Nutritional composition of crops

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension, comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in an amount ranging from 1 to 70% w / w of the total composition, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in an amount ranging from 1 to 50% w / w of the total composition, and one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in an amount ranging from 1 to 50% w / w of the total composition, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein the elemental iron is present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental zinc is present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental magnesium is present in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. The liquid suspension composition may be in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion, or suspoemulsion. The present invention further relates to a method for treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and iron available to the plants and by liberating other micronutrients and trace elements present in the soil that were previously unavailable due to various factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers. The present invention also relates to fortifying plants to withstand pest infestations. The present invention also relates to a method for biofortifying plants with essential micronutrients.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension, comprising a homogeneous mixture of effective amounts of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, and one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient. The liquid suspension composition of the present invention is comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. The liquid suspension composition may be in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion, or suspoemulsion composition.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a liquid suspension composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 70% w / w of the total composition, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and one or more water-insoluble iron 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 elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. The liquid suspension composition may be in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion, or suspoemulsion composition.

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

[0004] The present invention also relates to a method for biofortification of plants with essential micronutrients. [Background technology]

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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, iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are two key nutrients found in human nutrition and are among the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies worldwide. Fe deficiency is found in 20%–25% of the global population, and Zn deficiency is found in 17.3% of the global population (Cooper 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 challenging and challenging task.

[0008] Furthermore, modern agriculture suffers from degraded soils due to excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, such as nitrogen-, phosphorus-, and potassium-based fertilizers, and excessive tillage, which in turn leads to the production and harvest of nutrient-deficient crops, ultimately affecting human nutrition and health. More than 30% of the earth's surface is covered by calcareous soils, which also poses challenges in terms of providing sufficient zinc and iron nutrients to crops. Additionally, with labor and water shortages and increasing demands for high yields and quality, current agricultural practices are severely challenged by deteriorating soil health, depletion of water tables, declining soil fertility, leaching of fertilizers and pesticides, and micronutrient deficiencies in the soil. Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers has led to significant imbalances in soil nutrients. Recently, nearly twice as much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers are being applied to achieve similar yields than were applied 20 or 30 years ago. It has been observed that excess nitrogen fertilizer leads to a reduction in exchangeable calcium and magnesium ions in the soil, making them unavailable to plants, which in turn retards plant growth and soil health. Long-term use of synthetic NPK fertilizers also acidifies and depletes the soil, limiting the uptake of other essential nutrients, including zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Excessive amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium in the soil further lead to nutrient imbalances, with end crops lacking essential nutrients, particularly zinc and iron (due to excess phosphorus) and magnesium (due to excess calcium and nitrogen).

[0009] 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. Furthermore, it is known that optimal levels of nutrients are required for normal plant function and growth, and any fluctuations in nutrient levels cause disruptions to overall crop growth and reduce its health through either deficiency or toxicity. Poor availability of fertilizer or nutrients to plants results in a lack of proper growth and makes the plants more susceptible to attack by pests. In fact, even though some soil types possess sufficient amounts of micronutrients, including iron, zinc, and other elements, their bioavailability for uptake by crops is limited by various factors, and the final harvest is observed to be deficient in these nutrients.

[0010] 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. Furthermore, leaching of water-soluble nutrients by rain and irrigation also reduces nutrient availability in the soil. Furthermore, managing crop nutrition is difficult due to factors such as variable carbonate levels in the soil, soil salinity, soil moisture, soil alkalinity, low temperatures, and the concentrations of other elements, or "competing trace elements," that affect micronutrient availability and can sometimes lead to micronutrient deficiencies. 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.

[0011] 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. Applying 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 zinc, iron blocking manganese (or vice versa), magnesium blocking calcium (or vice versa), and potassium blocking both magnesium and calcium. Another reason for deficiencies 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. Therefore, applying balanced amounts of the most limiting nutrients is essential to obtain the highest yield while minimizing nutrient losses. One paper, titled "Iron-magnesium antagonism in growth and metabolism of radish; Agarwala, SC, and SC Mehrotra et al.; 1984," reported iron-magnesium antagonism in crops, while another, titled "Effects of Nutrient Antagonism and Synergism on Yield and Fertilizer Use Efficiency; Rene, PJJ, Rietra, Marius Heinen et al.; 2017," reported antagonism between zinc and magnesium. Furthermore, antagonism between Fe and Zn is also well known (Alloway, 2008 and Kabata-Pendias, 2001).

[0012] 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.

[0013] Magnesium availability in soil depends on several factors, including source rock material, 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 on lower and older leaves, with symptoms then becoming visible on 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 have been overlooked for some time, despite its essential role in plant growth and development. This is due to the fact that potential magnesium deficiencies are difficult to detect.

[0014] Furthermore, iron (Fe) is also an essential nutrient element required for the growth, development, and reproduction of plants or crops, but is present in relatively small amounts, making it a micronutrient. Iron is involved in many important physiological processes in plants, such as the production of chlorophyll and a wide range of enzymes and proteins. Iron also plays a crucial role in respiration, nitrogen fixation, energy transfer, and metabolism in crops and plants. Iron is a relatively immobile ion, and once incorporated into tissues, it remains in the upper part of the plant. As a result, the translocation of iron from one plant part to another is limited, leading to iron deficiency. Such deficiency in plants or crops commonly causes chlorosis (yellowing). Furthermore, poor iron nutrition also results in poor nodulation in legume crops, leading to reduced size and yield.

[0015] It has been observed that managing iron nutrition in crops is challenging due to factors such as soil carbonate levels, salinity, soil moisture, soil alkalinity, low temperatures, and the concentrations of other nutrient elements (e.g., competing trace elements such as phosphorus and calcium) that affect iron availability and can sometimes lead to iron deficiency. Furthermore, a plant's ability to respond to iron availability not only affects crop yield and iron concentration in the plant's edible tissues, but also ultimately affects plant nutrition. Therefore, proper iron absorption by crops is critical for optimizing crop nutrition and metabolism, which in turn contributes to overall crop yield and quality.

[0016] 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.

[0017] Zinc is immobile, 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 smaller, often upward-cupped or distorted leaves. Symptoms also include poor bud development, resulting in reduced flowering and branching, short internodes, and a rosette-like appearance of the plant. Carbohydrate, protein, and chlorophyll formation are significantly reduced in zinc-deficient plants. Therefore, a constant and continuous supply of zinc is required for optimal growth and maximum yield.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[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] 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.

[0022] 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. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0023] Suitable liquid compositions containing magnesium in combination with iron and zinc that would make them available to the plant in effective amounts, thus meeting the plant's balanced nutritional requirements and addressing drawbacks such as nutrient antagonism of such compositions known in the art, are not known.

[0024] Despite the known antagonism between Zn-Fe, Zn-Mg and Mg-Zn, it has always been challenging to develop agricultural compositions that overcome this problem and successfully meet the nutritional requirements of plants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0025] The inventors have surprisingly found that the composition of the present invention, which comprises magnesium, zinc and iron, is not only effective in overcoming the antagonism between these individual nutrients, but also exhibits synergistic effects.The composition of the present invention, when formulated with specific particle size, has been found to make nutrients magnesium, zinc and iron readily available for plant uptake.The inventors have also noted that the application of the composition not only produces a greater balanced uptake of magnesium, iron and zinc, but also other nutrients that remain encapsulated in soil, and provides a natural biological enrichment solution in a sustainable manner, even in degraded soil.

[0026] It has been observed that the composition of the present invention, which comprises a combination of water-insoluble salts, complexes or derivatives of magnesium, zinc and iron in specific ratios, is formulated into a liquid suspension 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, i.e., between zinc and iron, between magnesium and zinc, between magnesium and iron, etc.It has also 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.

[0027] It is known that optimal plant absorption of most micronutrients and macronutrients occurs in soils with acidic or neutral pH. However, the present inventors surprisingly discovered that the compositions of the present invention provide nutrient uptake even in soils with alkaline pH or calcareous soils. Therefore, in addition to overcoming the challenge of nutrient competition, the compositions of the present invention are effective in all soil types, making them highly viable for all terrains. Furthermore, the presence of magnesium (Mg) in the form of the compositions of the present invention, along with zinc and iron, not only facilitates the uptake of a significant proportion of the iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) present in the compositions, but also allows plants to uptake micronutrients such as boron (B), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca), etc., sequestered in the soil.

[0028] The composition of the present invention has been found to play a crucial role in regulating soil pH and facilitating nutrient uptake, even in soils that have been degraded or whose pH has changed due to excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.The composition of the present invention satisfies plant nutritional needs by providing balanced uptake of essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, and magnesium, thus overcoming the challenge of providing nutrient-rich crops in calcareous soils, which are known to present antagonistic challenges to the uptake of these nutrients, especially iron, zinc, and magnesium (Singh et al., 1990, 1993).It was even more surprising to observe that balanced nutrient uptake leads to healthier plants that can withstand pest infestations, higher nutrient yields in all types of soil, and ultimately improves overall soil health.The composition of the present invention acts as a highly nutrient-utilization-efficient composition, satisfying crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by crops in a single application.

[0029] The inventors of the present application have determined that a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein the composition is comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 to 20 microns, demonstrates excellent field efficacy. The liquid suspension composition may be in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion, or suspoemulsion. The composition of the present invention also assists in regulating soil pH to facilitate balanced uptake of micronutrients.

[0030] The compositions of the present invention also exhibit excellent physical characteristics such as suspension, viscosity, pourability and spontaneity of dispersion.

[0031] The present inventors have determined that a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in addition to at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, provides the nutrients magnesium, zinc and iron readily available for uptake by plants, increases overall yield in a variety of crops, and improves plant physiological parameters.

[0032] The liquid suspension composition of the present application comprises one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof in a concentration range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof in a concentration range of 1% to 70% 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 at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, wherein the elemental iron is present in a range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental zinc is present in a range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, and the elemental magnesium is present in a range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition. The liquid suspension composition may be in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion, or suspoemulsion.

[0033] Additionally, the liquid suspension composition comprises particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns.

[0034] The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension, comprising a homogeneous mixture of an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient.

[0035] The present invention further relates to a method of treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and iron available to the plants, and also by releasing other micronutrients and trace elements present in the soil that were previously unavailable due to a variety of factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers. The present invention also relates to strengthening plants to withstand pest infestation.

[0036] The present invention also relates to a method for biofortification of plants with essential micronutrients.

