Crop nutrition and enrichment compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crop nutrition and fortification composition comprising: i. elemental sulfur; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; and viii. one or more excipients, wherein the composition is comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the crop nutrition and enhancement composition and to a method for treating plants, seeds, crops, plant propagation material, locus, parts thereof or soil with the crop nutrition and enhancement composition.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a crop nutritional and enrichment composition comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, at least one trace element selected from one or more magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, potassium fertilizer or one or more salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, iron salts or one or more derivatives or mixtures thereof, zinc salts or one or more derivatives or mixtures thereof, boron salts or one or more derivatives or mixtures thereof, vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one excipient, wherein the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0002] According to one embodiment, the composition contains elemental sulfur in a range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition, elemental magnesium in a range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental potassium in a range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental iron in a range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental zinc in a range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental boron in a range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, elemental selenium in a range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and elemental vanadium in a range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition. Specifically, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition is comprised of particles in a size range of 0.1 to 50 microns. More particularly, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions are in the form of water disintegrable granules, water dispersible granules or liquid suspensions.

[0003] The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the crop nutrition and enhancement composition and a method for treating plants, seeds, crops, plant propagation material, locus, parts thereof or soil with the crop nutrition and enhancement composition, wherein the composition is in the form of water-disintegrating granules, water-dispersible granules or a liquid suspension.

[0004] The present invention further relates to a method of treating plants to meet their nutritional requirements by making essential nutrients such as sulfur, potassium, and magnesium, micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and boron, and trace nutrients such as vanadium and selenium available to plants, and by liberating other micronutrients and trace elements present in the soil that would otherwise be unavailable due to a variety of factors, primarily soil degradation or nutrient competition, or due to excessive use of NPK or ammonium sulfate fertilizers. Furthermore, the compositions of the present invention reduce the need for excessive application of conventional NPK fertilizers and avoid drawbacks such as nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions associated with excessive use of NPK fertilizers. [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] Nutrients are central to the growth and development of crops. Poor and insufficient availability of nutrients to plants results in the lack of proper growth and physiological development of the plant, making the plant more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases.

[0007] Macronutrients play an important role in plant growth and development. Macronutrients are also agriculturally important, helping plants mitigate environmental stresses, improving the nutritional quality of food, promoting increased crop yields, and improving crop quality. Deficiencies in macronutrient, secondary nutrient, and micronutrient availability have all been observed to result in poor overall crop growth and health. Furthermore, poor nutrient availability to plants also results in a lack of proper growth, making plants more susceptible to pest attack.

[0008] Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient that influences several biochemical and physiological processes that affect plant growth and metabolism. Potassium plays essential roles in enzyme activation, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, osmotic regulation, stomatal movement, energy transduction, phloem transport, cation-anion balance, and stress tolerance. Potassium deficiency in crops and plants results in chlorosis, wilting, and scorching of older leaves, leaf deformation and reduced size, reduced flowering and branching, reduced carbohydrate, protein, and chlorophyll formation, as well as reduced fruit and seed quality.

[0009] Magnesium (Mg) is essential for plant growth and development, playing a major role in plant photosynthesis, cell division, and protein formation, and is an essential component for plant respiration. Due to its mobility within the plant, symptoms of magnesium deficiency first appear in younger, older leaves, followed by symptoms in younger leaves. Symptoms appear as yellow leaves with green veins along the margins (i.e., interveinal chlorosis). Purple, red, or brown spots may also appear on the leaves. Magnesium levels in soil are also poor due to its tendency to leach from the soil and in intensive crop production. Complete magnesium deficiency in the soil dramatically reduces magnesium absorption by crop roots.

[0010] The role of sulfur as an essential growth nutrient and fertilizer has been known for many years. Sulfur deficiency has become widespread in most agricultural regions of the world over the past few decades, resulting in sulfur being identified as a limiting factor for high yields and fertilizer efficiency. Sulfur is often applied in the form of elemental sulfur or as a component of several fertilizers, such as superphosphate, ammonium sulfate, and potassium sulfate. Some of the other reasons for sulfur deficiency are the lack of availability of sulfur in a plant-absorbable form, sulfur losses caused by leaching and soil pH, and the insolubility of elemental sulfur in water.

[0011] Micronutrients are just as important to plant growth as macronutrients. Zinc is a known micronutrient and an important component of several enzymes and proteins, involved in the formation of chlorophyll and some carbohydrates, and the conversion of starch to sugars; its presence in plant tissues helps plants tolerate low temperatures. Zinc is immobile, so deficiency symptoms occur in new leaves and manifest as several different patterns of chlorosis of new leaves (often between the veins), necrotic spots can form on the margins or tips, and lead to the formation of smaller, often upward-pointing, cupped, or deformed leaves. In zinc-deficient plants, carbohydrate, protein, and chlorophyll formation are significantly reduced.

[0012] Iron plays a central role in energy transfer, nitrogen reduction, nitrogen fixation, chlorophyll production, and a series of enzyme and protein production processes. Iron is relatively immobile once incorporated into the upper plant tissues, resulting in limited iron transfer from one plant part to another, which leads to iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is commonly associated with chlorosis (yellowing) and poor nodule formation in legume crops, resulting in reduced size and yield.

[0013] Boron (B) is a micronutrient critical to the growth and health of all crops. Boron is a component of plant cell walls and reproductive structures. Because boron is typically required in small amounts, it is important to deliver boron as uniformly as possible throughout the field. Traditional fertilizer admixtures containing boron have difficulty achieving uniform nutrient distribution.

[0014] Trace elements such as selenium are necessary for balanced nutrition in animals and humans. The primary source of selenium in animals and humans is diet, which in turn depends on the selenium content of soil and its bioavailability to crops. Selenium deficiency in humans has been linked to several types of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic and life-threatening conditions (Gupta et al., "Selenium in soils and crops, its deficiencies in livestock and humans: Implications for management," Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 31:11-14, 1791-1807, 2000). Selenium is a beneficial element for higher plants, thought to enhance antioxidant metabolism, photosynthesis, secondary metabolites, and carbohydrate production in plant leaves. Selenium uptake by plants is influenced by various environmental factors, such as soil pH and the concentration of other competing plant nutrients. Furthermore, selenium deficiency in plants can result in stunted plant growth and leaf chlorosis.

[0015] Vanadium is a trace element known to stimulate antioxidant function and help improve the nutritional uptake of phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, and molybdenum in plants. Vanadium deficiency in humans has been linked to stunted growth, bone deformities, and infertility, while vanadium deficiency affects plant growth and yield.

[0016] It is known that optimal levels of nutrients are required for normal plant function and growth, and any variation in nutrient levels can cause disturbances in overall crop growth and deteriorate its health either through deficiency or toxicity, which in turn can affect nutrients essential to the human diet.

