated and non-ethoxylated; alkyl dimethyl, fatty amine ethoxylates - coco, tallow, stearyl, oleylamine, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil or polyoxypropylene fatty acid esters, salts or derivatives thereof, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

[0074] Amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: betaine, coco and lauryl amidopropyl betaine, coco alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, alkyl dimethyl betaine, C8 to C18, sodium alkyl dipropionate-lauriminodipropionate, cocamidopropyl hydroxyl sulfobetaine, imidazoline, phospholipids phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, alkyl amphoacetates and propionates, alkyl ampho(di)acetates and di-propionates, lecithin and ethanolamine fatty amides, salts or derivatives thereof.

[0075] The surfactants include Atlas G5000, Termul 5429, Termul 2510, ECOTERIC®, EULSOGEN® 118, Genapol® X, Genapol® OX-080, Genapol® C100, Emulsogen® EL200, Arlacel P135, Hypermer 8261, Hypermer B239, Hypermer B261, Hypermer B246sf, Solutol HS15, Promulgen® D, Soprofol 7961P, Soprofol TSP / 461, Soprofol TSP / 724, and Closofen. and commercially available under the trademarks, including but not limited to, one or more of Duret 40, Etocus 200, Etocus 29, Rokacet R26, Cetomacrogol 1000, Chemonic OE-20, Triton N-101, Triton X-100, Tween 20, 40, 60, 65, 80, Span 20, 40, 60, 80, 83, 85, 120, Brij®, Atrox 4912, Atlas G5000, Thermal 3512, Thermal 3015, ECOTERIC® T85, ECOTERIC® T20, Teric 12A4, Igepal CA-630, and Isoceteth-20.

[0076] However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional surfactants may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Surfactants are commercially produced and available through a variety of companies.

[0077] 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. According to further embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0078] According to certain embodiments, the dispersant used in the crop nutritional composition is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, lignin sulfonates, phenol naphthalene sulfonates, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, lignin derivatives, dibutylnaphthalene-sulfonic acid, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acid and sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether sulfate ester salts, and the like, alkali metal salts, ammonium salts or amine salts thereof, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, or polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, mixtures of sodium salts of naphthalene sulfonate urea formaldehyde condensates and sodium salts of phenol sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, ethoxylated alkyl ethers, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether sulfate ester salts, and the like, Phenol, ethoxylated fatty acids, alkoxylated linear alcohols, polycyclic aromatic sulfonates, sodium alkylarylsulfonates, glyceryl esters, ammonium salts of maleic anhydride copolymers, maleic anhydride copolymers, phosphate esters, condensation products of arylsulfonic acids and formaldehyde, addition products of ethylene oxide and fatty acid esters, salts of addition products of ethylene oxide and fatty acid esters, sodium salt of isodecyl sulfosuccinic acid half ester, polycarboxylates, sodium alkylbenzenesulfonates , sodium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, ammonium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, salts of polyacrylic acids, sodium salts of condensed phenolsulfonic acids and naphthalenesulfonate-formaldehyde condensates, sodium naphthalenesulfonate-formaldehyde condensates, tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate esters, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl fatty acids, alkoxylated linear alcohols, polycyclic aromatic sulfonates, sodium alkylarylsulfonates, glyceryl esters, ammonium salts of maleic anhydride copolymers,The polyacrylic acid esters include, but are not limited to, one or more of maleic anhydride copolymers, phosphate esters, condensation products of aryl sulfonic acids and formaldehyde, addition products of ethylene oxide and fatty acid esters, salts of addition products of ethylene oxide and fatty acid esters, sodium salt of isodecyl sulfosuccinic acid half ester, polycarboxylates, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates, sodium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, ammonium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, salts of polyacrylic acids, sodium salts of condensed phenol sulfonic acids and naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate esters, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl ethoxylates, EO-PO block copolymers, graft copolymers, ammonium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, salts of polyacrylic acids, salts or derivatives thereof.

[0079] Commercially available dispersants include "Moluwet D425" (naphthalene sodium formaldehyde condensate, formerly Nouryon, USA), "Moluwet EFW" sulfated alkyl carboxylate and alkyl naphthalene sulfonate—sodium salt, "Tamol PP" (sodium salt of phenolsulfonic acid condensate), "Reax 80N" (sodium lignosulfonate), and "Wettol D1" sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate (formerly BASF). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known dispersants can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Dispersants are commercially manufactured and available through various companies.

[0080] In some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0081] In some embodiments, the hydrocolloids used in the present invention include water-binding colloids of natural origin, including plant, animal, or microbial origin. Hydrocolloids used in organic agricultural compositions include one or more of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, or hydrophobic hydrocolloids. In some embodiments, the hydrocolloids include one or more of gum arabic, karaya gum, ghatti gum (dawada gum), larch gum, welan gum, albizia gum, taro gum, burra gum, cashew gum, cordio gum, greweed gum, hakea gum, khaya gum, katila gum, kondagogu gum, leucaena, seed gum, marsh nut gum, mucuna gum, moringa gum, neem gum, sesbanic gum, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the hydrocolloid is an anionic hydrocolloid selected from gum arabic, gum karaya, gum ghatti, gum neem, and gum moringa. However, the above list of hydrocolloids is exemplary and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0082] In some embodiments, the hydrocolloid is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the hydrocolloid is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the hydrocolloid is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0083] In some embodiments, the wetting agent used in the crop nutritional composition may include, but is not limited to, one or more of phenol naphthalene sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonates, sodium naphthalene sulfonates, sodium salts of sulfonated alkyl carboxylates, polyoxyalkylated ethyl phenols, polyoxyethoxylated fatty alcohols, polyoxyethoxylated fatty amines, lignin derivatives, alkanesulfonates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, salts of polycarboxylic acids, salts of sulfosuccinic acid esters, alkyl polyglycol ether sulfonates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether sulfates, and alkyl sulfosuccinic acid monoesters, salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will understand that other conventionally known wetting agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Wetting agents are commercially produced and available from various companies.