[0037] Furthermore, it has been found that the composition of the present invention is effective regardless of soil pH, making it a viable composition for all types of soil.More importantly, it has been noted that the presence of magnesium in addition to zinc and iron in the composition of the present invention not only facilitates the uptake of iron and zinc in the composition, but also allows plants to uptake nutrients such as boron, manganese, calcium, etc. encapsulated in the soil.It has been found that the composition of the present invention plays a crucial role in regulating soil pH and facilitating nutrient uptake, even in soils that have been degraded or whose pH has changed due to excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.Even more surprisingly, it has been observed that the composition of the present invention provides balanced uptake of all nutrients, including zinc, iron, and magnesium, thereby overcoming the challenge of providing nutrient-rich crops in calcareous soils, which are known to present antagonistic challenges to the uptake of these nutrients.It has been even more surprising to observe that this results in a more balanced uptake of all nutrients, leading to healthier plants and higher nutrient yields in all types of soil, improving soil health. The compositions of the present invention act as highly nutrient-use efficient compositions, meeting crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by the crop in a single application.

[0038] Because they exhibit excellent physical characteristics such as suspension, viscosity, pourability and spontaneity of dispersion, the compositions of the present invention also find direct use in micro-irrigation or drip irrigation systems. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] When describing embodiments of the present invention, specific terms are selected for clarity. However, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the specific terms selected, and it should be understood that such specific terms include all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish the same purpose. Any numerical ranges listed herein are understood to include all subranges encompassed. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the percentage of components in a composition is presented as weight percent. The terms "parts" and "percentage" are interchangeable.

[0040] In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth some embodiments of the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values ​​set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible.

[0041] The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, and unless otherwise indicated herein, each separate value is incorporated herein as if it were individually listed herein.

[0042] 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).

[0043] 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.

[0044] According to the present invention, the term liquid suspension encompasses suspension concentrates, oil dispersions or suspo-emulsions. The liquid vehicle can be water and / or a water-miscible or water-immiscible solvent or oil.

[0045] As defined herein, the term "suspension concentrate" is a composition in which solid particles are dispersed or suspended in a liquid. The terms "suspension concentrate" or "aqueous suspension" or "aqueous dispersion" or "SC composition" can be used interchangeably. The liquid vehicle in a suspension concentrate can be water and / or a water-miscible solvent. As defined herein, the term "oil dispersion" is a stable suspension of an active ingredient in a water-immiscible fluid / liquid or oil, usually intended for dilution with water before use. The oil dispersion also includes other ingredients dissolved in the formulation. The terms "oil suspension" or "oil suspension concentrate" and "oil dispersion" can be used interchangeably.

[0046] As defined herein, the term suspoemulsion is essentially a mixture of water-insoluble active ingredients dispersed in a water-based solution, where one (or more) of the active ingredients is a solid formulated as a suspension form (SC) and one (or more) of the active is an oil formulated as an emulsion in water (EW).

[0047] The term "salt" as used in this application is intended to encompass compounds containing zinc, magnesium, and iron. Zinc compounds can include zinc oxide, magnesium compounds can include magnesium oxide, and iron compounds can include iron oxide.

[0048] The oxides are compounds of metals such as iron, magnesium and zinc that are covered with salts of iron, magnesium and zinc, respectively.

[0049] D50 is the particle size corresponding to the cumulative percentage reaching 50%. D50 is also called the median particle size or median particle size and represents the average of 50% of the total particles smaller than the given size.

[0050] D90 is used to indicate particle size distribution and represents the average of 90% of the total particles smaller than a given size. D90 is also the particle size corresponding to the cumulative percentage reaching 90%.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] The present invention relates to a composition for crop nutrition in the form of a liquid suspension, comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient. The liquid suspension composition is in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion or suspoemulsion composition.

[0054] The liquid suspension composition of the present invention comprises a homogeneous mixture of 1% to 50% by weight of one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, 1% to 70% 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 iron is present in a range of 0.01% to 40% by weight of the total composition, the elemental zinc is present in a range of 0.01% to 40% by weight of the total composition, and the elemental magnesium is present in a range of 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition. Furthermore, the crop nutritional composition contains particulates in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, which exhibit improved suspendability, viscosity, dispersion spontaneity, and pourability. In some embodiments, the pesticidal excipient is a structuring agent.

[0055] The inventors have surprisingly found that the composition of the present invention, in the form of a liquid suspension containing magnesium, zinc, and iron together, is not only effective but also synergistic. The inventors have also noted that application of the composition results in a greater balanced uptake of not only magnesium, iron, and zinc, but also other nutrients that remain sequestered in the soil, providing a natural biological enrichment solution in a sustainable manner, even in degraded soils.

[0056] It has been observed that the composition of the present invention, which comprises a combination of water-insoluble salts, complexes, or derivatives of magnesium, zinc, and iron in specific ratios, is formulated into a liquid suspension 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 the soil, i.e., between zinc and iron, between magnesium and zinc, between magnesium and iron, etc.It has also been observed that the composition of the present invention prevents the leaching of these nutrients, making them available for uptake by crops to the maximum extent, and increasing overall yield.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, preferably the particles are in the size range of 0.1 microns to 15 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 20 microns, the nutrients magnesium, zinc and iron are easily available for uptake by plants, increasing overall yield. Therefore, it has been found that the particle size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns for the crop nutrition composition is important not only from the standpoint of ease of application but also from the standpoint of efficacy.

[0058] According to another embodiment, the crop nutritional composition of the present invention in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles having a particle size distribution with a D90 of about 15 microns, more preferably the composition comprises particles having a particle size distribution with a D90 of about 10 microns.

[0059] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble iron salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of iron oxide, iron hydroxide, iron phosphate, iron fumarate, iron succinate, iron tartrate, iron sulfide, iron oxalate, iron carbonyl, iron silicate, iron rust, limonite, iron carbonate, complexes, derivatives, and mixtures thereof. Iron oxides include, but are not limited to, ferrous oxide (FeO), ferric oxide (FeO) or red iron oxide, and iron tetroxide (FeO) or black iron oxide. Iron hydroxides include, but are not limited to, ferric hydroxide, yellow iron oxide (FeOOH), iron hydroxide (Fe(OH)), iron(III) hydroxide, iron oxyhydroxide, and limonite. Iron phosphates include, but are not limited to, ferric phosphate, ferric phosphate dihydrate, ferric phosphate hydrate, and ferrous pyrophosphate. Iron fumarates include, but are not limited to, ferrous fumarate and ferric fumarate (Ferro). Iron succinates include, but are not limited to, ferrous succinate and iron(II) succinate salts, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0060] According to certain embodiments, the water-insoluble iron salt, complex, or derivative thereof comprises one or more iron-containing minerals selected from, but not limited to, iron ores including one or more of roaldite, taenite, wustite, magnetite, hematite, monosulfite, goethite, greigite, limonite, siderite, pyrite (marcasite), vernalite, and greenite. However, the above list of ores or minerals is exemplary and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0061] According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble iron salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble iron salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 38% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble iron salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 34% by weight of the total composition.

[0062] According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble iron 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 iron 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 iron 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 iron 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 iron 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 iron salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 5% by weight of the total composition.

[0063] According to further 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 nitrilotriacetate (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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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, wherein elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% 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 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 34% 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 50% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 31% by weight of the total composition.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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, and derivatives thereof. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives, or mixtures thereof, may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0068] 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.

[0069] According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 70% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% 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 1% to 70% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 48% 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 1% to 70% by weight of the total composition, wherein elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 35% by weight of the total composition.

[0070] According to some embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salt, complex, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% 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 1% 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 1% 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 1% 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 1% 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 1% to 20% 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 1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0071] According to another embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises an intimate mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 70% 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, one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, and one or more structuring agents in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition, wherein the elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, and the elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns.

[0072] According to one embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension 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 1% to 70% 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, and one or more of iron oxide or iron carbonate or iron hydroxide or iron silicate or iron 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 20 microns.

[0073] According to one embodiment, a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension 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 1% to 70% 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, and one or more of iron oxide or iron carbonate or iron hydroxide or iron silicate or iron phosphate in the range of 1% to 50% by weight of the total composition, plus one or more structuring agents in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition, wherein the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns.

[0074] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition may further comprise at least one additional water-insoluble plant nutrient.

[0075] 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.

[0076] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional composition is devoid of fertilizers that are primarily composed of alginic acid or urea.

[0077] According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension contains at least one agricultural excipient. According to further embodiments, the agriculturally acceptable excipient used in the liquid suspension composition includes at least one surfactant, dispersant, wetting agent, humectant, solvent, spreading agent, suspending agent or suspension aid, penetrating agent, sticking agent, drift reducing agent, ultraviolet absorber, UV scattering agent, preservative, stabilizer, buffer or pH adjuster or neutralizing agent, antifreeze or freezing point depressant, antifoaming agent, structuring agent, anticaking agent. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that additional agriculturally acceptable excipients can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0078] In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of 0.01% to 97% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 96% by weight of the total composition. In some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 95% 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. According to some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 1% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the pesticide excipients are present in a concentration range of at least 0.1% by weight of the total composition.

[0079] According to some embodiments, the surfactants used in the crop nutritional composition include one or more of emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersing agents. According to some embodiments, the surfactants used in the composition include one or more of anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, and polymeric surfactants.

[0080] 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 include, but are not limited to, one or more of: methylcellulose, sodium myreth sulfate, sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, alkylcarboxylate, sodium stearate, alpha olefin sulfonate, naphthalene sulfonate, alkylnaphthalene sulfonate fatty acid salt, naphthalene sulfonate condensate-sodium salt, fluorocarboxylate, fatty alcohol sulfate, alkylnaphthalene sulfonate condensate-sodium salt, naphthalene sulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde or a salt of alkylnaphthalene sulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde, or a salt or derivative thereof;

[0081] 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- and 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-1 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, polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ether, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene Ethylene glycerin fatty acid esters, alcohol ethoxylates - C6 to C16 / 18 alcohols, linear and branched, alcohol alkoxylates - various hydrophobes and EO / PO content and ratios, fatty acid esters - mono and diesters, lauric, stearic and oleic acids, glycerol esters - with and without EO, lauric, stearic, cocoa and tall oil derived, ethoxylated glycerin, sorbitan esters - with and without EO; lauric, stearic and oleic acid based mono and triesters, 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, but not limited to one or more thereof.