[0017] The conventional fertilizer or nutrient composition currently available is in a form that is not sufficiently soluble or dispersible, and therefore is not readily available for plant root uptake, resulting in its deficiency.In addition, when macronutrients such as magnesium are applied to soil at higher doses, they tend to significantly increase soil salinity and leach out of soil.Therefore, it is desirable to apply macronutrients in a form and amount that allows timely uptake and availability.

[0018] Furthermore, modern agriculture is challenged by degraded soils caused by excessive fertilizer use and over-cultivation, which in turn leads to nutrient-depleted crops and harvests, ultimately affecting human nutrition and health. Recently, it has been observed that more than twice the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers are being applied to soils than was applied 20 or 30 years ago to achieve similar yields. It has been observed that excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer increases the risk of nitrous oxide emissions.

[0019] In agriculture, nitrous oxide is released into the atmosphere when microorganisms act on nitrogen introduced into the soil through animal urine and manure, synthetic fertilizers, and legumes. Both the production and use of nitrogen fertilizers result in the release of CO2, N2O, and CH4, which are among the most important greenhouse gases, contributing not only to climate change by trapping heat but also to respiratory diseases due to smog and air pollution. Such greenhouse gases contribute to extreme weather fluctuations and, by trapping solar heat, to the now-obvious global warming and climate change. Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers has been observed to increase the amount of nitrous oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide poses the greatest risk to climate change; one pound of nitrous oxide has 300 times the global warming potential of one pound of carbon dioxide, thus exerting greater pressure on temperature fluctuations. Therefore, there is a real need to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use and, consequently, nitrous oxide emissions.

[0020] Furthermore, significant ammonia loss reduces nitrogen use efficiency and increases the need for additional nitrogen fertilizer, which increases the risk of nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching. High levels of nitrate leaching are toxic and can contaminate drinking water sources with nitrate, a water-soluble chemical compound of nitrogen, and excessive nitrate consumption can pose health risks to humans. It has been observed that drinking water concentrations of nitrate exceeding 10 mg / L can cause immediate health problems for humans. At very high concentrations, nitrate can react with amides and amines to form compounds such as nitrosamines and nitrosamides, which can cause cancer in humans.

[0021] Furthermore, excess nitrate that is not taken up by the plant leaches from the plant's root zone, leaving behind hydrogen ions, thereby increasing soil acidity and thus resulting in reduced nutrient uptake by the plant from acidic soils.

[0022] It has been observed that due to high application of NPK fertilizers, potassium accumulates in the soil, which has an antagonistic effect on the uptake of other nutrients such as magnesium and calcium, i.e. it inhibits the uptake of magnesium or calcium by the plant, leading to a deficiency of these nutrients in the plant.

[0023] Furthermore, as the application rate of ammonium sulfate increased, the plants became increasingly deficient in magnesium. The detrimental direct effect of ammonium sulfate on magnesium supply to plants was speculated to be due to the competitive effect of NH4 and H ions on Mg uptake. These ions are formed in great excess in root tissues immediately after the absorption of NH4 ions. (E.G. Mulder, * , Nitrogen-Magnesium Relationships in Crop Plants, Agricultural Experiment Station and Institute for Soil Research TNO, Groningen, The Netherlands).

[0024] Therefore, proper crop nutrition is crucial for optimizing crop growth and metabolism, which in turn contributes to improving crop yield and produce quality.

[0025] Furthermore, it has been observed that managing crop nutrition is difficult due to factors such as carbonate levels in the soil, soil salinity, soil moisture, soil alkalinity and low temperatures.

[0026] In addition, when multiple macronutrients and secondary or micronutrients are involved, there is also a great challenge in addressing nutrient antagonism. It may be noticed that interactions between plant nutrients can show antagonistic or synergistic results that affect nutrient utilization efficiency. Sometimes, it is observed that when excessive application of a certain element blocks the absorption of another element required by the plant, the plant suffers from "nutrient antagonism," which can result in a deficiency in the plant. An unbalanced soil suffers from nutrient antagonism and requires a solution different from normal practice to be productive. Nutrients compete with each other when applied to the soil or in fertilizer compositions, or even when applied as foliar fertilization. Therefore, nutrient antagonism in soil and inputs or fertilizers both pose great challenges, and both of these challenges must be addressed when attempting to deliver balanced nutrition to crops.

[0027] Some of the most common antagonisms are iron blocking zinc or manganese (or vice versa), zinc blocking copper and magnesium blocking calcium (or vice versa), and potassium blocking both magnesium and calcium.

[0028] It is also known that excessive potassium supply inhibits magnesium uptake, resulting in K-Mg antagonism. Potassium and magnesium antagonistic interactions / competitive properties have been reported (KL Kabu et al., "Influence of potassium-magnesium antagonism on tomato plant growth," Can. J. Plant Sci. 50: 711-715 (November 1970)). Soils containing high potassium fertilizers can reduce magnesium availability to plants, resulting in magnesium deficiency in crops grown in soils already low in magnesium. Conversely, crops grown in soils with high magnesium content may suffer from potassium deficiency, especially if the soil is high in phosphorus and low in potassium.

[0029] Therefore, considering the antagonism between magnesium and potassium, or between zinc and iron, or between zinc and copper, it has always been difficult to develop an agricultural composition that not only overcomes this problem in terms of increasing total nutrient uptake, but also successfully meets the nutritional requirements of plants for both potassium and magnesium, as well as other micronutrients, which at the same time maintains soil pH and ultimately affects human nutrition.

[0030] Another reason plants may be deficient in certain nutrients is due to "binding," which occurs when elements mix and attach to each other, forming compounds that are insoluble and cannot be absorbed by plant roots. Therefore, applying balanced amounts of the most limiting nutrients is essential to obtain maximum yield while minimizing nutrient losses.

[0031] Therefore, proper crop nutrition is crucial for optimizing crop growth and metabolism, which in turn contributes to improving crop yield and produce quality. Adequate crop nutrition is also essential while reducing the application of NPK or ammonium fertilizers to avoid the drawbacks associated with nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching from the soil.

[0032] Additionally, problems associated with agriculture include environmental conditions such as drought, biotic and abiotic stress, poor soil conditions, or depletion of nutrients in the soil, which result in reduced yield and quality of agricultural products.

[0033] Suitable compositions containing macronutrients such as potassium, sulfur and magnesium in combination with other micronutrients such as iron, zinc, boron along with other trace nutrients such as selenium or vanadium are not known.

[0034] Therefore, it is a challenge and therefore desirable to provide sufficient and balanced nutrients in the form of a composition including macronutrients and micronutrients so that there is maximum uptake of nutrients by the plant while addressing issues of nutrient antagonism.

[0035] A further object of the present invention is to develop a crop nutrition and fortification composition that will eliminate the excessive use of synthetic NPK fertilizers or ammonium sulfate-based fertilizers, prevent soil degradation, reduce nitrous oxide emissions, avoid nitrate leaching, improve soil health and pH, as well as increase agricultural produce yield and quality at reduced application rates of the composition.