[0084] In some embodiments, the humectant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the humectant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the humectant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0085] Emulsifiers used in crop nutrition compositions are Atlas G5000, Termal 5429, Termal 2510, ECOTERIC®, EMULSOGEN® 118, Genapol® X, Genapol® OX-080, Genapol® C100, Emulsogen® EL200, Arlacel P135, Hypermer 8261, Hypermer B239, Hypermer B261, Hypermer B246sf, Solutol HS15, Promulgen® D, Soprofol 7961P, Soprofol T Examples of suitable emulsifiers include, but are not limited to, one or more of SP / 461, Soprofol TSP / 724, Cloduret 40, Etcus 200, Etcus 29, Locasset R26, Chemonic OE-20, Triton® N-101, Tween 20, 40, 60, 65, 80, Span 20, 40, 60, 80, 83, 85, 120, Brij®, Triton®, Atrox 4912, Thermal 3512, Thermal 3015, Thermal 5429, Thermal 2510, ECOTERIC® T85, ECOTERIC® T20, and Teric 12A4. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional emulsifiers may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Emulsifiers are commercially available and are available through various companies.

[0086] In some embodiments, the emulsifier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the emulsifier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the emulsifier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0087] According to some embodiments, disintegrants used in the crop nutritional compositions include, but are not limited to, inorganic water-soluble salts, such as sodium chloride and nitrates; water-soluble organic compounds, such as hydroxypropyl starch, carboxymethyl starch ether, microcrystalline cellulose, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, calcium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, cellulose powder, dextrin, methacrylate copolymers, Polyplasdone® XL-10 (cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone), sulfonated styrene-isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyacrylate or methacrylate salts, starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymers, sodium or potassium bicarbonate / carbonate or their mixtures or salts with acids, such as citric acid and fumaric acid, or their salts and derivatives. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different disintegrants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Disintegrants are commercially available and are available from various companies.

[0088] According to some embodiments, the disintegrant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the disintegrant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the disintegrant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 5% w / w of the composition.

[0089] According to some embodiments, the binder or binding agent used in the crop nutritional composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of carbohydrates, such as monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, complex organic substances, lignin sulfonates, polyvinylpyrrolidone, synthetic organic polymers, or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different binders can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Binders are commercially produced and available through various companies.

[0090] According to further embodiments, the binding agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the composition. According to further embodiments, the binding agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the composition. According to further embodiments, the binding agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the composition.

[0091] 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. Carriers are commercially manufactured and available through various companies.

[0092] Solid carriers include clays such as china clay, acid clay, kaolins such as kaolinite, dickite, nakurite, and halloysite, serpentinite such as chrysotile, lizardite, antigorite, amethyst, synthetic and diatomaceous silica, montmorillonite minerals such as sodium montmorillonite, smectites such as saponite, hectorite, sauconite, hydrite, mica such as pyrophyllite, talc, pyrophyllite, muscovite, phengite, sericite, and illite, silicas such as cristobalite and quartz such as attapulgite and sepiolite, vermiculite, laponite, pumice, bauxite, hydrated alumina, perlite, heavy metals, These include natural minerals such as sodium carbonate, volclay, limestone, natural and synthetic silicates, charcoal, silica, wet-process silica, dry-process silica, calcined products of wet-process silica, surface-modified silica, mica, zeolite, diatomaceous earth, its derivatives, chalk (Omya®), fuller's earth, loess, Mirabilite, white carbon, hydrated lime, synthetic silicic acid, starch, modified starch (Pineflow, available from Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), 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 glauber's salt, potassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or derivatives or mixtures thereof. Commercially available silicates are under the Aerosil trademark, Sipernat trademarks such as Sipernat® 50S and CALFLO E, and kaolin 1777. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that different solid supports can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Solid supports are commercially manufactured and available through a variety of companies.

[0093] According to some embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 94% w / w of the composition. According to further embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 80% w / w of the composition. According to further embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 60% w / w of the composition. According to further embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the composition. According to further embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the composition.