[0082] Amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, one or more of betaine, coco and lauryl amidopropyl betaine, coco alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, alkyl dimethyl betaine, C8 to C18, alkyl dipropionate-sodium 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, or salts or derivatives thereof.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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, alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acid and sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, lauryl sulfates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether sulfate ester salts, and the like, and alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, mixtures of sodium salts of naphthalene sulfonate urea formaldehyde condensates and sodium salts of phenol sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, ethoxylated alkylphenols, ethoxylated fatty acids, alkoxylated linear alcohols, polycyclic aromatic sulfonates, alkyl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, and the like, sodium aryl aryl sulfonate, glyceryl ester, ammonium salt of maleic anhydride copolymer, maleic anhydride copolymer, phosphoric acid ester, condensation product of aryl sulfonic acid and formaldehyde, addition product of ethylene oxide and fatty acid ester, salt of addition product of ethylene oxide and fatty acid ester, sodium salt of isodecyl sulfosuccinic acid half ester, polycarboxylate, sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, sodium salt of sulfonated naphthalene, ammonium salt of sulfonated naphthalene, salt of polyacrylic acid, sodium salts of condensed phenolsulfonic acid 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, maleic anhydride copolymers, phosphate esters, condensation products of arylsulfonic acid and formaldehyde,The additives include, but are not limited to, one or more of 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 phenolsulfonic acids and naphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde condensates, sodium naphthalenesulfonate 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.

[0087] Commercially available dispersants include "Moluwet D425" (naphthalene sodium formaldehyde condensate, formerly Nouryon, USA), 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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 ethylphenols, dibutyl naphthalene sulfonic acid, alkylaryl sulfonates, dioctyl sulfosuccinates, 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 thereof, and derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional wetting agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Wetting agents are commercially available and are available from various companies.

[0090] 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.

[0091] According to certain embodiments, the solvent used in the crop nutritional composition comprises a water-miscible solvent, a water-immiscible solvent, or an oil.

[0092] Water-miscible solvents include, but are not limited to, one or more of 1,4-dioxane, ethylene glycol, glycerol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-propanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, dimethylformamide, dimethoxyethane, dimethyloctanamide, and dimethyldecanamide. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-miscible solvents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0093] According to some embodiments, the water-immiscible solvent comprises one or more of aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum distillates, aromatic and non-aromatic ethers, esters or amides, oils, or mixtures thereof. According to further embodiments, the oil can be one or more of mineral oil, petroleum, vegetable oil, or animal oil, or derivatives or mixtures thereof. However, those skilled in the art will understand that other water-immiscible solvents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0094] Mineral oil or petroleum oil is one or more of aliphatic or isoparaffinic, and mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons; halogenated aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons. Paraffin oil is a linear or branched C8 to C30 paraffin, such as, for example, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, mixtures thereof, or higher boiling homologues. and mixtures thereof with alkyl esters of ... anoi), cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, cyclooctanol, ethylene glycol or propylene glycol with C2 to C12 carboxylic or polycarboxylic acids, such as caproic acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, succinic acid and glutaric acid; or with aromatic carboxylic acids, such as benzoic acid, toluic acid, salicylic acid and phthalic acid; liquid amides of C1 to C5 amines, alkylamines or alkanolamines with C6 to C18 carboxylic acids, or derivatives thereof. Esters that may be used in the oil dispersions of the present invention are benzyl acetate, ethyl caproate, ethyl pelargonate, methyl or ethyl benzoate, methyl, propyl or butyl salicylate, diesters of phthalic acid with saturated aliphatic or alicyclic C1 to C12 alcohols, such as dimethyl, dibutyl or diisooctyl phthalate, or liquid amides of C1 to C3 amines, alkylamines or alkanolamines with C6 to C18 polycarboxylic acids, or derivatives or mixtures thereof.However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other mineral or petroleum oils may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0095] Vegetable oils include one or more seed oils. Vegetable oils include soybean oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, kapok oil, papaya oil, camellia oil, rice bran oil, tung oil, etc., as well as esters of the above vegetable oils or their transesterification products, such as soybean oil methyl ester, ethyl ester, propyl ester, butyl ester, or derivatives thereof. Animal oils include one or more whale oil, cod liver oil, or mink oil. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other vegetable or animal oils can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0096] Petroleum distillates include aromatic hydrocarbons derived from benzene, such as toluene, xylene, other alkylated benzenes, and naphthalene derivatives; aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as hexane, octane, cyclohexane, aliphatic or isoparaffinic mineral oils, and mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons; halogenated aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons; vegetable, seed, or animal oils, such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, tung oil, and the like, and C1-C6 monoesters derived from vegetable oils, such as methyl oleate, methyl soyate, and methyl laurate, seed, or animal oils; C6-C 20 C1-C6 diacylamides of saturated and unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids; C1-C of aromatic carboxylic and dicarboxylic acids 12 Esters and C1-C of aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids 12 Esters of dihydric, trihydric, or other lower polyhydric alcohols C4-C 12 Polyesters, including, for example, one or more of propylene glycol dioleate, dioctyl succinate, dibutyl adipate, dioctyl phthalate, and the like.

[0097] According to certain embodiments, the composition comprises an organic solvent or co-solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, an ether such as an alkylene glycol dialkyl ether, such as ethylene glycol diethyl ether, an amide, such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, or N-methylpyrrolidone, a ketone, such as methyl ethyl ketone, a nitrile, such as butyronitrile, a sulfoxide or sulfone, such as dimethyl sulfoxide or sulfolane, and an alkylene carbonate, such as propylene carbonate or butylene. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other organic solvents or co-solvents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0098] In some embodiments, the solvent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 95% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the solvent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 60% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the solvent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 40% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the solvent is present in an amount of 0.1 to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 97% 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] According to one embodiment, the anti-foaming agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0104] 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.

[0105] 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.

[0106] According to some embodiments, anti-caking agents used in the crop nutritional compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: polysaccharides, such as starch, alginic acid, mannose, and galactose; poly(vinylpyrrolidone); fumed silica (white carbon); ester gum; petroleum resin; Foammaster® soap L sodium stearate; Brij® 700 polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether; sodium acetate; sodium metasilicate; sodium alkyl sulfosuccinate; sodium carbonate or bicarbonate; and salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anti-caking agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Anti-caking agents are commercially available and are available from a variety of companies. According to some embodiments, the anti-caking agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the anti-caking agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 15% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the anti-caking agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0107] 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, or mineral oils, petroleum distillates, modified trisiloxanes, 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.

[0108] 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.

[0109] 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, or 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.

[0110] 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.

[0111] In some embodiments, structuring agents used in the crop nutritional compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of thickeners, viscosity modifiers, tackifiers, suspending aids, rheology modifiers, or anti-settling agents. The structuring agent prevents settling of the active ingredient particles after prolonged storage.

[0112] According to certain embodiments, the structuring agent used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more polymers, such as polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polysaccharides, hydrophobically modified cellulose derivatives, copolymers of cellulose derivatives, carboxyvinyl or polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives; clays, such as bentonite clay, kaolin, smectite, attapulgite, attaclay plus high surface area silica, and natural gums, such as guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, tragacanth gum, rhamsan gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, welan gum, veegum, gelatin, dextrin, collagen; polyacrylic acids and their sodium salts; polyglycol ethers of fatty alcohols and polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide condensation products and mixtures thereof. ethoxylated alkylphenols (also referred to in the art as alkylaryl polyether alcohols); ethoxylated fatty alcohols (or alkyl polyether alcohols); ethoxylated fatty acids (or polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters); ethoxylated sorbitol anhydride esters (or polyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters), long-chain amine and cyclic amine oxides that are non-ionic in basic solution; long-chain tertiary phosphine oxides; and long-chain dialkyl sulfoxides, fumed silica, mixtures of fumed silica and fumed aluminum oxide, swellable polymers, polyamides or derivatives thereof; polyols, such as glycerin, poly(vinyl acetate), sodium polyacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol), phospholipids (e.g., cephalin, etc.); stachyose, fructooligosaccharides, amylose, pectin, alginates, hydrocolloids, and mixtures thereof.Also included are celluloses, such as hemicellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxymethylethylcellulose, hydroxyethylpropylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, and methylcellulose; starches, such as starch acetate, starch hydroxyethyl ether, ionic starches, long-chain alkyl starches, dextrins, maltodextrins, corn starch, amine starch, phosphate starch, and dialdehyde starch; vegetable starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; and other carbohydrates, such as pectin, dextrin, amylopectin, xylan, glycogen, agar, gluten, alginic acid, phycocolloids, chitin, or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional structuring agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0113] Preferred structuring agents include one or more of xanthan gum, aluminum silicate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polysaccharides, alkaline earth metal silicates, clays such as bentonite clay, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol. Structurants are commercially produced and available through a variety of companies.

[0114] According to some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 10% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 5% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 4% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 3% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 2% w / w of the composition. According to some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 1% w / w of the composition.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 0.1% w / w of the composition.

[0116] According to certain embodiments, the antifreeze or freezing point depressant used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, butyrolactone, N,N-dimethyl-formamide, glycerol, monohydric or polyhydric alcohols, glycol ethers, glycol ethers, glycol monoethers, such as the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl ethers of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, glycol diethers, such as the methyl and ethyl diethers of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol, or urea, glycerol, isopropanol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, di- or tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether or cyclohexanol, carbohydrates, such as glucose, mannose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, xylose, arabinose, sorbitol, mannitol, trehalose, raffinose or derivatives thereof. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that different antifreeze agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Antifreeze agents are commercially manufactured and available through a variety of companies.

[0117] According to certain embodiments, the chelating or complexing or sequestering agent used in the composition is selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylic acids, such as polyacrylic acid and various hydrolyzed poly(methyl vinyl ether / maleic anhydride); N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), N,N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-hydroxyethyl-N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, and N,N,N',N",N"-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; alpha-hydroxy acids, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and gluconic acid; orthophosphates, such as trisodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, and monosodium phosphate; and condensed phosphates. Examples of suitable chelating or complexing agents include, but are not limited to, one or more of sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and sodium tetrapolyphosphate; 5-sulfo-8-hydroxyquinoline; and 3,5-disulfopyrocatechol, polycarboxylates, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), ethylenediaminediacetic acid (EDDA), ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDHA), cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA), polyethyleneaminepolyacetic acid, lignosulfonates, Ca-, K-, Na-, and ammonium lignosulfonates, fulvic acid, urmic acid, nucleic acids, cyclodextrins, humic acid, and pyrophosphate. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other chelating or complexing or sequestering agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Chelating or complexing or sequestering agents are commercially produced and available through a variety of companies.

[0118] In some embodiments, the penetrant used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of alcohols, glycols, glycol ethers, esters, amines, alkanolamines, amine oxides, quaternary ammonium compounds, triglycerides, fatty acid esters, fatty acid ethers, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, or dimethyl sulfoxide, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane monooleate, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane dioleate, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane trioleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexaoleate. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different penetrants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Penetrants are commercially available and are available from various companies.