[0036] Currently available conventional fertilizers or nutrient compositions are in a form that is not sufficiently soluble or dispersible, and therefore is not readily available for uptake by plant roots, resulting in its deficiency. Furthermore, water-soluble fertilizers applied at higher concentrations tend to leach out of the soil after application, reducing their availability to crops or plants.

[0037] Traditionally, micronutrient-based compositions have also been known in the art in the form of bentonite granules or tablets, pellets / granules, granules prepared via melting processes, etc. Such micronutrient composition products in the form of granules, pellets, or tablets contain swelling clays and are associated with several drawbacks. These compositions are generally larger in size and contain swelling clays that swell and disintegrate into coarse particles of uneven size upon contact with moisture. Such granules or tablets also result in irregular release of micronutrients, which does not meet plant nutritional requirements and ultimately leads to poor field efficacy.

[0038] Furthermore, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20170283334 discloses a micronutrient composition comprising a combination of water-insoluble and water-soluble micronutrients contained in a hydrated polyelectrolyte solution. The polyelectrolytes in such compositions are physically crosslinked to form a thick, gel-like matrix within which solid micronutrients are dispersed. Such compositions are intended to provide both immediate and sustained release of active ingredients using polyelectrolytes and metal complexing agents. However, these highly concentrated formulations are difficult to dilute in water and tend to form hard lumps rather than stable dispersions, making them unsuitable for use. Such viscous, coarse particle-size formulations, which are impossible to pour, tend to clog nozzles, creating problems in delivering nutrients to plants or crops. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0039] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0283334 [Non-patent literature]

[0040] [Non-Patent Document 1] Gupta et al., Selenium in soils and crops, its deficiencies in livestock and humans: Implications for management, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 31:11–14, 1791–1807, 2000. [Non-patent document 2] Written by EG Mulder*, Nitrogen-Magnesium Relationships in Crop Plants, Agricultural Experiment Station and Institute for Soil Research TNO, Groningen, The Netherlands. [Non-patent document 3] KL Kabu et al., Influence of potassium-magnesium antagonism on tomato plant growth, Can. J. Plant Sci. 50: 711-715 (November 1970) Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0041] The inventors have surprisingly discovered a crop nutrition and fortification composition comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, an effective amount of one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, together with at least one excipient in a concentration range of 0.1% to 40%, wherein the composition comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition. In a further embodiment, the composition has elemental sulfur content ranging from 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition, elemental magnesium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental iron content ranging from 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental zinc content ranging from 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental boron content ranging from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, elemental selenium content ranging from 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and elemental vanadium content ranging from 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and exhibits excellent on-site efficacy.

[0042] The inventors have also discovered that crop nutrition and enrichment compositions containing specific ratios of various nutrients, when formulated according to embodiments of the present invention and containing particles with a specific particle size distribution, surprisingly address the issue of nutrient competition in the soil, for example, between zinc and iron or magnesium and potassium. Furthermore, application of the compositions of the present invention surprisingly allows for higher absorption of all nutrients, reducing the need for excessive application of conventional NPK fertilizers and avoiding drawbacks associated with excessive use of NPK fertilizers, such as nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching. The compositions of the present invention result in a more balanced uptake of all nutrients, resulting in healthier plants or crops and increased overall crop yield and produce quality. In particular, the crop nutrition and enrichment compositions of the present invention have been observed to not only eliminate the excessive use of NPK fertilizers applied at higher doses, but also meet crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved crop uptake at reduced application rates of macronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and sulfur, along with other micronutrients trapped in the soil, while also improving soil health.

[0043] Furthermore, the inventors of the present application have determined that a crop nutrition and enhancement composition in the form of water dispersible granules, liquid suspensions or water disintegrating granules improves plant yield, improves soil health, maintains soil pH, balances the uptake of all nutrients by the crop or plant, reduces leaf yellowing, and exhibits improved plant physiological parameters such as increased rooting, improved shoots, disease resistance, and increased green color of the crop, providing a nutritionally rich and enhanced crop.

[0044] The compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions also exhibit excellent physical characteristics such as suspendability, dispersibility, flowability and wettability, which allows the compositions to exhibit superior on-site efficacy compared to the individual application of said active substance or commercial product, even at reduced application doses.

[0045] The present invention relates to a crop nutrition and fortification composition comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, at least one trace element selected from one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more excipients in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition. Specifically, the crop nutrition and fortification composition includes elemental sulfur in a range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition, elemental magnesium in a range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental potassium in a range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental iron in a range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental zinc in a range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental boron in a range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, elemental selenium in a range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and elemental vanadium in a range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition. More specifically, the crop nutrition and fortification composition includes particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts, derivatives, or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the composition is in solid or liquid or gel or paste form. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, liquid suspensions or water-disintegrating granules.

[0047] According to certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule, a liquid suspension or a water-disintegrating granule.

[0048] According to a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for treating a plant, a seed, a crop, a plant propagation material, a locus, a part thereof or the soil with a crop nutrition and enrichment composition.

[0049] It has been observed that the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention promotes the balanced uptake of all nutrients by crops or plants, and overcomes the drawbacks of nutrient antagonism that traditional multi-nutrient compositions exhibit.Moreover, it has been surprisingly observed that the use of this composition leads to healthier plants and higher nutrient yields in all types of soil, as well as improved soil health.By providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by crops, the composition of the present invention acts as a nutrient-use efficient composition while meeting crop needs.

[0050] Additionally, the compositions of the present invention reduce the need for excessive application of conventional NPK fertilizers and surprisingly avoid the drawbacks, such as nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions, associated with excessive use of NPK fertilizers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] 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 percentages of components in compositions are presented as weight percents.

[0052] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meanings of "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" also includes "in" and "on," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0053] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referenced and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group may be included in or deleted from a group for reasons of convenience and / or patentability.

[0054] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," "with," and the like, should be understood to be open-ended, i.e., meaning including but not limited to. The terms "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that may yield certain benefits, under certain circumstances.

[0055] In any aspect or embodiment described herein below, the phrase comprising may be replaced by the phrase "consisting of" or "consisting essentially of" or "consisting substantially of." In these aspects or embodiments, the composition being described includes, or comprises, or consists of, or consists essentially of, or consists substantially of the specific ingredients recited therein, excluding other ingredients or excipients not specifically recited therein.

[0056] Throughout this specification, a reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0057] In some embodiments, numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, concentrations, and other properties used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention should be understood to be modified in some instances by the term "about." Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written specification are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values ​​set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible.

[0058] 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.

[0059] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., "etc.") provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better elucidate the invention and does not impose limitations on the scope of the invention as otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0060] Granules primarily refer to solid granules. Granules primarily refer to water-dispersible granules, water-disintegrable granules, extruded granules, or spheronized granules or pellets. As used herein, "GR" refers to water-disintegrable granules, which can be either extruded granules, spheronized granules, broadcast granules, or pellets.