[0094] According to some embodiments, anti-foaming or defoaming agents used in the crop nutritional compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of silica, siloxane, silicon dioxide, polydimethylsiloxane, alkyl polyacrylate, ethylene oxide / propylene oxide copolymer, polyethylene glycol, silicone oil, and magnesium stearate or derivatives thereof. Preferred anti-foaming agents include silicone emulsions (e.g., Silicon® SRE from Rhodia, Wacker, or Rhodorsil®), long-chain alcohols, fatty acids, and fluorine-containing organic compounds. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional anti-foaming agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Anti-foaming agents are commercially available and are available from various companies.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the anti-foaming agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0096] According to certain embodiments, the pH adjusters, buffers, or neutralizers used in the compositions include both organic and inorganic acids and bases, as well as mixtures thereof. According to further embodiments, the pH adjusters, buffers, or neutralizers include, but are not limited to, one or more of organic acids, inorganic acids, and alkali metal compounds or their salts or derivatives. 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 or derivatives thereof, as well as one or more of the mono-, di-, or tribasic salts of these acids or their derivatives. Alkali metal compounds include, but are not limited to, one or more of alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; alkali metal carbonates, such as sodium carbonate; alkali metal bicarbonates, such as sodium bicarbonate; and alkali metal phosphates, such as sodium phosphate, as well as mixtures thereof. According to certain embodiments, the salt of an inorganic acid includes, but is not limited to, one or more alkali metal salts, such as sodium chloride, potassium 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 pH adjusters, buffers, or neutralizers. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known pH adjusters, buffers, or neutralizers can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. pH adjusters, buffers, or neutralizers are commercially manufactured and available through various companies.

[0097] According to some embodiments, the pH adjusting or buffering agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the pH adjusting or buffering agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 10% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the pH adjusting or buffering agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 5% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the pH adjusting or buffering agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 1% w / w of the total composition.

[0098] In some 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, half esters of polymers of polyhydric alcohols with dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, water-soluble salts of polystyrene sulfonic acid, fatty acids, latex, fatty alcohols, vegetable oils, such as cottonseed oil, mineral oil, petroleum distillates, modified trisiloxanes, and polyglycols or salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional spreading agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Spreading agents are commercially produced and available through various companies.

[0099] In some embodiments, the spreading agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the spreading agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 5% w / w of the total composition.

[0100] 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, polyvinyl alkyl ether, alkylphenol-formalin condensate, fatty acid, latex, polyvinylpyrrolidone, fatty alcohol, gum (e.g., xanthan gum, ghati gum, gum arabic, etc.), vegetable oil (e.g., cottonseed oil), or mineral oil, petroleum distillate, modified trisiloxane, polyglycol, synthetic resin emulsion, salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional binders can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. The binders are commercially produced and available through various companies.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the binder is present in an amount of 0.01% to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the binder is present in an amount of 0.01% to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0102] The inventors have further determined that the compositions of the present invention surprisingly have enhanced physical properties such as dispersibility, suspendability, and wetting time, providing ease of handling and also reducing material loss during handling of the product during packaging and field application.

[0103] 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.

[0104] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention have a wetting time of less than 2 minutes. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a wetting time of less than 1 minute. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a wetting time of less than 30 seconds.

[0105] The dispersibility of the water-dispersible granular compositions of the present application is determined as per 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 40%. 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 60%. 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 80%. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 90%. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 99%. According to some embodiments, the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of 100%. Upon contact with water, the compositions of the present invention disperse uniformly into finer particles ranging in size from 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0106] According to certain embodiments, crop nutritional compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules exhibit almost instantaneous dispersion, thus making the active materials readily available to the crop.

[0107] 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".

[0108] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention have a suspendability of at least 30%. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a suspendability of at least 40%. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a suspendability of at least 50%. 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 70%. 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%. According to some embodiments, the compositions have a suspendability of at least 99%. According to some embodiments, the pesticidal compositions have a suspendability of 100%.

[0109] 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 90% suspendability under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 80% suspendability under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 70% 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 50% suspendability under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 40% suspendability under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 30% suspendability under ATS.

[0110] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention demonstrate greater than 90% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 80% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 70% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 60% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 50% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 40% dispersibility under ATS. According to some embodiments, the compositions demonstrate greater than 30% dispersibility under ATS.

[0111] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient.

[0112] According to a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granular composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in the range of 5% to 80% w / w of the total composition, and one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein the granules of the composition comprise particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0113] 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.

[0114] According to one embodiment, a process for preparing a water-dispersible granular composition involves milling a homogeneous blend of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof with one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, plus at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, to obtain a slurry or wet mix in water. The resulting slurry is then dried, for example, in a spray dryer, fluidized bed dryer, or any suitable granulation equipment, to obtain water-dispersible granules containing particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. The water-dispersible granules are further sieved to remove undersized and oversized granules and obtain the desired size.

[0115] According to another embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules can be prepared by dry-milling a homogenous blend of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, their complexes, or derivatives, and one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, their complexes, or derivatives, plus at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, in an air mill or jet mill to obtain a homogenous mixture with a fine particle size. Water is added to the dry powder, and the mixture is blended to obtain a dough, paste, or wet mix, which is then extruded through an extruder to obtain granules containing particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. The water-dispersible granules can be further sieved to remove undersized and oversized granules and obtain the desired size.

[0116] 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 supplement composition, a soil conditioner composition, a crop protection and yield enhancer composition.

[0117] According to certain embodiments, the present invention further 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, location or plant part, seed, seedling; or surrounding soil with a water-dispersible granular composition of the present invention.

[0118] In certain embodiments, the present invention also relates to a method of applying an effective amount of a crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprising a homogeneous mixture of 5% to 80% by weight of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, 1% to 50% by weight of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, and 0.01% to 94% by weight of a pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein the elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition, the elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and the granules of the composition comprise particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, and the composition is applied to seeds, seedlings, crop plants, plants, plant propagation material, locus, plant part, or the surrounding soil.

[0119] The present invention further assists in providing a balanced uptake of all nutrients, improving crop health, improving crop nutrition by facilitating the uptake of essential nutrients, protecting crops, enhancing crop yield, strengthening plants, or preparing the soil.