[0119] According to certain embodiments, the humectant is selected from one or more polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene copolymers, particularly block copolymers, such as the Synperonic PE series copolymers available from Uniqema, or salts or derivatives thereof, but is not limited to these. Other humectants include propylene glycol, monoethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), glycerol, and the like; polyhydric alcohol compounds, such as propylene glycol ethers, and their derivatives. Other humectants include aloe vera gel, alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid, glyceryl triacetate, honey, and lithium chloride. The nonionic surfactants mentioned above also function as humectants. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional humectants can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. Humectants are commercially available and available from various companies.

[0120] According to some embodiments, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 90% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 70% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 60% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0121] The inventors have further determined that the compositions of the present invention surprisingly exhibit enhanced physical properties such as suspensibility, improved viscosity, pourability, and spontaneity of dispersion, providing ease of handling and also reducing material loss during handling of the product during packaging and field application.

[0122] 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".

[0123] 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%.

[0124] 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.

[0125] According to certain embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension is not highly concentrated and is easily pourable. The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation due to shear or tensile stresses.

[0126] According to some embodiments, the viscosity of the liquid suspension is determined according to CIPAC MT-192. The sample is transferred to a standard measurement system. Measurements are performed under different shear conditions to determine the apparent viscosity. The temperature of the liquid is kept constant throughout the test. According to some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of about 10 cps to about 2000 cps at 25°C and is pourable. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of about 10 cps to about 1500 cps at 25°C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of about 10 cps to about 1000 cps at 25°C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of about 10 cps to about 500 cps at 25°C.

[0127] According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of less than about 2000 cps at 25° C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of less than about 1500 cps at 25° C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of less than about 500 cps at 25° C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of from about 10 cps to about 400 cps at 25° C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of from about 10 cps to about 300 cps at 25° C. Compositions that are too viscous and highly concentrated tend to form a solid and become unpourable, and are therefore undesirable.

[0128] According to certain embodiments, the liquid suspension compositions of the present invention are easily pourable. Pourability is a measure of the percentage of residue.

[0129] According to some embodiments, the pourability of a composition is determined by allowing the composition to stand for 24 hours and determining the amount remaining in the container after a standardized pouring procedure, as per CIPAC MT-148.1.The container is then rinsed, and the amount remaining is determined, and the maximum rinse residue is calculated as a percentage. According to further embodiments, the pourability of a composition is less than 5% rinse residue. According to further embodiments, the pourability of a composition is preferably less than 2.5% rinse residue. According to further embodiments, the pourability of a composition is more preferably less than 2.0% rinse residue.

[0130] According to some embodiments, dispersion spontaneity is measured according to CIPAC MT 160. This involves preparing a 250 ml mixture of formulation and water, with a single inversion of the graduated cylinder to mix. After standing under defined conditions, the top nine-tenths is removed, and the remaining one-tenth is assayed chemically, gravimetrically, or by solvent extraction. Dispersion spontaneity is easily calculated. According to some embodiments, suspension concentrate compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 30%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 40%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 50%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 60%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 70%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 80%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 90%. According to some embodiments, compositions have a dispersion spontaneity of about 95%. According to one embodiment, the composition has a spontaneity of dispersion of about 99%.

[0131] According to some embodiments, the dispersion stability of oil dispersions and suspoemulsion compositions is measured according to CIPAC MT 180. A dispersion of a specified concentration in water is prepared, and aliquots are placed in two graduated emulsion tubes, which are then allowed to stand undisturbed at a constant temperature for a specified time in both upright and inverted positions. The dispersion characteristics are observed immediately after the dispersion is prepared, after a specified time, and after redispersion. According to some embodiments, the oil dispersion or suspoemulsion composition disperses immediately. According to some embodiments, the oil dispersion or suspoemulsion composition has dispersion stability for at least 30 minutes. According to some embodiments, the oil dispersion or suspoemulsion composition has dispersion stability for at least 60 minutes. According to some embodiments, the oil dispersion or suspoemulsion composition has dispersion stability for at least 24 hours. The compositions of the present invention are stable and easily dispersible and can be easily sprayed, even after 30 minutes and 24 hours, without settling or forming a free oil layer.

[0132] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension, comprising a homogeneous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, and one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, together with at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient. The liquid suspension composition is in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion, or suspoemulsion composition.

[0133] According to a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprising a homogenous mixture of one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 70% w / w of the total composition, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and one or more water-insoluble iron 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 elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition, the elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition, and the composition is comprised of particulates in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns.

[0134] According to one embodiment, the process for preparing a suspension concentrate composition involves homogenizing water or a water-miscible solvent by feeding one or more excipients, such as one or more surfactants, into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. One or more water-insoluble zinc salts, their complexes or derivatives, one or more water-insoluble iron salts, their complexes or derivatives, and one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, their complexes or derivatives, along with at least one agriculturally acceptable excipient, are further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture is continuously stirred for about 5 to 10 minutes until the entire mixture is homogenized. The resulting suspension is then passed through a wet mill to obtain a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 20 microns, preferably from 0.1 to 10 microns. The required amount of structuring agent and, optionally, a biocide or preservative are then added to the resulting suspension while being continuously homogenized.

[0135] According to one embodiment, the process for preparing an oil dispersion composition involves mixing at least one water-immiscible solvent and one or more surfactants to obtain a solvent-excipient mixture. The solvent mixture is optionally heated to 70-80°C, depending on the physical properties of the excipients. The solvent mixture is then cooled to room temperature. Further, one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and other optional pesticide excipients are added to the solvent mixture to obtain a homogenized solution. The homogenized solution is milled for approximately 15-30 minutes to obtain a dispersion medium with a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 20 microns.

[0136] According to one embodiment, a process for preparing a suspoemulsion composition includes mixing or dissolving one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, their complexes, or derivatives, one or more water-insoluble iron salts, their complexes, or derivatives, and one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, their complexes, or derivatives in an oil or solvent, and adding the necessary agrochemical excipients to prepare a concentrated emulsion to obtain a first fraction. The process further includes mixing an effective amount of a surfactant or excipient to obtain a second fraction, which is then milled to obtain a desired particle size. The two resulting fractions are then mixed using a suitable homogenizer for 30 minutes to obtain a suspoemulsion composition having a desired particle size of 0.1 to 50 microns. The two resulting fractions are then mixed in a mass mixer for 30 minutes to obtain a suspoemulsion composition having a desired particle size of 0.1 to 20 microns.

[0137] According to certain embodiments, the present invention further relates to the use of a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension as at least one of a nutrient composition, a crop supplement composition, a soil conditioner composition, a crop protection and yield enhancer composition.

[0138] In certain embodiments, the present invention further relates to a method for improving plant health or yield, comprising treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, location or site, seed, seedling; or surrounding soil with a liquid suspension composition of the present invention.

[0139] In certain embodiments, the present invention also relates to a method of applying a crop nutritional composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprising a homogeneous mixture of 1% to 50% by weight of one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes, or derivatives thereof, 1% to 70% 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 iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% by weight, the elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% by weight, and the elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight, and the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, and the composition is applied to a seed, seedling, crop, plant, plant propagation material, locus, plant part, or the surrounding soil.

[0140] In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a method for treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, and iron available to the plants, and by releasing and making available to the plants other micronutrients and trace elements present in the soil that were previously unavailable due to various factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers. The present invention also relates to fortifying plants to withstand pest infestations. The present invention also relates to a method for biofortifying plants with essential micronutrients.

[0141] 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.

[0142] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: At least one water-insoluble iron salt, its complex or derivative in the range of 1-50% w / w of the total composition; 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 1% to 70% w / w of the total composition; at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient; 1. A method for treating plants and meeting their nutritional requirements by enhancing the uptake of magnesium, zinc and iron by application of a composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental zinc present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition; The composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. Regarding the method.

[0143] The composition of the present invention also helps adjust soil pH, so as to facilitate the balanced uptake of micronutrients.Furthermore, it has been found that the composition of the present invention is effective regardless of soil pH, making it a viable composition for all kinds of soil.More importantly, it has been noted that the presence of magnesium in the form of the composition of the present invention, together with zinc and iron, not only facilitates the uptake of a significant proportion of iron and zinc present in the composition, but also allows plants to take up the micronutrients such as boron, manganese and calcium that are encapsulated in soil.

[0144] It has been found that the composition of the present invention plays a crucial role in adjusting soil pH and facilitating nutrient uptake, even in soils that have been degraded or whose pH has changed due to excessive use of synthetic fertilizers.The composition of the present invention satisfies plant nutritional needs by providing balanced uptake of essential nutrients such as zinc, iron and magnesium, thus overcoming the problem of providing nutrient-rich crops in calcareous soils, which are known to present antagonistic challenges to the uptake of these nutrients.It has also been surprising to observe that balanced nutrient uptake leads to healthier plants that can withstand pest infestations, higher nutrient yields in all types of soil, and ultimately improves overall soil health.The composition of the present invention acts as a composition with high nutrient utilization efficiency, while satisfying crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by crops in a single application.

[0145] 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.

[0146] 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]

[0147] A. Preparation example: The following examples illustrate the basic methodology and versatility of the composition of the present invention.The water-insoluble sources of iron, 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.

[0148] 1. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 6% zinc borate, 9% iron fumarate, and 9% magnesium carbonate. 3 parts polyacrylate copolymer and 4 parts monoethylene glycol were added to water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 6 parts zinc borate, 9 parts iron fumarate, and 9 parts magnesium carbonate were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture was homogenized. 1 part Tensiofix RP and 2 parts lignosulfonate were added to the above mixture. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill. 0.1 parts xanthan gum, 0.1 parts benzisothiazoline, and 0.2 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added to the resulting mixture while being continuously homogenized, followed by a sufficient amount of water to obtain a suspension concentrate composition.

[0149] The composition had a D90 particle size of 4 microns, a viscosity of 550 cps and a suspendability of 94%. The composition had a D90 particle size of 3.6 microns, a viscosity of 610 cps and a suspendability of 90% under accelerated storage conditions.

[0150] 2. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 3% zinc oxide, 30% ferrous carbonate, and 1.75% magnesium carbonate. A suspension concentrate composition containing 3 parts zinc oxide, 30 parts iron phosphate, 1.75 parts magnesium carbonate, 4 parts monoethylene glycol, 3 parts polyacrylate copolymer, 1 part naphthalene sulfonate condensate sodium salt, 2 parts lignin sulfonate, 0.2 parts silicone antifoam, 0.1 part MZ36, 0.1 part xanthan gum, and water sufficient to make up to 100% was prepared as in Example 1.