[0061] As used herein, "WG" or "WDG" refers to water-dispersible granules, which are defined as formulations that rapidly disperse or dissolve when added to water, resulting in a fine particle suspension. Water-dispersible granules are formulated into small, easily measurable granules by blending and agglomerating crushed active ingredients with surfactants and other formulation excipients that disperse into finer / primary particles when added to water. Water-dispersible granules can be obtained by spray drying or by an extrusion process.

[0062] "Suspension" encompasses "aqueous suspension" or "aqueous dispersion" or "suspension concentrate (SC)" or "suspo-emulsion" or "liquid suspension" compositions. A suspension is defined as a composition in which solid particles are dispersed or suspended in a liquid. The liquid vehicle can be water and / or a water-miscible solvent. Water-miscible solvents are environmentally safe.

[0063] Water-disintegrating granules or "GR" refers to granular compositions containing agglomerated granules or particles that are generally hard and resistant to breaking down or crumbling. Upon contact with sufficient water or soil moisture, these granules disintegrate or break down into individual particles, releasing the active ingredient over an extended period of time.

[0064] The term "elemental sulfur" as used in the compositions refers to elemental sulfur (S°). The term includes allotropes of elemental sulfur, such as plastic (amorphous) sulfur, monoclinic sulfur, orthorhombic sulfur composed of S8 molecules, and other ring molecules such as S7 and S12. The term also includes sulfur produced via petrochemical processing and refining. The term also includes "biological sulfur." ​​The term also includes elemental sulfur produced via microbial processes.

[0065] The term "derivatives" as used in this application is intended to encompass the minerals potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium, and selenium, and ores containing these minerals. The term derivatives is also intended to encompass compounds from which potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron can be obtained in a form that can be absorbed by plants.

[0066] The term "plant" refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, leaves, and fruits. The term plant includes transgenic and non-transgenic plants.

[0067] As used herein, the term "location" of a plant is intended to encompass the location where the plant is growing, where the plant propagation material of the plant is sown or placed in soil.

[0068] The term "plant propagation material" is understood to denote reproductive parts of plants such as seeds, vegetative material such as cuttings or tubers, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and plant parts, as well as germinated plants and young plants that are transplanted after germination or emergence from the soil. These young plants may be protected by a total or local treatment by immersion before transplanting.

[0069] The particle size of the composition is defined as the size of the particles of the composition in the form of water dispersible granules (WG) or liquid suspensions (SC) or water disintegrating granules, which together comprise sulfur, magnesium salts, potassium salts, iron salts, zinc salts, boron salts, trace nutrients such as vanadium or selenium salts, and surfactants and / or excipients.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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%.

[0072] 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.

[0073] "Fast release" or "instant release" or "instant dispersal" can be used interchangeably and are applicable to granules that rapidly disperse and dissolve to release nutrients.

[0074] 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.

[0075] The present invention relates to a composition for crop nutrition or fortification comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, at least one trace element selected from one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one excipient.

[0076] According to another embodiment, the composition comprises elemental sulfur in a range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition, elemental potassium in a content range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental magnesium in a content range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, elemental iron in a content range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental zinc in a content range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, elemental boron in a content range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, elemental selenium in a content range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and elemental vanadium in a content range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition. The crop nutrition and fortification composition is in the form of a homogeneous mixture.

[0077] More specifically, the present compositions for crop nutrition and fortification are comprised of particles within the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the compositions does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition. The compositions exhibit improved physical properties in terms of dispersibility, suspendability, viscosity, spontaneity of dispersion, and pourability. The present compositions also exhibit excellent field efficacy, even at reduced application doses. Furthermore, the present compositions have been further observed to prevent leaching of these nutrients, making them maximally available for uptake by the crop, resulting in increased overall yield.

[0078] According to another embodiment, the range of each nutrient is maintained broadly based on local soil requirements, soil type, previous fertilization practices, and even crop requirements. Often, a specific formulation with a specific range of nutrients such as sulfur, potassium, or magnesium is selected at the high or low end of the range to accommodate soil pH with a target yield. Often, higher amounts of nutrients are selected based on the crop stage of product application. Therefore, it is within the scope of the present invention to have nutrient ranges as claimed that exceed those illustrated or described in the embodiments herein.

[0079] More particularly, the composition of the invention for crop nutrition and fortification contains a total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures not exceeding 70% by weight of the total composition.

[0080] More particularly, the composition of the invention for crop nutrition and fortification contains a total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures not exceeding 60% by weight of the total composition.

[0081] More particularly, the compositions of the invention for crop nutrition and fortification contain a total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures not exceeding 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0082] The crop nutrition or fortification composition comprises a water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof in the range of 1% to 75% w / w of the total composition, a water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizer or a salt or derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, a water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof in the range of 0.1% to 60% w / w of the total composition, a water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salt or a derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, a water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, and trace elements such as water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium or a water-insoluble salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, or a water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, each of which is present in the range of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0083] In some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification composition is in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel. The solid composition is in the form of one of water-dispersible granules, broadcast granules, extruded granules, wettable powders, or water-disintegrating granules. In some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrating granules.

[0084] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition is in the form of a liquid suspension.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition and fortification composition comprises: i. elemental sulfur; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; viii. one or more excipients; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0086] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules comprises: i. elemental sulfur; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; viii. one or more excipients; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition and fortification composition comprises: i. elemental sulfur, the elemental sulfur content being within the range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental magnesium is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; v. One or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental zinc is within the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental boron is in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental selenium is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the content of elemental vanadium is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition; viii. one or more excipients in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0088] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules comprises: i. elemental sulfur, the elemental sulfur content being within the range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental magnesium is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; v. One or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental zinc is within the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental boron is in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental selenium is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the content of elemental vanadium is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition; viii. one or more excipients in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0089] According to one embodiment, when the composition is a water-disintegrating or water-dispersible granule, the magnesium salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 75% w / w of the total composition, the potassium fertilizer or salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 60% w / w of the total composition, the zinc salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, the boron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, and, in one or more trace nutrients, the selenium salt or derivative or mixture thereof, and the vanadium salt or derivative or mixture thereof are each present in the range of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-disintegrable or water-dispersible granules does not exceed 70% by weight.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of water-disintegrable or water-dispersible granules does not exceed 60% by weight of the total composition.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of water-disintegrable or water-dispersible granules does not exceed 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0093] According to further embodiments, the water-dispersible granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 4 mm. According to further embodiments, the water-dispersible granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. According to further embodiments, the water-dispersible granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 2 mm. According to further embodiments, the water-dispersible granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0094] According to further embodiments, the water-disintegrating granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 6 mm. According to further embodiments, the water-disintegrating granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 5 mm. According to further embodiments, the water-disintegrating granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 4 mm. According to further embodiments, the water-disintegrating granules are in the size range of 0.05 mm to 3.5 mm.

[0095] According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 25 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 15 microns.

[0096] According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D90 of about 20 microns. According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D90 of about 10 microns.

[0097] According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles having a diameter distribution D50 of about 10 microns. According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules comprises particles having a mean diameter distribution D50 of less than 1 micron.