[0120] 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.

[0121] The rate or dose of application of the composition will depend on the type of use, the type of crop, or the specific active ingredients in the composition, but will be such that the active ingredients are in an effective amount to provide the desired effect, such as crop protection, crop yield, and nutrient uptake. [Example]

[0122] A. Preparation example: The following examples illustrate the basic methodology and versatility of the composition of the present invention.The water-insoluble sources of magnesium and zinc exemplified in the preparation examples can be replaced by any other water-insoluble salts, their complexes or derivatives of these nutrients as described in the present invention, respectively varying the claimed concentration ranges.It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0123] [Water-dispersible granular composition of magnesium salt and zinc salt] <1. A water-dispersible granular composition containing 25% zinc carbonate (13% elemental zinc) and 35% magnesium oxide (21.11% elemental magnesium)> A water-dispersible granular composition was prepared by blending or mixing 25 parts zinc carbonate, 35 parts magnesium oxide, 14 parts naphthalene sulfonate condensate, 8 parts polycarboxylate, 8 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 5 parts kaolin, and 5 parts sodium sulfate to obtain a blend. The resulting blend was milled to obtain a powder of less than 15 microns in size. The powder was mixed with water in a suitable mixing equipment to form a slurry.

[0124] The resulting slurry was wet-milled in a suitable wet-milling equipment. The resulting wet-milled slurry was spray-dried at an inlet temperature of less than 175°C and an outlet temperature of less than 90°C to produce granules. The composition has a particle size distribution D50 of less than 7.5 microns. The granule size of the composition is in the range of 0.1-1.5 mm. The composition has a dispersibility of 70%, a suspendibility of 65%, and a wettability of less than 25 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 60% suspendability, 65% dispersibility, and a wettability of 30 seconds under accelerated storage conditions.

[0125] <2. Water-dispersible granular composition containing 5% zinc carbonate (2.6% elemental zinc) and 80% magnesium silicate (13.9% elemental magnesium)> A water-dispersible composition is prepared as in Example 1 by blending 80 parts magnesium silicate, 5 parts zinc carbonate, 5 parts neem gum, 3 parts naphthalene sulfonate condensate sodium salt, 3 parts china clay, and 4 parts lactose. The composition has a particle size distribution D50 of less than 8.5 microns. The granule size of the composition is in the range of 0.1 to 2.5 mm. The composition has a dispersibility of 71%, a suspendibility of 65%, and a wettability of less than 15 seconds. The composition further demonstrated a suspendability of approximately 62%, a dispersibility of 65%, and a wettability of 25 seconds under accelerated storage conditions.

[0126] <3. Water-dispersible granular composition of 15% zinc silicate (8.8% elemental zinc) and 45% magnesium silicate (7.8% elemental zinc)> A water-dispersible composition is prepared as in Example 1 by mixing 45 parts magnesium silicate, 15 parts zinc silicate, 12 parts sodium polyacrylate, 18 parts naphthalene sulfonate condensate sodium salt, 6 parts larch gum, 3 parts Stepsperse DF200, and 1 part sodium citrate. The composition has a particle size distribution D50 of less than 10 microns. The granule size of Composition 9 is in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mm. The composition has 90% dispersibility, 85% suspendability, and a wettability of less than 10 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 80% suspendability and 90% dispersibility, with a wettability of 15 seconds under accelerated storage conditions.

[0127] <4. A water-dispersible granular composition of 40% zinc oxide (32.1% elemental zinc) and 25% magnesium carbonate (7.2% elemental magnesium)> A water-dispersible composition is prepared as in Example 1 by combining 25 parts magnesium carbonate, 40 parts zinc oxide, 3 parts tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate ester, 11 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 6 parts polycarboxylate, 5 parts larch gum, 8 parts Step Sperse DF200, and 2 parts calcium chloride. The composition has a particle size distribution D50 of less than 14 microns. The granule size of the composition is within the range of 0.1-2.5 mm. The composition has a dispersibility of 40%, a suspendability of 40%, and a wettability of less than 35 seconds. The composition further demonstrated a suspendability of approximately 38%, a dispersibility of 35%, and a wettability of 40 seconds under accelerated storage conditions.

[0128] <5. A water-dispersible granular composition of 3% zinc borate (elemental zinc 1.875%) and 75% magnesium phosphate (elemental magnesium 20.7%)> A water-dispersible composition was prepared as per the extrusion process by blending 3 parts zinc borate, 75 parts magnesium phosphate, 4 parts naphthalene sulfonate condensate sodium salt lignosulfonate calcium, 6 parts polycarboxylate, 4 parts larch gum, 6 parts Stepserse, and 2 parts sodium citrate. The composition has a particle size distribution D50 of less than 20 microns. The granule size of the composition is within the range of 0.1 to 3.5 mm. The composition has a dispersibility of 40%, a suspendability of 40%, and a wettability of less than 35 seconds. The composition further demonstrated a suspendability of approximately 38%, a dispersibility of 35%, and a wettability of 40 seconds under accelerated storage conditions.

[0129] B. Field Survey: Experiment No. 1: To study the effect of water-dispersible granules of water-insoluble magnesium salts and water-insoluble zinc salts on peanut crops. A field trial was conducted in Nashik, Maharashtra to evaluate embodiments of the composition of the present invention on groundnut crop, variety JL776. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments, including an untreated control, replicated three times. A plot size of 35 square meters (7 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Test nutrient compositions containing various zinc and magnesium salts alone and their combinations in water-dispersible granules, varying in concentration and salt, were applied at the base of the plant at the time of sowing of the groundnut crop at defined doses. The active doses of zinc and magnesium applied in the field experiment were of elemental zinc (Zn) and elemental magnesium (Mg).