[0151] The composition had a D90 particle size of 5.2 microns, a viscosity of 300 cps, and a suspension level of 88%. Under accelerated storage conditions, the composition exhibited a D90 particle size of 5.8 microns, a viscosity of 450 cps, and a suspension level of 80%.

[0152] 3. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 17.5% zinc borate, 10.5% ferric oxide, and 17.5% magnesium silicate. A suspension concentrate composition containing 17.5 parts zinc borate, 10.5 parts ferric oxide, 17.5 parts magnesium silicate, 4 parts monoethylene glycol, 3 parts polyacrylate graft copolymer, 1 part lignosulfonate, 2 parts naphthalenesulfonate condensate, 0.2 parts silicone antifoam, 0.1 part benzisothiazolinone, 0.5 parts sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and water to make up to 100% was prepared as in Example 1.

[0153] The composition had a D90 particle size of 8.6 microns, a viscosity of 720 cps, and a suspension quality of 89%. Under accelerated storage conditions, the composition exhibited a D90 particle size of 3.7 microns, a viscosity of 1000 cps, and a suspension quality of 83%.

[0154] <4. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 8% zinc oxide, 4% iron(II) oxide, and 20% magnesium silicate hydrate> A suspension concentrate composition containing 8 parts zinc oxide, 4 parts iron(II) oxide, 20 parts magnesium silicate hydrate, 4 parts monoethylene glycol, 3 parts alkyl naphthalene sulfonate condensate sodium salt, 1 part Disperbyk 2010, 2 parts lignin sulfonate, 0.2 parts petroleum-based antifoaming agent, 0.1 parts benzisothiazolinone, 0.1 parts xanthan gum, and sufficient water to make up the composition was prepared as in Example 1.

[0155] The composition had a particle size (D90) of 2.7 microns, a viscosity of 1000 cps, and a suspension level of 94%. Under accelerated storage conditions, the composition exhibited a particle size (D90) of 8.1 microns, a viscosity of 1300 cps, and a suspension level of 90%.

[0156] <5. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 5% zinc phosphate, 5% iron(II) fumarate, and 15% magnesium hydroxide> A suspension concentrate composition containing 5 parts zinc phosphate, 5 parts iron fumarate, 15 parts magnesium hydroxide, 4 parts propylene glycol, 3 parts acid resin copolymer, 3 parts acrylic acid graft copolymer, 0.2 parts polydimethylsiloxane antifoam agent, 0.1 part benzothiazolinone, 0.1 part xanthan gum, and 64.6 parts water was prepared as in Example 1.

[0157] The composition had a D90 particle size of 3.0 microns, a viscosity of 1000 cps, and a suspendability of 91%. Under accelerated storage conditions, the composition exhibited a D90 particle size of 8.8 microns, a viscosity of 1200 cps, and a suspendability of 87%.

[0158] <6. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 6% zinc oxide, 6% ferric oxide, and 12% magnesium oxide> A suspension concentrate composition containing 6 parts zinc oxide, 6 parts ferric oxide, 12 parts magnesium oxide, 4 parts monoethylene glycol, 3 parts polyacrylate graft copolymer, 3 parts Gelopon SC213, 0.2 parts silicone antifoam, 0.1 parts benzisothiazolinone, 0.1 parts xanthan gum, and water to make up to 100% was prepared as in Example 1.

[0159] The composition had a D90 particle size of 4.6 microns, a viscosity of 750 cps, and a suspensibility of 89%. Under accelerated storage conditions, the D90 particle size was 9 microns, the viscosity was 790 cps, and the suspensibility was 80%.

[0160] 7. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 2.5% zinc oxide, 5% iron(III) phosphate, and 40% magnesium carbonate in monoethylene glycol. A suspension concentrate composition was prepared by dispersing 2.5 parts zinc oxide, 5 parts iron(III) phosphate, and 40 parts magnesium carbonate in 33 parts monoethylene glycol (as a solvent). 23 parts polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, 2.5 grams of sodium lignosulfonate, and 3 parts polyacrylate were added to the slurry, which was then passed through a suitable wet mill. 1 part anhydrous fumed silica was added with stirring, and stirring was continued for 30 minutes.

[0161] The composition had a D90 particle size of 3.2 microns, a viscosity of 200 cps, and a suspensibility of 86%. Under ATS, the D90 particle size was 4 microns, the viscosity was 300 cps, and the suspensibility was 78%.

[0162] <8. Oil dispersion composition containing 10% zinc oxide, 5% ferrous carbonate, and 15% magnesium oxide> 4 parts of nonionic block copolymer was mixed with 54 parts of sunflower seed oil until homogeneous. 10 parts of zinc oxide, 5 parts of ferrous carbonate, and 15 parts of magnesium oxide were added to the sunflower oil. The resulting mixture was further mixed with 10 parts of graft polymer in a suitable mixing device and ground to form a slurry or wet mix. 2 parts of hydrophobically modified silica was added to the slurry to obtain a stable homogeneous oil dispersion.

[0163] The composition had a D90 particle size of 3.5 microns. The composition had a 95% suspension, a 0.5% residue pourability, and a viscosity of 350 cps. The composition further demonstrated approximately 91% suspension, a D90 particle size of 4 microns, a 1% residue pourability, and a viscosity of 450 cps under accelerated storage conditions.

[0164] 9. A suspension concentrate composition comprising 3.75% zinc carbonate, 3.75% iron silicate, and 7.5% magnesium oxide. A suspension concentrate composition containing 3.75 parts zinc carbonate, 3.75 parts iron silicate and 7.5 parts magnesium oxide, 4 parts glycerol, 3 parts sodium lauryl sulfate, 1 part polyacrylate graft copolymer, 2 parts Kraft lignin, 0.2 parts oil-based defoamer, and water to make 100% was prepared as in Example 1.

[0165] The composition had a particle size (D90) of 4.2 microns, a viscosity of 580 cps, and a suspension level of 86%. The composition exhibited a particle size (D90) of 4.8 microns, a viscosity of 650 cps, and a suspension level of 80% under ATS.

[0166] <10. A suspoemulsion composition containing 2.5% zinc phosphate, 5% iron silicate, and 12.5% ​​magnesium hydroxide> A suspoemulsion composition was prepared containing 2.5 parts zinc phosphate, 5 parts iron silicate, 12.5 parts magnesium hydroxide, 6 parts propylene glycol, 30 parts water, 3 parts acid resin copolymer, 3 parts acrylic acid graft copolymer, and 0.2 parts polydimethylsiloxane antifoaming agent. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill. 0.1 parts xanthan gum, 0.1 parts benzisothiazoline, 0.2 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion, and 10 parts sunflower oil were then added with the remaining amount of water while being continuously homogenized to obtain a suspoemulsion.

[0167] The composition had a D90 particle size of 3.0 microns, a viscosity of 800 cps, and a suspension level of 80%. Under accelerated storage conditions, the composition exhibited a D90 particle size of 4.8 microns, a viscosity of 1200 cps, and a suspension level of 78%.

[0168] B. Field Survey: Experiment No. 1: To study the effect of a liquid suspension composition containing a water-insoluble zinc salt, a water-insoluble magnesium salt, and a water-insoluble iron salt on a soybean crop. Field Experiment Methodology: A field trial was conducted in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to determine the efficacy of a liquid suspension composition containing a water-insoluble zinc salt, a water-insoluble magnesium salt, and a water-insoluble iron salt on soybean. The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with 10 treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 30 square meters (6 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Test product compounds, various zinc salts, iron salts, and magnesium salts alone and in combination in a liquid suspension composition according to the present invention at varying concentrations, were applied to the soil at the time of sowing at prescribed doses. Soybean crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0169] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Indore, Madhya Pradesh b) Crop and variety: Soybean (JS335) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 10 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 07.07.2022 i) Applicable date: 07.07.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 10.10.2022 l) Soil pH: 7-7.5

[0170] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 1, listing the efficacy of liquid suspension compositions prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0171] [Table 1]

[0172] [Table 2]

[0173] From the observed data in Table 1, it can be seen that compositions T4 and T8, as an embodiment of the present invention, demonstrate synergistic behavior.

[0174] "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+Z-(XY+YZ+XZ) / 100+(XYZ / 10000) 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 Z = % observed effect of product C

[0175] 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.

[0176] A synergistic effect of the combination can be inferred if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is greater than the expected percentage, an additive effect can only be inferred if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is equal to the expected percentage, and an antagonistic effect of the combination can be inferred if the percentage yield effect observed for the combination is lower than the expected percentage.

[0177] As can be seen from Table 1, synergistic factors of 1.41 and 1.10 can be observed for treatments T4 and T8, which portrays the synergistic nature of the SC compositions of "zinc carbonate + iron silicate + magnesium oxide" and "zinc silicate + iron(II) fumarate + magnesium carbonate," respectively. This synergistic behavior of the "water-insoluble zinc salt, water-insoluble magnesium salt, and water-insoluble iron salt" in the form of SC according to an embodiment of the present invention can be observed from the yield of soybean crops. Four treatments, namely, T1 (15% zinc carbonate SC), T2 (15% iron silicate SC), T3 (30% magnesium oxide SC), and T4 [15% zinc carbonate (4.32% elemental zinc SC) + 15% iron silicate (4.928% elemental iron SC) + 30% magnesium oxide (18.09% elemental magnesium)] SC, were applied at active doses, namely, 17.3 g / ha zinc, 19.72 g / ha iron, and 72.39 g / ha magnesium. Treatment T4 exhibited the highest yield of approximately 1610 kg / ha compared to treatments T1 with a yield of 1100 kg / ha, T2 with a yield of 1020 kg / ha, and T3 with a yield of 1120 kg / ha. The expected % increase in yield was 49.07%, while the observed % increase in yield for treatment T4 was 78.89%, demonstrating a synergistic effect.

[0178] Thus, the combination of 15% zinc carbonate + 15% iron silicate + 30% magnesium oxide in SC form according to an embodiment of the present invention is synergistic and provides higher crop yields compared to the application of the individual active substances when applied at the same dose. A similar trend in terms of yield was observed in treatment T8 when compared to treatments T5, T6, and T7, which respectively illustrate the synergistic behavior of the compositions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0179] From the observed results, it can be seen that the plant height and number of branches in the soybean crop were higher in treatment T4 with 15% zinc carbonate + 15% iron silicate + 30% magnesium oxide - SC compared to the individual applications of the active substances. Comparing treatments T5 to T8, it can be noted that treatment T8 has a plant height and number of branches of 45.30 cm and 8.6 branches, respectively, while treatments T5, T6 and T7 have plant heights of 39.10, 38.20 and 39.20 cm and 3.1, 4.2 and 5.2 branches, respectively.