[0098] According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-disintegrating granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-disintegrating granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 40 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-disintegrating granules comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

[0099] According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention in the form of water-disintegrable granules comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D90 of about 30 microns. According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of the present invention in the form of water-disintegrable granules comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D90 of about 20 microns.

[0100] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the elemental sulfur is present in the composition at a concentration ranging from 10% w / w to 90% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the elemental sulfur is present in the composition at a concentration ranging from 20% w / w to 90% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the elemental sulfur is present in the composition at a concentration ranging from 20% w / w to 70% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the elemental sulfur is present in the composition at a concentration ranging from 20% w / w to 50% w / w of the total composition.

[0101] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, elemental potassium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, elemental potassium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, elemental potassium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0102] According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental magnesium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental magnesium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental magnesium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0103] According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 2% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0104] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 1% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 2% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0105] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental boron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.01% w / w to 10% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental boron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.01% w / w to 7% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental boron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.01% w / w to 5% w / w of the total composition.

[0106] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental selenium and elemental vanadium are each present in the range of 0.001% to 5% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, elemental selenium and elemental vanadium are each present in the range of 0.001% to 3% by weight of the total composition.

[0107] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises: i. elemental sulfur; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vi. one or more of a water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salt or a water-soluble boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; viii. one or more excipients; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises: i. elemental sulfur, the elemental sulfur content being within the range of 5% to 55% by weight of the total composition; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental magnesium is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental iron is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; v. One or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental zinc is within the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or their derivatives or mixtures, wherein the content of elemental boron is in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition; vii. at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures, wherein the content of elemental selenium is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the content of elemental vanadium is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition; viii. one or more excipients in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 50% by weight of the total composition.

[0109] A crop nutrition or enrichment composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises: a magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof in the range of 1% to 45% w / w of the total composition; a potassium fertilizer or a salt or derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 35% w / w of the total composition; an iron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof in the range of 0.1% to 35% w / w of the total composition; a zinc salt or a derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 45% w / w of the total composition; one or more boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; and one or more trace nutrients selected from vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures, wherein the selenium salt content is in the range of 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition and the vanadium salt content is in the range of 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition.

[0110] According to one embodiment, the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of a liquid suspension does not exceed 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0111] According to an embodiment, the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures in the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of a liquid suspension does not exceed 30% by weight.

[0112] According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 25 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 20 microns. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 15 microns.

[0113] According to another embodiment, the composition of the invention in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D90 of about 20 microns. According to another embodiment, the composition of the invention in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D90 of about 10 microns.

[0114] According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and fortification composition of the present invention in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles having a diameter distribution with a D50 of about 10 microns. According to another embodiment, the composition of the present invention in the form of a liquid suspension comprises particles having a mean diameter distribution (D50) of less than 1 micron.

[0115] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental sulfur is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% to 45% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental sulfur is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental sulfur is present in the composition in a concentration range of 5% to 25% w / w of the total composition.

[0116] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental potassium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental potassium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 15% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental potassium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0117] According to a further embodiment, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental magnesium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to a further embodiment, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental magnesium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0118] According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 15% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental iron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 5% w / w of the total composition.

[0119] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 20% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 15% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% to 10% w / w of the total composition. According to a further embodiment, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental zinc is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.1% w / w to 5% w / w of the total composition.

[0120] According to certain embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental boron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.01% w / w to 5% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental boron is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.01% w / w to 3% w / w of the total composition.

[0121] According to one embodiment, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental selenium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.001% w / w to 5% w / w of the total composition. According to a further embodiment, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental selenium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.001% w / w to 3% w / w of the total composition.

[0122] According to certain embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental vanadium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.001% w / w to 5% w / w of the total composition. According to further embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, elemental vanadium is present in the composition in a concentration range of 0.001% w / w to 3% w / w of the total composition.

[0123] Surprisingly, the compositions of the present invention were not only effective in overcoming antagonism between the nutrients contained in the compositions, but also prevented leaching of the nutrients contained in the compositions, making them maximally available for uptake by the crop and increasing overall yield.

[0124] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble magnesium salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia), magnesium molybdate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium calcium phosphate, tribasic magnesium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium calcium silicate, ammonium magnesium phosphate, magnesium humate, magnesium fulvic acid, magnesium oxalate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium sulfide, or derivatives or mixtures thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other magnesium salts, derivatives thereof, can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0125] According to further embodiments, water soluble magnesium salts include magnesium sulfate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium gluconate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium lactate, magnesium aspartate, magnesium ascorbate, magnesium lignosulfonate, magnesium acetate, and magnesium citrate, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other magnesium salts or derivatives thereof may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0126] According to some embodiments, the magnesium derivative in the composition comprises a mineral or ore, including, but not limited to, magnesium-containing ores such as periclase, brucite, cerreite, scutellite, pertsevite, suanite, magnesite, sazeberite, kieserite, dolomite, hydrated dolomite, and struvite. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other magnesium minerals may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0127] According to certain embodiments, the compositions of the present invention comprise a water-insoluble magnesium salt.

[0128] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 60% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 50% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0129] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the magnesium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 1% to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0130] According to certain embodiments, the potassium fertilizer includes potassium chloride, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium sodium nitrate, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium orthophosphate, potassium polyphosphate, potassium phosphate, potassium metaphosphate, potassium sulfate, potassium magnesia sulfate, potassium chloride, rock potash, bittern potassium salt (KCl(+NaCl+MgSO4)), wood ash (K2CO3+KHCO3) and seaweed ash (KCl+K2SO4), potassium fulvate, potassium humate, and potassium rock powder, or derivatives or mixtures thereof. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other potassium salts, their derivatives, and the like may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0131] According to some embodiments, the potassium derivative in the composition comprises a mineral or ore, including potassium-containing ores, but not limited to, schoenite or picromerite, feldspar, orthoclase, potassium halite, carnallite, kainite, polyhalite or ischelite or polygalite, leucite, alogadite, gengenbachite, haigerachite, lepidolite, hesenite, kosnalite, langbeinite, leucophosphite, lipuite, manganoarrojadite, mantienneite, minulite, parwanite, phosphofibrite, sylvinite, taranakite, and tinsleyite. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other potassium minerals may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0132] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the potassium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 45% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the potassium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the potassium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 25% w / w of the total composition.