[0130] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Trial location: Nashik, Maharashtra b) Crops: Peanuts (JL776) c) Experimental season: Rabi 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 3 f) Processing: 7 g) Plot size: 7m x 5m = 35 square meters h) Applicable date: 3.02.2022 i) Sowing date: 3.02.2022 j) Application method: stock origin k) Harvest date: 15.05.2022 l) Soil pH: 7.2

[0131] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 1, listing the efficacy of water-dispersible granules of "water-insoluble magnesium salt and water-insoluble zinc salt" prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] [Table 1]

[0133] "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, Y and Z at a defined dose X = % observed effect of product A Y = % observed effect of product B

[0134] 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

[0135] If the percentage yield effect (E) observed for the combination is greater than the expected percentage, a synergistic effect of the combination can be inferred. If the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is equal to the expected percentage, an additive effect can only be inferred, and if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is lower than the expected percentage, an antagonistic effect of the combination can be inferred.

[0136] 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.

[0137] From Table 1, it can be observed that the synergy factors are 1.74 and 1.8 for treatments T1 and T4 as per an embodiment of the present invention, which depicts the synergistic nature of the WDG compositions of "zinc carbonate + magnesium carbonate" and "zinc oxide + magnesium oxide." This synergistic behavior of "water-insoluble zinc salt plus water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of WDG as per an embodiment of the present invention can be observed from the yield of peanut kernels.

[0138] Based on the data and calculations made, the expected percentage increase in peanut kernel yield was found to be 31.26% and 28.41% for treatments T1 and T4, respectively. However, from Equation 1 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T1 with 15% zinc carbonate (7.8% elemental zinc) and 35% magnesium carbonate (10% elemental magnesium)-water dispersible granular composition (WDG) as per an embodiment of the present invention showed a 54.49% increase in yield in peanut kernels, and treatment T4 with 35% zinc oxide and 42% magnesium oxide-WDG composition as per an embodiment of the present invention showed a 51.28% increase in peanut kernel yield.

[0139] However, treatments T2 with 15% zinc carbonate WDG and T3 with 35% magnesium carbonate WDG demonstrated increases in peanut kernel yield of 25.15% and 12.82%, respectively. Furthermore, treatments T5 with 35% zinc oxide WDG and T6 with 42% magnesium oxide WDG demonstrated yield increases of only 14.74% and 16.03%, respectively. Thus, treatments T1 and T4 with water-dispersible granules according to embodiments of the present invention demonstrated synergistic effects compared with treatments with individual active substances. The results are even more surprising given that treatments T2-T3 and T5-T6 were all applied to the soil with the same doses of zinc and magnesium salts, i.e., 289.41 g / ha zinc, 373.4 g / ha magnesium, and 1051 g / ha zinc, 947 g / ha magnesium, respectively.

[0140] 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 zinc compared to treatments T2-T3 and T5-T6 (zinc and magnesium salts used individually), even when these active substances were applied at the same dosage application in each treatment. Thus, the combination of "water-insoluble magnesium salt plus water-insoluble zinc salt" in the form of water-dispersible granules according to embodiments of the present invention was synergistic in nature and showed a surprising enhancement in yield and improvement in plant physiological parameters such as increased plant height and number of pods per plant compared to treatments with individual application of the active substances.

[0141] Thus, the composition of the present invention in the form of a water-dispersible granular composition has been found to be a high nutrient use efficient composition.

[0142] Experiment No. 2: To study the effect of water-dispersible granules of water-insoluble magnesium salts and water-insoluble zinc 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.

[0143] The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 40 square meters (8m x 5m) was maintained for each treatment. The compositions tested included different formulations including zinc salts, magnesium salts alone, and a combination of zinc and magnesium salts, where the zinc and magnesium salts were applied at the same dose in each treatment. Tomato crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice. Tomato, Abhilash seeds, were used in the study and planted at a spacing of 120cm between rows and 45cm between plants. The experimental details are as follows:

[0144] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Nashik (Maharashtra) b) Crop: Tomato (variety Abhilash) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2021 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 7 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 square meters h) Applicable date: 06.07.2021 i) Application method: side strip / groove arrangement j) Porting date: 06.07.2021 k) Picking date: 15.10.2021, 25.10.2021, 05.11.2021

[0145] Fruit set was monitored by tagging newly opened flowers once a week and counting the number of tagged flowers that set fruit after one week. Fruit was harvested six times and weighed each time. The average data for all observations is presented in Table 2 to illustrate the effect of a combination of water-insoluble salts of zinc and magnesium in water-dispersible granular form, as per an embodiment of the present invention, on tomato yield and other parameters.

[0146] [Table 2]

[0147] From the observed data in Table 2, it can be concluded that treatments T3 (5% zinc carbonate (2.6% elemental zinc) + 80% magnesium silicate (13.9% elemental magnesium) WDG) and T6 (20% zinc oxide (16% elemental zinc) + 15% magnesium carbonate (4.3% elemental magnesium) WDG) as per embodiments of the present invention demonstrate synergistic behavior.