[0180] The untreated control also has a plant height of 37 cm and 2.5 branches. It was also observed that the leaves of soybean plots treated with treatments T4 and T8 were greener compared to treatments T1-T3, T5-T7 and the untreated plots where yellowing of leaves was observed.

[0181] It can also be observed from Table 1 that for SC compositions prepared according to embodiments of the present invention, the availability of zinc, magnesium, and iron was greater than that observed for the same actives applied stand-alone at a soil pH of 7-7.5. For the SC composition T8—10% zinc silicate (5.86% elemental zinc) + 20% iron(II) fumarate (6.57% elemental zinc) + 35% magnesium carbonate (10.09% elemental magnesium)—SC, 6.58 mg, 4.1 mg, and 250 mg of zinc, iron, and magnesium were available for uptake, whereas for the applications of the individual actives in treatments T5, T6, and T7, only 2.1 mg, 1.4 mg, and 1.5 mg of zinc, 1.2 mg, 2.3 mg, and 1.2 mg of iron, and 67 mg, 65 mg, and 189 mg of magnesium, respectively, were available for plant uptake.

[0182] It was noticed that this significant increase in zinc and iron availability observed in treatments T4 and T8 was due to the presence of magnesium along with zinc and iron in the composition formulated as an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., in the form of a liquid suspension with particle sizes in the range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, facilitating an increase in the availability of the full range of micronutrients present in the composition, i.e., magnesium, iron and zinc, for uptake by the crop.

[0183] It is therefore notable that compositions comprising a combination of a water-insoluble zinc salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt and a water-insoluble iron salt in the form of a liquid suspension demonstrate better uptake of magnesium, zinc and iron when compared to application of the active agents individually as well as application of iron and zinc only compositions lacking magnesium.

[0184] Furthermore, compared with Treatment T9 (a composition prepared according to the teachings of the prior art), Treatment T8 prepared according to an embodiment of the present invention also demonstrated enhanced yield, despite being applied with reduced doses of zinc and magnesium. Furthermore, for T9 - a SC composition of 10% zinc oxide (8.03% elemental zinc) + 40% magnesium oxide (24.13% elemental magnesium) - a prior art composition, 2.3 mg, 0.9 mg, and 195 mg of zinc, iron, and magnesium were available for uptake, while for Treatment T8, 6.58 mg, 4.1 mg, and 250 mg of zinc, iron, and magnesium were available for uptake by plants. Therefore, even when applied with higher doses of active substances, i.e., zinc and magnesium, using the same formulation, Treatment T9 shows lower uptake of these nutrients. Conversely, Treatment T8 shows much higher uptake of the same nutrients. It was noticed that this significant increase in nutrient availability observed in treatment T8 compared to T9 is due to the nature of the composition formulated as per an embodiment of the present invention, i.e. in the form of a liquid suspension with particle sizes in the range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, facilitating increased availability of the full range of micronutrients present in the composition, i.e. magnesium, iron and zinc, for uptake by the crop.

[0185] From the foregoing data, it can be concluded that compositions comprised of "water-insoluble zinc salts, water-insoluble magnesium salts, and water-insoluble iron salts" in the form of SCs as per embodiments of the present invention at different doses and claimed concentration ranges demonstrated significantly higher micronutrient uptake, higher yield, plant height, root development, and number of branches.

[0186] The inventors of the present invention have further observed that apart from the zinc, magnesium and iron salts listed in Table 1 above, other zinc, magnesium and iron salts as claimed in the present application also exhibit similar effects when applied as per the embodiments of the present invention.

[0187] Experiment No. 2: To study the effect of the liquid suspension composition of the present invention on tomato crops A field trial was conducted in Chakan, Pune, Maharashtra to evaluate embodiments of the composition of the present invention on tomato crops, variety Abhinav. The trial was laid down in a randomized block design (RBD) with nine 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 nutrient composition, various zinc, iron, and magnesium salts alone and in combination in suspension concentrates as per the present invention at varying concentrations, were applied at the defined doses as a base plant application at the time of sowing of the tomato crops.

[0188] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Trial location: Chakan, Pune b) Crop and variety: Abhinav (Syngenta) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 9 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 15.07.2022 i) Applicable date: 15.07.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 03.11.2022 l) Soil pH: 7-7.5

[0189] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 2, listing the efficacy of liquid suspensions of "water-insoluble zinc salts, water-insoluble magnesium salts, and water-insoluble iron salts" prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0190] [Table 3]

[0191] From the observed data in Table 2, it can be seen that compositions T4 and T8, as an embodiment of the present invention, demonstrate synergistic behavior.

[0192] Based on the data presented in Table 2 and the calculations made, the expected percentage increase in peanut kernel yield was found to be 21.68% and 31.30%. However, from Table 2 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T4 with SC of 40% zinc oxide (32.13% elemental zinc) + 20% iron (III) phosphate (7.406% elemental iron) + 5% magnesium carbonate (1.44% elemental magnesium) as per an embodiment of the present invention showed a 65.91% increase in tomato fruit yield, and treatment T8 with 10% zinc silicate + 25% iron fumarate + 30% magnesium hydroxide-SC composition as per an embodiment of the present invention showed a 79.55% increase in tomato fruit yield.

[0193] However, treatments T1 with 40% zinc oxide SC, T2 with 20% iron(III) phosphate SC, and T3 with 5% magnesium carbonate SC demonstrated only 13.64%, 4.55%, and 5% increases in tomato fruit, respectively. Similarly, treatments T5 with 10% zinc silicate SC, T6 with 25% iron fumarate SC, and T7 with 30% magnesium hydroxide SC demonstrated only 5%, 9.09%, and 20.45% increases in fruit yield of tomato crops, respectively. Thus, treatments T4 and T8 with liquid suspensions according to embodiments of the present invention demonstrated synergistic effects compared to treatments with individual active substances. The results were even more surprising when treatments T1-T4 and T5-T8 were applied to the soil with the same doses of zinc, iron and magnesium salts, i.e., 128.54 g / ha zinc, 29.62 g / ha iron, 5.77 g / ha magnesium and 29.34 g / ha zinc, 41.09 g / ha iron, 62.54 g / ha magnesium, respectively.

[0194] Furthermore, treatments T4 and T8 exhibited the highest fruit weights when compared to the fruit weights observed for treatments T1-T7.

[0195] From the above data, it can be concluded that compositions comprised of "water-insoluble zinc salts, water-insoluble magnesium salts, and water-insoluble iron salts" in the form of SCs as embodied in the present invention at different dosages and in the claimed concentration ranges demonstrated significantly higher yield and fruit weight.

[0196] The inventors of the present invention have further observed that apart from the zinc, magnesium and iron salts listed in Table 2 above, other zinc, magnesium and iron salts as claimed in the present application also exhibit similar effects when applied as per the embodiments of the present invention.

[0197] Experiment No. 3: Evaluating the effect of particle size distribution in a composition containing zinc oxide, ferric oxide, and magnesium oxide - SC on eggplant yield. Field Experiment Methodology: A field trial was conducted in West Bengal to observe the effect of different range of particle sizes for composition of Zinc Oxide + Ferric Oxide + Magnesium Oxide - SC on the yield of brinjal.

[0198] The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times during the spring season. A plot size of 40 square meters (8 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Eggplant crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0199] a) Trial location: North 24 Parganas, West Bengal b) Crop and variety: Eggplant (VNR212) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 8 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 24.08.2022 i) Applicable date: 24.08.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 10.12.2022 l) Soil pH: 7-7.5

[0200] Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 3 to ascertain the effect of particle size distribution of SC composition containing "water-insoluble zinc salt, water-insoluble magnesium salt and water-insoluble iron salt" on eggplant yield.

[0201] [Table 4]

[0202] From the data presented in Table 3, it can be seen that treatment T1 (a liquid suspension composition of 6% zinc oxide + 6% ferric oxide + 12% magnesium oxide according to an embodiment of the present invention with a particle size ranging from 0.1 to 20 microns) showed a significant increase in yield when compared to treatments T2, T3, and T4, which consisted of a liquid suspension of 6% zinc oxide + 6% ferric oxide + 12% magnesium oxide with a particle size ranging from 21 to 50 microns, and 50 to 100 microns, respectively. Treatment T1 showed a surprisingly significant 84.21% increase in yield, while treatments T2, T3, and T4 showed only 40.53%, 36.84%, and 35.26% increases in yield, respectively, compared to the untreated control.

[0203] Furthermore, uptake of nutrients such as iron, magnesium, zinc, etc. was found to be significantly higher in treatment T1 compared to treatments T2, T3 and T4. It is therefore notable that superior efficacy in terms of yield and nutrient uptake was observed with the liquid suspension formulation as per the present invention, wherein the composition contained particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns when compared to liquid suspension formulations having a higher particle size range.

[0204] Experiment No. 4: To evaluate the efficacy of different formulations of water-insoluble iron, zinc, and magnesium salts in commercially cultivated wheat fields. Field Experiment Methodology: The trial was conducted during the rabi season in a randomized block design (RBD) with 13 treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 30 square meters (6m x 5m) was maintained for each treatment. The compositions tested included different formulations including zinc, iron, and magnesium salts alone, and a combination of water-insoluble zinc, iron, and magnesium salts, where the zinc, iron, and magnesium salts were applied at the same dose in each treatment. Wheat crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice. The details of the experiment are as follows:

[0205] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Karnal, Haryana b) Crop and variety: Wheat (variety: PBW343) c) Experimental season: Rabi 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 13 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 09.11.2022 i) Applicable date: 25.11.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 11.04.2022 l) Soil pH: 7-7.5

[0206] The average data of all observations is presented in Table 4 to illustrate the effect on wheat yield and other parameters of combinations including water-insoluble salts of zinc, magnesium and iron in the form of a liquid suspension, as well as in pastille and powder forms according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0207] [Table 5]

[0208] From Table 4 above, it can be clearly seen that treatment T3 with 20% zinc silicate (11.73% elemental zinc) + 10% ferrous carbonate (4.82% elemental iron) + 20% magnesium silicate hydrate (3.486% elemental magnesium) - SC as an embodiment of the present invention demonstrated a yield increase of 63.33% in wheat grain yield. However, treatment T1 with 20% zinc silicate + 10% ferrous carbonate + 20% magnesium silicate hydrate pellets demonstrated only a 26.67% increase in grain yield, while treatment T2 with 20% zinc silicate + 10% ferrous carbonate + 20% magnesium silicate hydrate powder demonstrated only a 33.33% increase. Referring to treatments T1-T6, based on the data and calculations made, the expected percentage increase in fruit yield was 36.89%. It can therefore be noted that treatment T3 - SC as per the present invention demonstrated a synergistic effect compared to the same treatments by pastilles or by powder composition, i.e. treatments T1 and T2 respectively, and the application of individual active substances, i.e. treatments T4 to T6, despite being applied at the same doses of zinc, iron and magnesium, respectively. The results were even more surprising when all of treatments T1 to T6 were applied to the soil at the same doses of zinc, iron and magnesium, i.e. 46.93 gm / ha zinc, 19.28 gm / ha iron and 13.95 gm / ha magnesium.