[0133] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the potassium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the potassium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the potassium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0134] 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 sulfide, iron tartrate, iron sucrate, iron carbonyl, iron silicate, iron carbonate, iron(II) oxalate (anhydrous), iron(II) oxalate (dihydrate), or derivatives or mixtures thereof. Iron oxides include, but are not limited to, ferrous oxide (FeO) or iron oxide, ferric oxide (FeO) or red oxide, and iron tetroxide (FeO) or black 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, iron(II) phosphate or ferrous phosphate, ferric phosphate, ferric phosphate dihydrate, ferric phosphate hydrate, ferric glycerophosphate, ferrous pyrophosphate, and ferric pyrophosphate. Iron fumarates include, but are not limited to, ferrous fumarate and ferrous fumarate. Iron succinates include, but are not limited to, ferrous succinate and ferrous succinate salts. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other iron salts, derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0135] According to further embodiments, the water soluble iron salts include, but are not limited to, one or more of the water soluble iron salts including one or more of iron sulfate, iron citrate, iron silicate, iron ascorbate, iron sucrose, iron gluconate, iron lignosulfonate, iron dextran, and iron chelates, however, one skilled in the art will recognize that other iron salts, derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0136] According to a further embodiment, the iron derivative in the composition comprises a mineral or ore, including iron-containing ores, but not limited to, rhaldite, wusite, magnetite, hematite, goethite, limonite, siderite, pyrite or marcasite, vernalite, and greenite. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other iron minerals may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0137] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to one embodiment, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible or water-disintegrable granules, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0138] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension composition, the iron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension composition, the iron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension composition, the iron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0139] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble zinc salts include zinc oxide, zinc hydroxide, zinc chromate, zinc nitride, zinc carbonate, zinc sulfide, zinc molybdate, zinc nitrilotriacetic acid (nta), zinc phosphate, zinc phosphide, zinc borate, zinc silicate, zinc pyrophosphate, zinc humate, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, zinc fulvate, zinc citrate, zinc oxalate, zinc monomethionine, zinc carnosine, and zinc aspartate, or derivatives or mixtures thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other zinc salts can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0140] According to further embodiments, the water-soluble zinc salt comprises one or more of zinc sulfate, zinc sulfate monohydrate, zinc sulfate heptahydrate, zinc chelate, zinc oxysulfate, zinc chloride, zinc eugenol chelate, zinc glycine, zinc carbohydrate, zinc sucrate, zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, zinc polyflavonoid, zinc lignosulfonate, zinc glucoheptonate, and zinc phenolate, or derivatives or mixtures thereof. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other zinc salts can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0141] According to a further embodiment, the zinc derivative in the composition comprises a mineral or ore. The ore includes zinc-containing ores, including, but not limited to, dumbite, ashoverite, periclase, sphalerite, wurtzite, hydrozincite, Bryan-Youngite, hemimorphite, smithsonite, bechererite, pyrodendrite, hopeite, hodgkinsonite, flypontite, junitite, clinolite, cristellite, gunningite, cianciulliite, ecandrewsite, bailichlore, boyleite, and bianchite. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other zinc minerals can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0142] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 35% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules or water-disintegrable granules, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0143] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the zinc salt, derivative, or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0144] According to certain embodiments, the compositions of the present invention comprise a water-insoluble zinc salt and a water-insoluble iron salt.

[0145] According to a further embodiment, the boron salts used in the crop nutrition and fortification compositions are zinc borate, boron phosphate, boron trioxide or diboron trioxide, magnesium diboride, boron nitride, boron nitrite, boron carbide, aluminum dodecaboride, boron oxide, calcium borate, magnesium borate, aluminum borate, magnesium diborate, calcium aluminum triborate, boric acid or orthoboric acid or boracic acid or boric acid.boricum), borax or sodium borate or sodium tetraborate, sodium perborate, sodium borosilicate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, disodium tetraborate, disodium tetraborate octahydrate, potassium tetraborate, boron trioxide, boron triiodide or triiodoborane, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, diboron trioxide, boric acid anhydrous, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate or sodium boron oxide or sodium octaborate, borax pentahydrate, boron suboxide, boron monoxide, boron hydroxide, sodium calcium borate, boron oxide, disodium octaborate, sodium tetrahydroborate or sodium tetrahydridoborate, calcium borogluconate, sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium pentaborate, ammonium pentaborate, sodium tetrahydridoborate or sodium tetrahydroborate, sodium cyanoborohydride, The present invention includes boron salts including one or more of sodium triacetoxyborohydride or sodium triacetoxyhydroborate, sodium triethylborohydride, magnesium diborate, calcium aluminum triborate, boric acid, calcium borate, zinc borate, magnesium borate, boron trioxide, borax or sodium borate or sodium tetraborate or sodium tetraborate decahydrate or sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, boron oxide, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, aristarainite, barberite, borax, boracite, ulexite, suanite, colemanite, chambersite, hilgardite, admontite, calcibolite, sassolite, kaliborite, johachidolite, preobrazhenskite, and ameginite. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other boron salts may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0146] According to further embodiments, the boron derivative comprises one or more boron-containing minerals, boron-containing ores, or processed ores, including, but not limited to, oxide and carbonate ores. The boron mineral may also be a natural or direct shipping ore (DSO). According to certain embodiments, the mineral may include ores such as aristalainite, barberite, borax, ulexite, suanite, kolemanite, chambersite, hilgardite, admontite, calcibolite, sassolite, boric acid, kalibolite, preobrazhenskite, and ameginite. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other boron minerals may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0147] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-disintegrating or water-dispersible granules, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 50% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-disintegrating or water-dispersible granules, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-disintegrating or water-dispersible granules, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of water-disintegrating or water-dispersible granules, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition.

[0148] According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, when the composition is in the form of a liquid suspension, the boron salt or a derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0149] According to one embodiment, the at least one trace nutrient is selected from selenium or vanadium. The trace nutrient selected from selenium or vanadium is present in its elemental form or in the form of a salt or derivative thereof.

[0150] According to a further embodiment, the selenium or vanadium salt comprises a water-soluble or water-insoluble salt.