[0148] Based on the data and calculations performed, the expected percentage increase in tomato fruit yield was found to be 16.15% and 11.84% for treatments T3 and T6, respectively. However, for example, from Table 2 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T3 with 5% zinc carbonate + 80% magnesium silicate WDG as per an embodiment of the present invention showed a 21.43% increase in yield in tomatoes, while treatment T1 with 5% zinc carbonate WDG and treatment T2 with 80% magnesium silicate WDG showed increases in yield of 5.71% and 11.07%, respectively. Similarly, treatment T6 as per an embodiment of the present invention portrayed better yield in tomatoes compared to the individual treatments T4 and T5.

[0149] Table 2 also depicts the average data for the 10 strains, where disease severity of late blight was found to be lowest in treatments T3 and T6 compared to that of treatments T1-T2, T4-T5, and T7. Treatment T3, prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention, exhibited a disease severity of approximately 5%, while treatments T1 and T2 exhibited disease severity of approximately 35.3% and 25.1%, respectively.

[0150] It is therefore notable that superior efficacy in terms of yield and disease control was observed for the synergistic water dispersible granular formulation as per the present invention, wherein the composition contained particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, compared to the individual treatments and the untreated one.

[0151] Experiment No. 3: To evaluate the efficacy of different formulations of water-insoluble zinc 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 a water-dispersible granular composition containing a water-insoluble zinc salt plus a water-insoluble magnesium salt in wheat. The trial was conducted during the rabi season in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven 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. The test product compounds, various zinc salts plus magnesium salts alone and their combinations in a range of concentrations in the water-dispersible granular composition according to the present invention, were applied to the soil at the time of the first irrigation of wheat (25 days after sowing) at the prescribed doses. The wheat crop at the trial site was grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0152] (Experiment details) a) Location of trial: Malerkotla, Punjab. b) Crop: Wheat (variety PBW-660) c) Experimental Season: Rabi 2021 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 7 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 10.11.2021 i) Applicable date: 10.11.2021 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 2.04.2022 l) Soil pH: 6.8-7

[0153] The active doses of zinc and magnesium applied in the field experiments were specifically elemental zinc and magnesium. Observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 3, which lists the efficacy of water-dispersible granular compositions prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0154] [Table 3]

[0155] From Table 3 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T3 with 15% zinc silicate (8.8% elemental zinc) + 45% magnesium silicate hydrate (7.8% elemental magnesium) WDG as an embodiment of the present invention demonstrated a 40% yield increase in wheat grain. However, treatment T1 with 15% zinc oxide + 45% magnesium oxide-SC (as in the prior art) demonstrated only an 8% increase, treatment T2 with 15% zinc silicate + 45% magnesium silicate hydrate powder demonstrated only an 11.60% increase, while treatment T4 with 15% zinc silicate + 45% magnesium silicate hydrate pellets demonstrated only a 10% increase. Referring to treatments T1-T5, based on the data and calculations made, the expected percentage increase in fruit yield was 13.89%. The synergy factor observed for T3 was 2.87, compared with 0.57, 0.83, and 0.71 for treatments T1, T2, and T4, respectively. Therefore, it can be noted that treatment T3—WDG as per the present invention—demonstrated synergistic effects compared with the same treatments applied with the powder composition, i.e., treatment T2, pellet composition, i.e., treatment T4, and individual active substance applications, i.e., treatments T5-T6, despite the same zinc and magnesium doses applied. Furthermore, treatment T3 also demonstrated better yield and plant characteristics compared with treatment T1 (the prior art composition) and T2 and T4. The results were even more surprising when treatments T1 through T5 were all applied to the soil with the same doses of zinc and magnesium, i.e., 352 gm / ha zinc and 313 gm / ha magnesium.

[0156] It is therefore notable that the composition of "water-insoluble zinc salt and water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of water-dispersible granules 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.

[0157] Experiment No. 4: Evaluating the effect of particle size distribution in a composition containing zinc silicate and magnesium silicate - WDG on eggplant yield. A field trial was conducted in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal to observe the effect of different range of particle sizes for Zinc Silicate + Magnesium Silicate composition-WDG on the yield of brinjal.

[0158] The trial was conducted during the kharif season, i.e., January to April, in a randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments, including an untreated control, replicated seven times. The compositions tested included the zinc salt WDG composition and magnesium salt WDG composition of the present invention as soil fertilizers after planting of eggplant seedlings in the trial plots. The eggplant crops at the trial sites were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0159] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: North 24 Parganas, West Bengal b) Crop: Eggplant c) Experimental Season: Khalif d) Trial design: RBD e) Iterations: 7 f) Processing: 4 g) Lot size: 5 x 6 = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 14.07.2021 i) Applicable date: 14.07.2021 j) Application method: Soil fertilization near the root zone k) Crop variety: Pusa Purple Long l) Harvest dates: 10.12.2021, 25.12.2021, 10.01.2022

[0160] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 4, listing the efficacy of water-dispersible granules containing "water-insoluble zinc salt and water-insoluble magnesium salt" prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0161] [Table 4]

[0162] From the data presented in Table 4, it can be seen that treatment T1 (20% zinc silicate (11.7% elemental zinc) + 40% magnesium silicate (6.97% elemental magnesium) water-dispersible granular composition WDG) having a particle size in the range of 0.1 to 30 microns according to an embodiment of the present invention showed a significant increase in yield when compared to treatments T2, 20% zinc silicate + 40% magnesium silicate WDG having a particle size in the range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and T3, 20% zinc silicate + 40% magnesium silicate WDG having a particle size in the range of 0.1 to 100 microns. Treatment T1 showed a surprisingly significant 35% increase in eggplant yield compared to the untreated control, while treatments T2 and T3 showed only 19.58% and 16.67% yield increases, respectively.