[0209] Furthermore, treatment T9 with 10% zinc oxide (8.033% elemental zinc) + 5% iron (II) oxide (3.886% elemental iron) + 25% magnesium silicate hydrate (4.35% elemental magnesium) SC exhibited the highest grain yield of about 86.67% when compared to treatment T7 with 10% zinc oxide + 5% iron (II) oxide + magnesium silicate hydrate (Hydrat) pellets (33.33% grain yield) and treatment T8 with 10% zinc oxide + 5% iron (II) oxide + 25% magnesium silicate hydrate (Hydrat) powder (46.67% grain yield). It was further observed that treatments T3 and T9 with compositions according to embodiments of the present invention exhibited increased green color and improved plant height and shoot number compared to the pastille and powder compositions, i.e., treatments T1-T2 and T7-T8, respectively.

[0210] It is therefore notable that the composition of a "water-insoluble iron salt, a water-insoluble zinc salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of a suspension concentrate 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.

[0211] Experiment No. 5: To study the effects of the suspension concentrate composition of the present invention on corn The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with six treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times during the kharif season. The compositions tested included a SC composition of zinc and iron salts, and a SC composition of the present invention as a soil fertilizer application after planting of maize seedlings in the trial plots. Maize crops at the trial sites were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0212] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Dawangere, Karnataka b) Crop and variety: NK7720 (Syngenta) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 6 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 12.07.2022 i) Applicable date: 12.07.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 20.11.2022 l) Soil pH: 6.5-7

[0213] Observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 5, listing the efficacy of suspension concentrates containing "water-insoluble zinc salts, water-insoluble magnesium salts, and water-insoluble iron salts" prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0214] [Table 6]

[0215] From Table 5, it can be observed that SC compositions containing zinc salts, iron salts, and magnesium salts according to embodiments of the present invention exhibit significantly enhanced nutrient uptake compared to the uptake observed with the application of a zinc salt + iron salt SC composition under acidic soil pH conditions where active Zn and Fe were applied at the same active doses. For example, treatment T2 with 25% zinc borate (15.626% elemental zinc) + 15% ferric oxide (10.49% elemental iron) + 25% magnesium silicate (4.358% elemental magnesium) SC prepared according to embodiments of the present invention demonstrated an uptake of 5.3 mg zinc, 4.3 mg iron, and 21.3 mg magnesium, while treatment T1 with 25% zinc borate + 15% ferric oxide SC lacking magnesium showed reduced uptake of 1.1 mg zinc, 1.0 mg iron, and 6.7 mg magnesium, indicating that zinc and iron uptake was very low even at acidic soil pH, which is generally considered to be favorable for nutrient uptake. It was noticed that this significant increase in zinc and iron availability observed in treatment T2 was due to the presence of magnesium along with zinc and iron in the composition formulated as an embodiment of the present invention, i.e. in treatment T2 in the form of a liquid suspension with particle sizes in the range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, facilitating an increase in the availability of the full range of micronutrients present in the composition, i.e. magnesium, iron and zinc, for uptake by the crop.

[0216] Furthermore, application of Treatment 4 with 8% zinc sulfide (5.366% elemental zinc) + 2% iron(II) oxide (1.55% elemental iron) + 16% magnesium hydroxide (6.668% elemental magnesium) - SC according to an embodiment of the present invention showed a 52.54% increase in corn yield compared to Treatment T3 which showed a 15.59% increase in corn grain yield. The enhanced efficacy with the composition according to an embodiment of the present invention is surprising given the same doses of zinc and iron applied in the SC composition according to the present invention, and the dual treatment lacking magnesium, i.e., T3.

[0217] When the three active substances are present as per the embodiment of the present invention, i.e., in a single composition and at specific concentrations, surprising efficacy in terms of corn grain yield was observed for treatments T2 and T4, where the composition comprises particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. It is further noted that treatments T2 and T4, with yield increases of approximately 50.44% and 52.54%, respectively, demonstrated higher efficacy when compared to a commercially available micronutrient mixture, i.e., treatment T5, which showed only an 18.98% yield increase despite being applied at a high formulation dose.

[0218] It was further observed that in treatment T5, the uptake of zinc, iron, and magnesium was found to be 1.2 mg, 0.8 mg, and 10.6 mg, respectively, and in treatment T3, the uptake of zinc, iron, and magnesium was found to be 0.9 mg, 0.8 mg, and 7.5 mg, respectively. On the other hand, in treatment T4, the uptake of zinc, iron, and magnesium was found to be 5.1 mg, 4.1 mg, and 20.3 mg, respectively. It was noted that this significant increase in zinc and iron availability observed in treatment T4 was due to the presence of magnesium, along with zinc and iron, in the composition formulated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., in the form of a liquid suspension with particle sizes ranging from 0.1 microns to 20 microns, which facilitated the increased availability of the full range of micronutrients present in the composition, i.e., magnesium, iron, and zinc, for uptake by the crop. It is therefore notable that compositions comprising a combination of a water-insoluble zinc salt and a water-insoluble magnesium salt and a water-insoluble iron salt in the form of water-dispersible granules demonstrate better uptake of magnesium, zinc and iron when compared to the application of commercially available multi-nutrient powder compositions and iron- and zinc-only compositions lacking magnesium.

[0219] From the above data, it can be concluded that compositions comprised of "water-insoluble zinc salts, water-insoluble magnesium salts, and water-insoluble iron salts" in the form of WDG as an embodiment of the present invention at different doses and claimed concentration ranges demonstrated significantly higher micronutrient uptake and higher yields.

[0220] Thus, the composition of the present invention in the form of a liquid suspension composition has been found to be a high nutrient use efficient fertilizer.

[0221] Experiment No. 6 - To study the efficacy of various compositions of water-insoluble salts of zinc, iron and magnesium on tomato crops. A field trial was conducted at Nipad, Maharashtra to observe the effect of various formulations of water-insoluble salts of zinc, iron and magnesium on yield and yield-related parameters in tomato. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven as mentioned treatments including an untreated control replicated three times during the kharif season.

[0222] A plot size of 40 square meters (8 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Treatments at the prescribed doses were applied foliarly 30 days after planting of the tomato crops, with spray applications repeated twice weekly. Tomato crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0223] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Nipad (Maharashtra) b) Crop: Tomato (Avinash) c) Experimental season: Kharif 2022 (June to October) d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 3 f) Processing: 10 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 square meters h) Sowing date: 04.06.2022 i) Applicable dates: 1st - 05.07.2022; 2nd - 14.07.2022; 3rd - 25.07.2022 j) Application method: Foliar spray using a water volume of 500 L / ha Observations were recorded and the average data are presented in Table 6 to list the effects of the different treatments.

[0224] [Table 7]

[0225] From Table 6, it was observed that compositions containing water-insoluble salts of zinc, iron and magnesium in the form of oil dispersions and suspoemulsions exhibit synergistic properties.

[0226] From Table 6, it can be observed that Treatment T4 - OD of 10% zinc carbonate (5.2% elemental zinc) + 5% ferrous carbonate (2.41% elemental iron) + 15% magnesium oxide (9.04% elemental magnesium) prepared according to an embodiment of the invention and Treatment T8 - SE composition of 2.5% zinc phosphate + 5% ferrous silicate + 12.5% ​​magnesium hydroxide demonstrated yields that were better than and exceeded the untreated plots for Treatments T1-13 and T5-T7, respectively.

[0227] Thus, from the data presented in Table 6, it can be noted that the OD and SE compositions prepared according to embodiments of the present invention are synergistic and provide higher crop yields compared to the application of the individual active substances when applied at the same dose.

[0228] Experiment No. 7: To study the effect of the composition of the present invention on the uptake of zinc, magnesium and iron in different soil pH conditions. A pot trial experiment was conducted at Junagadh (Gujarat) (India) to observe the effect of the composition of the present invention in the form of WDG on the availability of zinc, magnesium and iron in onion crops in polyhouses in different soil types over a period of time.

[0229] For each treatment, five pots measuring 20 cm top diameter × 15.5 cm bottom diameter × 16.5 cm height were arranged in a randomized block design (RBD) and labeled to provide three treatments for each experiment.

[0230] The prescribed dosage of the test nutrient composition as indicated below was measured based on the calculated 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 onion seedlings were planted in each pot. The onion seedlings planted in five pots were grown according to GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) until harvest or until the onion bulbs were fully developed.

[0231] The processing details are as follows. T1-Zinc oxide 8% + Iron(III) oxide 4% + Magnesium silicate hydrate 20%-SC T2-Zinc oxide 8% + Iron(III) oxide 4%-SC

[0232] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Trial location: Junagardh, Gujarat (Maharashtra) b) Crop: Onion c) Experimental season: Rabi 2021~2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block design with five pots in each treatment e) Iterations: 13 f) Processing: 7 g) Pot size: top diameter 20cm x bottom diameter 15.5cm x height 16.5cm h) Applicable date: 22.11.2021 i) Seedling planting date: 22.11.2021 j) Application method: base of plant (soil fertilization) k) Harvest date: 02.03.2022

[0233] Observations of nutrient uptake were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Tables 7A, 7B, and 7C, listing the availability of zinc, magnesium, and iron under different pH conditions.

[0234] [Table 8]

[0235] [Table 9]

[0236] [Table 10]

[0237] Notably, from Tables 7B and 7C, even though the same treatment, i.e., zinc oxide 8% + iron(III) oxide 4%-SC, was applied with the same active dose of zinc and iron, zinc and iron were moderately available for uptake in treatment T2 when applied in both acidic and neutral soil pH, respectively, compared to what was observed in treatment T2 (Table 7A), where the soil pH was alkaline.