[0151] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble selenium salt includes, but is not limited to, selenium, selenium carbonate, vanadium selenide, magnesium selenide, manganese selenide, selenium sulfide, copper selenide, iron selenide, molybdenum selenide, cobalt selenide, bismuth selenide, zinc selenide, copper selenide, calcium selenide, magnesium selenide, manganese selenide, or cobalt selenide. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble salts of selenium can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0152] According to further embodiments, the water-soluble selenium salts include, but are not limited to, selenium dioxide, selenourea, sodium selenide, potassium selenide, copper selenide, ammonium selenide, sodium selenite, potassium selenite, ammonium selenite, iron selenite, zinc selenite, sodium selenate, magnesium selenate, potassium selenate, calcium selenate, copper selenate, ammonium selenate, iron selenate, cobalt selenate or zinc selenate. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other water-soluble selenium salts can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0153] According to further embodiments, selenium derivatives include, but are not limited to, potassium selenate, selenium sulfide, selenic acid, selenium yeast, Downeyite, etc. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other selenium derivatives may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0154] According to some embodiments, the selenium salt, mineral, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the selenium salt, mineral, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the selenium salt, mineral, derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0155] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble vanadium salt or derivative includes, but is not limited to, vanadium(II) oxide, vanadium(IV) oxide, vanadium(III) oxide, vanadium selenide, vanadium pentoxide, vanadyl oxalate, bismuth vanadium oxide, or copper vanadate, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-insoluble salts of vanadium can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0156] According to further embodiments, the water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives include, but are not limited to, vanadyl sulfate, sodium vanadate, sodium metavanadate, potassium metavanadate, bismuth vanadate, or ammonium metavanadate, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other water-soluble vanadium salts may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0157] According to further embodiments, vanadium derivatives include, but are not limited to, vanadyl acetylacetonate, sodium metavanadate, ammonium metavanadate, karelianite, paramontrosite, shcherbinaite, patronite, munilite, and metamunnilite, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other vanadium derivatives may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0158] According to some embodiments, the vanadium salts, minerals, derivatives or mixtures thereof are present in the range of 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the vanadium salts, minerals, derivatives or mixtures thereof are present in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the vanadium salts, minerals, derivatives or mixtures thereof are present in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0159] In certain embodiments, the crop nutrition and enhancement composition further comprises one or more excipients selected from one or more of surfactants, emulsifiers, wetting and dispersing agents, fillers or carriers or diluents, spreading agents, colorants, anti-caking agents, binders, buffers or pH adjusters or neutralizing agents, pigments, stabilizers, anti-foaming or defoaming agents, penetrating agents, structuring agents, humectants, adhesives, anti-freeze agents, freezing point depressants, chelating or complexing or sequestering agents, preservatives or bactericides or antifungals or biocides or antimicrobials or antioxidants.

[0160] According to one embodiment, the excipient is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 60% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the surfactant used in the composition includes one or more of anionic, nonionic, and polymeric surfactants. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. In some embodiments, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0161] Anionic surfactants are salts of fatty acids, polycarboxylates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkylaryl sulfates, alkylaryl sulfonates, aryl sulfonates, lignin sulfonates, alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates, polystyrene sulfonates, salts of alkyl phosphates, alkylaryl phosphates, styrylaryl phosphates, salts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, sodium alpha olefin sulfonate, alkylbenzene sulfonates or their salts, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sulfosuccinates, polyacrylates, alkyl ether phosphates, salts of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl phosphates, sulfosuccinates - mono and other diesters, phosphate esters, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates - isopropyl and butyl derivatives, alkylaryl ether phosphorus The surfactants include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: acid salts, salts of polyoxyethylene aryl ether phosphate esters, mono-alkyl sulfosuccinates, aromatic hydrocarbon sulfonates, ammonium lauryl sulfate, soaps, soap substitutes, sodium alkyl sulfates, sodium dodecyl sulfates, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium laurate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, alkyl carboxylates, sodium stearates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, naphthalenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid fatty acid salts, naphthalenesulfonate condensates-sodium salts, fatty alcohol sulfates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensates-sodium salts, naphthalenesulfonic acid condensates condensates-sodium salts, salts of naphthalenesulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde or alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde, or salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anionic surfactants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0162] Nonionic or polymeric surfactants include polyol esters, polyol fatty acid esters, ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols, EO and PO block copolymers, di- and tri-block copolymers, polysorbates, alkyl polysaccharides, polyoxyethylene glycols, sorbitan derivatives, fatty acid esters of sorbitan (spans) and their ethoxylated derivatives (tweens), cocamide monoethanolamine (MEA), decyl, narrow range ethoxylates, oleyl alcohol, PEG-10, polysorbate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, sorbitan, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monostearate, tristearin. The surfactants include, but are not limited to, one or more of: sorbitan acid, stearyl alcohol, castor oil ethoxylates, polyglycol ethers, polyadducts of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty acid polyglycerides, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene styrylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ethers, alcohol ethoxylates—C6 to C16 / 18 alcohols, linear and branched, alcohol alkoxylates—various hydrophobic substances and EO / PO contents and ratios, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, salts or derivatives thereof. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that different nonionic or polymeric surfactants can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0163] According to some embodiments, the dispersant used in the crop nutritional composition includes, but is not limited to, a non-ionic dispersant selected from one or more of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, ethoxylated fatty acid, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, alkyl ethoxylate, EO-PO block and graft copolymer. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different non-ionic dispersants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0164] Anionic dispersants include one or more of the following: tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate ester, lignin sulfonate, phenylnaphthalene sulfonate, alkali metal, alkylaryl sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, mixture of sodium salt of naphthalene sulfonate urea formaldehyde condensate and sodium salt of phenolsulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate, polycarboxylate, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate, sodium salt of sulfonated naphthalene, sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, condensation product of arylsulfonic acid and formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic sulfonate, sodium alkylaryl sulfonate and kraft lignin. However, those skilled in the art will understand that different anionic dispersants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0165] According to some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the dispersing agent is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0166] According to one embodiment, the wetting agent used in the crop nutritional composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of phenol naphthalene sulfonate, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium naphthalene sulfonate, dibutyl naphthalene sulfonate, alkylaryl sulfonate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, polyoxyethoxylated fatty alcohol, alkane sulfonate, alkyl benzene sulfonate, alkyl ether phosphate, alkyl ether sulfate and alkyl sulfosuccinate monoester, their salts or derivatives.However, those skilled in the art will understand that different wetting agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0167] According to one embodiment, the humectant is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0168] 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.

[0169] Solid carriers include natural minerals such as clays, for example china clay, acid clay, kaolin, for example kaolinite, dickite, nakruite, and synthetic and diatomaceous silica, mica, for example pyrophyllite, talc, silica, for example cristobalite and quartz, for example attapulgite and sepiolite, vermiculite, laponite, pumice, bauxite, hydrated alumina, perlite, sodium bicarbonate, limestone, natural and synthetic silicates, silica, surface-modified silica, zeolites, diatomaceous earth, loess, mirabilite, white carbon, hydrated lime, synthetic silicic acid, starch, modified starch, cellulose, plant carriers, for example cellulose, rice husk, wheat flour, wood flour, starch, rice bran, wheat bran, and soy flour, sodium caseinate, sucrose, salt of sodium, potassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or derivatives or mixtures thereof.

[0170] In some embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 40% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, the carrier is present in an amount of 0.1% to 30% w / w of the composition.