[0163] Furthermore, uptake of nutrients such as magnesium, zinc was found to be significantly higher in treatment T1 compared to treatments T2 and T3. It is therefore notable that superior efficacy in terms of yield and nutrient uptake was observed with the water dispersible granular formulation as per the present invention, wherein the composition contained particles in the size range of 0.1 micron to 30 micron when compared to water dispersible granular formulations having a higher particle size range.

[0164] Experiment No. 5: Comparing the effects of the composition of the present invention versus a commercially available water-soluble powder of multi-nutrients in pepper crops A field trial was conducted in a commercially cultivated chilli field in Nashik, Maharashtra, to compare the effects of a WDG composition containing a combination of water-insoluble salts of zinc and magnesium versus a commercially available water-soluble multi-nutrient powder on chilli. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with five treatments, including an untreated control, during the spring season. The composition of the present invention was applied at a defined dose with drip irrigation.

[0165] The pepper crop at the trial site was grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0166] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Nashik (Maharashtra) b) Crop: Chili pepper c) Experimental season: Spring season (January 2022 to May 2022) d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 7 f) Processing: 3 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 square meters h) Planting date: 10.01.2022 i) Applicable date: 10.01.2022 j) Application method: Soil fertilization by drip system

[0167] [Table 5]

[0168] From Table 5, it can be observed that treatment T1 prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention demonstrated better yield compared to treatment T2, in which the applied composition was a commercially available water-soluble multi-nutrient mixture, and the untreated plot. Treatment T1 depicted a yield increase of approximately 42% when compared to treatment T2, which had only a 7.1% yield increase despite being applied at a higher dose. Therefore, it can be concluded that even at a reduced dose, the combination of a "water-insoluble zinc salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of a WDG according to an embodiment of the present invention shows significant improvements in fruit weight, fruit number, and fruit yield compared to that of a commercially available water-soluble multi-nutrient mixture.

[0169] Experiment No. 6: Studying the efficacy of the composition of the present invention on cucumber crops A field trial was conducted in Indore to determine the efficacy of a water-dispersible granular composition containing a water-insoluble zinc 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. Test product compounds, various zinc salts, magnesium salts alone and their combinations in a water-dispersible granular composition according to the present invention at varying concentrations were applied foliarly at the pre-flowering stage at prescribed doses. Cucumber crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0170] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Trial location: Indore, MP b) Crop: Cucumber (variety Malini) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2021 (July 2021 to November 2021) d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 5 g) Lot size: 5 x 6 = 30 square meters h) Applicable date: 25.08.2021 i) Sowing and planting date: 06.07.2021 j) Application method: Foliar fertilization (before flowering) k) Harvest date: 17.10.2021 l) Soil pH: 7.5

[0171] Observations for flowering were recorded at 40 DAA and mean fruit yield data at harvest are presented in Table 6.

[0172] [Table 6]

[0173] From the data presented in Table 6, it can be seen that Treatment T1 (25% zinc carbonate (13% elemental zinc) + 35% magnesium oxide (21.1% elemental magnesium) water dispersible granular composition WDG (having a particle size in the range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns)) as an embodiment of the present invention showed a significant increase in flowering and subsequent yield when compared to Treatments T2 (25% zinc carbonate WDG), T3 (35% magnesium oxide WDG) and T4 (25% zinc oxide + 35% magnesium oxide SC as per the prior art). This clearly indicates that foliar fertilization of the composition of the present invention (Treatment T1) significantly increased flowering in cucumber compared to Treatments T2 (25% zinc carbonate WDG), T3 (35% magnesium oxide WDG) and T4 and the untreated. It was further observed that application of treatment T1 as per an embodiment of the present invention significantly reduced cucumber fruit abscission which in turn helped to significantly increase fruit number and thereby fruit yield as compared to cucumber fruit abscission observed with application of treatments T2 to T5.

[0174] Furthermore, the % increase in fruit yield observed in treatment T1 was about 49.65%, while in treatments T2, T3 and T4 it was about 12%, 21%, 12.98% and 20.7%, respectively. It is therefore notable that superior efficacy in terms of reduction in flower and fruit drop and yield was observed with the water dispersible granular formulation as per the present invention, wherein the composition contained particles in the size range of 0.1 micron to 30 micron when applied to the foliage, compared to other treatments.

[0175] Experiment No. 7: To study the effect of the composition of the present invention on nutrient uptake in cabbage crops compared to traditional fertilization practices. A pot trial experiment was conducted in Nashik, Maharashtra (India) to determine the effect of the composition of the present invention on nutrient availability in a polyhouse compared to the effect of applying traditional fertilizer practices.