[0238] From Tables 7A, 7B, and 7C, it was further observed that when Treatment T1 with 8% zinc oxide (6.427% elemental zinc) + 4% iron(III) oxide (2.79% elemental iron) + 20% magnesium silicate hydrate (3.48% elemental magnesium) SC as per an embodiment of the present invention was applied, the uptake of nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, and iron was found to be relatively the same under all soil pH conditions. Comparing the results presented for Treatments T1 and T2 in Table 7A, it was further surprising to observe that the uptake of zinc and iron was found to be substantially increased in Treatment T1 (as per an embodiment of the present invention) when magnesium silicate hydrate was added to the 8% zinc oxide + 4% iron(III) oxide composition-SC, despite the alkaline pH, which was not observed in Treatment T2.

[0239] It is therefore notable that the liquid suspension composition of "water-insoluble iron salt, water-insoluble zinc salt, and water-insoluble magnesium salt" as per embodiments of the present invention portrays significantly higher uptake of iron and zinc, even at alkaline pH, that was not observed in the binary mixture of iron and zinc salts at the same pH. The observed results show that the presence of magnesium along with zinc and iron in the composition formulated as per embodiments of the present invention, i.e., in the form of a liquid suspension with particle sizes in the range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns, facilitates the uptake of iron and zinc in alkaline soil that was not observed in the composition lacking magnesium, i.e., treatment T2.

[0240] Furthermore, treatment T1 as an embodiment of the present invention - SC of 8% zinc oxide (6.427% elemental zinc) + 4% iron(III) oxide (2.79% elemental iron) + 20% magnesium silicate hydrate (3.48% elemental magnesium) was found to have high nutrient utilization efficiency, demonstrating good uptake of all three nutrients in acidic, neutral and alkaline pH soil conditions.

[0241] Experiment No. 8: Comparing the effects of the composition of the present invention versus a commercially available water-soluble powder of multi-nutrients in a corn crop A field trial was conducted in a commercially cultivated corn field in Nashik, Maharashtra, to compare the effects of a SC composition containing a combination of water-insoluble salts of zinc, magnesium, and iron versus a commercially available water-soluble multi-nutrient powder, the product "Spice Nourish" (containing Zn, Fe, Mn, B, Mg, and Cu), on corn. The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with three treatments, including an untreated control. The composition of the present invention was applied at a defined dose with drip irrigation.

[0242] Maize crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0243] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Nashik, Maharashtra b) Crop and variety: NK7720 (Syngenta) c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 3 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Sowing date: 12.07.2022 i) Applicable date: 12.07.2022 j) Application method: Soil fertilization by drip irrigation k) Harvest date: 20.11.2022 l) Soil pH: 7-7.5

[0244] [Table 11]

[0245] From Treatment T1 in Table 8, it can be observed that the SC composition of 5% zinc phosphate (2.55% elemental zinc) + 5% iron(II) fumarate (1.64% elemental iron) + 15% magnesium hydroxide (6.25% elemental magnesium) 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 45.8% despite being applied at a reduced dose, when compared to Treatment T2, which had a yield increase of only 8.36%. Therefore, it can be concluded that even at a reduced dose, the combination of "water-insoluble iron salt, water-insoluble zinc salt, and water-insoluble magnesium salt" in the form of an SC according to an embodiment of the present invention exhibits a significant improvement in grain yield compared to that of a commercially available water-soluble multi-nutrient mixture.

[0246] Experiment No. 9: To study the effectiveness of the WDG composition of the present invention compared to traditional fertilizer practices. A field trial was conducted in Junagadh, Gujarat (India) to determine the effect of the composition of the present invention on nutrient availability in a calcareous soil compared to the effect of applying traditional fertilizer practices in a peanut crop. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three treatments, including an untreated control, replicated seven times. A plot size of 40 square meters (8 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment.

[0247] Soil was analyzed to assess nutrient availability prior to the treatment application date and observed values ​​were as follows:

[0248] [Table 12]

[0249] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Trial location: Rajkot (Gujarat) b) Crop: GG20 c) Experimental Season: Kharif 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block design with five pots in each treatment e) Iterations: 6 f) Processing: 4 g) Pot size: 7m x 5m = 30 square meters h) Applicable date: 5.7.2022 i) Seedling planting date: 5.7.2022 j) Application method: soil fertilization k) Harvest date: 10.10.2022 l) Soil pH: 7.5

[0250] Observations of nutrient availability in the peanut crop were recorded at harvest and the average data is presented in Table 9 to summarize the effectiveness of the compositions of the present invention in calcareous soil.

[0251] [Table 13]

[0252] From Table 9, it can be observed that treatment T1 - 10% zinc oxide (8.033% elemental zinc) + 15% ferric oxide (10.492% elemental iron) + 30% magnesium silicate (5.23% elemental iron) - SC composition prepared in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention demonstrated better nutrient uptake in the calcareous soil compared to treatments T2 and T3, i.e., a commercially available water soluble NPK fertilizer and a commercially available NPK plus water soluble micronutrient composition (Nutrifast from Stanes), respectively, and superior to the untreated plot.

[0253] It has been observed that the practice of applying NPK and NPK plus other micronutrients such as calcium, boron, manganese, even at higher application rates, does not meet the nutrient requirements of plants, nor does it provide sufficient uptake of zinc, iron, and magnesium plus other nutrients as observed with the compositions of the present invention. Thus, it can be noted that, despite being applied in a calcareous soil, the combination of a water-insoluble iron salt, a water-insoluble zinc salt, and a water-insoluble magnesium salt as embodied in the present invention shows significant nutrient availability to plants compared to treatments T2 and T3, i.e., the synthetic fertilizer mixture.

[0254] The observed results show that not only is there uptake of iron and zinc in calcareous soil due to the presence of magnesium plus zinc and iron in the composition formulated as an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., in the form of water-dispersible granules having a particle size in the range of 0.1 micron to 20 microns, but there is also uptake of other micronutrients, including manganese, calcium, boron, etc., that were not observed in the commercially available water-soluble NPK fertilizer and the commercially available NPK plus water-soluble micronutrient composition, i.e., treatments T2 and T3. The present invention not only facilitates the absorption of essential nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, and iron, but also helps to liberate and make available for plant uptake micronutrients and trace elements that would otherwise be unavailable for uptake in mineral-rich calcareous soils, primarily due to reported antagonisms between Ca-Mg, Ca-Fe, and Ca-Zn.

[0255] Furthermore, the inventors of the present invention have also tested the SC, OD and SE compositions of the present invention on other crops such as chili pepper, chickpea and vegetables. It was observed that the compositions of the present invention can further enhance crop characteristics such as straw weight, plant height and also increase the nutritional value of the crop. Furthermore, such combinations can further help improve crop yield, enhance photosynthesis, increase chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake by the crop.

[0256] 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.

[0257] 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.

[0258] 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 iron salt, complex or derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition; 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 1% to 70% w / w of the total composition; at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient; 1. A crop nutritional composition in a liquid suspension comprising a homogeneous mixture of: elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; Elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition, said composition comprising particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns; A liquid suspension crop nutritional composition, characterized in that

2. 10. The liquid suspension crop nutrition composition of claim 1, which is in the form of a suspension concentrate, oil dispersion or suspoemulsion composition.

3. 2. The liquid suspension composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one water-insoluble iron salt comprises at least one of iron oxide, iron succinate, iron fumarate, iron hydroxide, iron oxalate, iron sucrate, iron tartrate, iron phosphate, iron carbonate, iron silicate, iron carbonyl, iron sulfide, or iron dichromate, a complex, or a derivative thereof.

4. 10. The liquid suspension 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.

5. 10. The liquid suspension 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.

6. 10. The liquid suspension composition of claim 1, characterized in that the composition is comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 10 microns.

7. 10. The liquid suspension composition of claim 1, comprising particles having a particle size distribution with a D90 of about 15 microns.

8. 10. The liquid suspension composition of claim 1, wherein the pourability of the composition is characterized by less than 5% rinse residue.

9. 10. The liquid suspension composition of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the composition is from about 10 cps to about 2000 cps at 25°C.

10. 10. The liquid suspension composition of claim 1, wherein the suspendibility of the composition is at least 30%.

11. 10. The liquid suspension 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, an emulsifier, a spreading agent, a colorant, an anti-caking agent, a structuring 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, a solvent, and a preservative.

12. 12. A liquid suspension composition according to claim 1 or 11, wherein the pesticidally acceptable excipient is in the range of 0.01% to 97% w / w of the total composition.

13. 9. The liquid suspension composition of claim 8, comprising at least one structuring agent.

14. 14. A liquid suspension composition according to claim 13, wherein the structuring agent is in the range of 0.01% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

15. 10. A process for the preparation of the liquid suspension composition of claim 1, comprising: a. milling a homogeneous blend of at least one water-insoluble iron salt, complex or derivative thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, 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 1 to 70% w / w of the total composition, and at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient in water or a solvent to obtain a homogeneous slurry or wet mix having a particle size range of 0.1 micron to 20 microns; Including, elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; Elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition; A process characterized by:

16. 10. A process for the preparation of a liquid suspension composition in the form of an oil dispersion according to claim 1, comprising: a. mixing at least one water-immiscible solvent, one or more surfactants to obtain a solvent-excipient mixture; b. adding at least one water-insoluble iron salt, complex or derivative thereof, in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition, 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 1 to 70% w / w of the total composition, and at least one pesticide excipient to the solvent mixture to obtain a homogenized solution; c. milling the homogenized solution to obtain a dispersion medium with a particle size in the range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns; Including, elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; Elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition; A process characterized by:

17. 10. A process for the preparation of a liquid suspension composition in the form of a suspoemulsion according to claim 1, comprising: a. mixing one or more water-insoluble zinc salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, one or more water-insoluble iron salts, complexes or derivatives thereof, and one or more water-insoluble magnesium salts, complexes or derivatives thereof in an oil or solvent to prepare a concentrated emulsion together with required pesticide excipients to obtain a first fraction; b. mixing an effective amount of a surfactant or excipient to obtain a second fraction; c. mixing the first and second fractions and then milling the same to obtain a desired particle size of 0.1 to 50 microns; A process comprising:

18. 10. The liquid suspension 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.

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

20. at least one water-insoluble iron salt, complex or derivative thereof in the range of 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition; 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 1% to 70% w / w of the total composition; at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient; 1. A method for treating plants and meeting their nutritional requirements by enhancing the uptake of magnesium, zinc and iron by application of a liquid suspension composition comprising a homogenous mixture of: elemental iron is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental zinc is present in the range of 0.01% to 40% w / w of the total composition; elemental magnesium is present in the range of 0.01% to 50% w / w of the total composition; the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns; A method characterized by:

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