[0176] Soil was analyzed to assess nutrient availability prior to the treatment application date and observed values ​​were as follows:

[0177] [Table 7]

[0178] The prescribed dose of the test nutrient composition as indicated below was measured based on the calculation of the surface area of ​​the soil, and applied to each treatment pot on the topsoil and thoroughly mixed into the soil to a depth of 5 cm. Then, 25-day-old cabbage seedlings were planted in each pot. The cabbage seedlings planted in seven pots were grown according to GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) until harvest or until the cabbages were fully developed. The treatment details are as follows:

[0179] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Location of trial: Nashik b) Crop: Cabbage (variety: Royal Vantage) c) Experimental season: Rabi (November 2021 to February 2022) d) Trial design: Randomized block design with five pots in each treatment e) Iterations: 5 f) Processing: 7 g) Pot size: 20cm top diameter x 15.5cm bottom diameter x

[0180] [Table 8]

[0181] It can also be observed from Table 7 that treatments T1 and T2, WDG compositions prepared according to embodiments of the present invention, demonstrated better nutrient uptake compared to treatments T3 and T4 with water soluble NPK fertilizer and NPK plus water soluble micronutrient composition (Nutrifast from Stanes), and above the untreated plots.

[0182] Notably, in treatments T1 and T2, zinc and magnesium became immediately available to the crop along with other nutrients present in the soil, while zinc or magnesium uptake was found to be lower in treatments T3, T4, and T5. It was also observed that the practice of applying NPK and NPK plus other micronutrients, such as calcium, boron, and manganese, even at higher doses, still failed to provide significant uptake of zinc and magnesium, as observed with the compositions of the present invention. Furthermore, zinc uptake was found to be low in treatments T2-T6 due to the presence of phosphorus in the soil, which blocked zinc and therefore interfered with its absorption in the plants. However, application of water-dispersible granular compositions with particle sizes of 0.1 to 30 microns, prepared as per embodiments of the present invention, in treatments T1 and T2 with the presence of magnesium and its synergistic effect with zinc, was observed to demonstrate enhanced uptake of not only zinc but also other nutrients, such as magnesium, manganese, and boron, compared to treatments T3-T6.

[0183] Furthermore, it was also observed that even when soil was fertilized with nutrients, nutrient uptake was lower in treatments T3 and T4, despite the higher application rates.However, increased nutrient uptake was observed with the composition of the present invention, because the composition created a favorable environment for nutrient uptake and corrected soil pH, thereby helping to release nutrients from the soil to plants or crops.It should be noted that treatments T3 and T4 exhibited nutrient antagonism due to the presence of higher phosphorus in acidic soil, which hinders the uptake of zinc and magnesium.Therefore, it can be concluded that the composition of the present invention not only facilitates the absorption of essential nutrients such as magnesium and zinc, but also helps to release micronutrients and trace elements, making them available for uptake by plants, which were unavailable for uptake in the soil.

[0184] It is therefore notable that the WDG composition of "water insoluble zinc salts and water insoluble magnesium salts" according to embodiments of the present invention within the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns provided significantly higher amounts of available magnesium and zinc even in the presence of NPK fertilizers that were not observed with the application of traditional fertilizers alone.

[0185] Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have also tested the WDG composition of the present invention on other crops such as pepper and corn. It has been observed that the composition of the present invention can also enhance crop characteristics such as straw weight and plant height, and can also increase the nutritional value of the crop. Furthermore, such a combination can improve crop yield, additionally help improve photosynthesis, increase chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake by the crop.

[0186] 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 at reduced application doses of the composition. The composition is highly safe for users and the environment. This novel composition provides a nutritious crop by improving plant yield, balanced uptake of all nutrients, reducing leaf yellowing, and improving plant physiological parameters such as increased rooting, improved foliage, disease resistance, and increased green color of the crop.

[0187] 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.

[0188] 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. at least one water-insoluble zinc salt, complex or derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition; at least one water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex or derivative thereof in the range of 5% to 80% w / w of the total composition; at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient; A water-dispersible granular crop nutritional composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of: elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition; elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, said composition comprising particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns; A water-dispersible granular crop nutritional composition comprising:

2. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one water-insoluble zinc salt comprises at least one of zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, zinc sulfide, zinc molybdate, zinc phosphate, zinc nitrilotriacetate, zinc borate, zinc silicate, zinc pyrophosphate, and zinc citrate, complexes, or derivatives thereof.

3. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one water-insoluble magnesium salt comprises at least one of magnesium molybdate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium magnesium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium aluminum silicate, calcium magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium oxide, complexes or derivatives thereof.

4. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the granules of said composition are in the size range of 0.05 to 5.0 mm.

5. 10. The composition of claim 1, characterized in that it is comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns.

6. 10. The composition of claim 1, comprising particles having a particle size distribution with a D50 of about 20 microns.

7. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient is selected from one or more of a wetting agent, a surfactant, a dispersing agent, a disintegrant, a hydrocolloid, an emulsifier, 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 tackifier, a pigment, a stabilizer, an anti-foaming or defoaming agent, an anti-settling agent, a penetrating agent, and a preservative.

8. 8. The composition of claim 7, comprising at least one surfactant.

9. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient is in the range of 0.01% to 94% w / w of the total composition.

10. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a suspendibility of at least 30%.

11. 10. A process for the preparation of the water-dispersible granular crop nutrition composition of claim 1, comprising: a. grinding a homogeneous mixture of at least one water-insoluble zinc salt, complex or derivative thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, at least one water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex or derivative thereof, in the range of 5% to 80% w / w of the total composition, and at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient in water to obtain a slurry or wet mix; b. drying the slurry or wet mix to obtain a water-dispersible granular composition; wherein the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. A process characterized by:

12. 10. The 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.

13. 10. 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, location or plant part, seed, seedling, or surrounding soil with the water-dispersible granular composition of claim 1.

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