[0171] According to some embodiments, anti-foaming or defoaming agents used in the crop nutritional composition include, but are not limited to, one or more of silica, siloxane, silicon dioxide, polydimethylsiloxane, alkyl polyacrylate, ethylene oxide / propylene oxide copolymer, silicone oil, and magnesium stearate or their derivatives. Preferred anti-foaming agents include silicone emulsions, long-chain alcohols, fatty acids, and fluorine-containing organic compounds. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anti-foaming agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0172] According to one embodiment, the anti-foaming agent is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0173] According to certain embodiments, the pH adjuster, buffer, or neutralizer used in the composition includes both organic and inorganic acids and bases, as well as mixtures thereof. According to further embodiments, the pH adjuster, buffer, or neutralizer includes one or more of organic acids, inorganic acids, and alkali metal compounds or their salts or derivatives. According to certain embodiments, the organic acids include, but are not limited to, citric acid, malic acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid, or their salts or derivatives, as well as one or more of the mono-, di-, or tribasic salts of these acids or their derivatives. According to certain embodiments, the salts of inorganic acids include, but are not limited to, one or more of alkali metal salts, such as sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, sodium sulfate, sodium monohydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, etc. Mixtures can also be used to prepare the pH adjuster, buffer, or neutralizer. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different pH adjusters can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0174] According to one embodiment, the pH adjusting or buffering agent is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0175] 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, 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, salts or derivatives thereof. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that different anti-caking agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0176] According to one embodiment, the anti-caking agent is present in an amount of 0.1% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0177] According to certain embodiments, the spreading agent used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of copolymers of maleic acid and styrene compounds, (meth)acrylic acid copolymers, fatty alcohols, vegetable oils such as cottonseed or mineral oils, petroleum distillates, trisiloxanes and modified trisiloxanes, or derivatives thereof, although one skilled in the art will recognize that different spreading agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0178] According to one embodiment, the spreading agent is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0179] According to certain embodiments, the binder used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of paraffin, polyamide resin, polyacrylate, polyoxyethylene, wax, latex, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gums such as xanthan gum, vegetable oils such as cottonseed, or mineral oils, petroleum distillates, modified trisiloxanes, polyglycols, synthetic resin emulsions, or salts or derivatives thereof, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that different binders can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0180] According to one embodiment, the adhesive agent is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0181] 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.

[0182] According to some embodiments, the structuring agent used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of polyacrylics, polysaccharides, cellulose derivatives, cellulose derivatives, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives; clays, such as kaolin, smectite, attapulgite and natural gums, such as guar gum, xanthan gum, gelatin, dextrin, fumed silica, mixtures of fumed silica and fumed aluminum oxide, swellable polymers, poly(ethylene glycol), stachyose, cellulose, such as hemicellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxy-methylethylcellulose, hydroxyethylpropylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose, vegetable starch, such as corn starch and potato starch.However, those skilled in the art will understand that different structuring agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0183] Preferred structuring agents include one or more of xanthan gum, aluminum silicate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polysaccharides, alkaline earth metal silicates, clay, gelatin, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0184] In some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 10% w / w of the composition. In some embodiments, the structuring agent is present in an amount of 0.01% to 5% w / w of the composition.

[0185] According to certain embodiments, the antifreeze or freezing point depressant used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, monohydric or polyhydric alcohols, glycol ethers, glycerol, although one skilled in the art will recognize that different antifreeze agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0186] According to certain embodiments, the antifreeze or freezing point depressant is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0187] According to certain embodiments, the chelating or complexing or sequestering agent used in the composition is a polycarboxylic acid, such as polyacrylic acid and various hydrolyzed poly(methyl vinyl ether / maleic anhydride); N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), N,N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-hydroxyethyl-N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, and N,N,N',N",N"-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; alpha-hydroxy acids, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and gluconic acid; orthophosphates, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate condensed phosphates, such as sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and sodium tetrapolyphosphate; ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), ethylenediaminediacetic acid (EDDA), ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDHA), cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA), fulvic acid, urmic acid, nucleic acid, cyclodextrin, humic acid, and pyrophosphate. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that different chelating agents can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0188] According to one embodiment, the chelating agent is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0189] According to some embodiments, the penetrant used in the composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more of alcohol, glycol, glycol ether, ester, amine, alkanolamine, amine oxide, quaternary ammonium compound, triglyceride, fatty acid ester, fatty acid ether, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, or dimethyl sulfoxide, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane dioleate, polyoxyethylene trimethylolpropane trioleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexaoleate. However, those skilled in the art will understand that different penetrants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0190] According to one embodiment, the osmotic agent is present in an amount of 0.01% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0191] According to some embodiments, the moisturizing agent is selected from one or more of polyoxyethylene / polyoxypropylene copolymers, particularly, but not limited to, block copolymers.Other moisturizing agents are propylene glycol, monoethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(propylene glycol), glycerol, etc.; polyhydric alcohol compounds such as propylene glycol ether, and their derivatives.However, those skilled in the art will understand that different moisturizing agents can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0192] According to one embodiment, the humectant is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 40% w / w of the total composition.

[0193] According to certain embodiments, stabilizers used in agricultural compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of peroxide compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides, zeolites, antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds, phosphate compounds, EDTA, sodium sulfite, citric acid, citrate salts, etc. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known stabilizers may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0194] According to one embodiment, the stabilizer is present in the range of 1% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0195] According to certain embodiments, the preservatives are formic acid and derivatives of 2H-isothiazol-3-ones (so-called isothiazolone derivatives), such as alkylisothiazolones (e.g., 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, MIT; chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, CIT), benzisothiazolones (e.g., 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one, BIT, commercially available as Proxel® from Arch Biocides Ltd.) or 2-methyl-4,5-trimethylene-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MTIT), Proxel® or Acticide® RS and Kathon® MK, sodium propionate (Sodium The antioxidant may be selected from one or more of the following: propinoate, sodium benzoate, propylparaben, sodium propylparaben (sodium), potassium sorbate, potassium benzoate, phenylmercuric nitrate, phenylethyl alcohol, sodium, ethylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben, benzyl alcohol, benzethonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride. Antioxidants include, but are not limited to, imidazole and imidazole derivatives (e.g., urocanic acid), 4,4'-thiobis-6-t-butyl-3-methylphenol, 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol (BHT), pentaerythrityl tetrakis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)]propionate; and amine antioxidants. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other conventional preservatives may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0196] According to one embodiment, the preservative is present in the range of 0.01% w / w to 2% w / w of the total composition.

[0197] According to some embodiments, pigments and colorants are selected from, but not limited to, synthetic chemicals obtained from various manufacturers. The pigments and colorants can be in lake form and can be water-soluble or water-insoluble. The dyes can be solvent dyes, acid dyes, or basic dyes. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known pigments and colorants can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0198] According to one embodiment, pigments and colorants are present in the range of 0.01% w / w to 5% w / w of the total composition.

[0199] According to some embodiments, the disintegrants used in agricultural compositions include, but are not limited to, inorganic water-soluble salts, such as sodium chloride; water-soluble organic compounds, such as agar, hydroxypropyl starch, carboxymethyl starch ether, tragacanth, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, metal stearates, cellulose powder, dextrin, methacrylate copolymer, Polyplasdone® XL-10 (cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone).However, those skilled in the art will understand that other conventionally known disintegrants can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0200] According to one embodiment, the disintegrant is present in the range of 0.5% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition.

[0201] According to certain embodiments, the binding agents or binders used in the agricultural compositions include, but are not limited to, one or more of proteins, gums, maltodextrins, carbohydrates, including mono-, di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides, complex organic substances, synthetic organic polymers, or derivatives and combinations thereof, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other conventionally known binding agents may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0202] According to one embodiment, the binder is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 10% w / w of the total composition.

[0203] According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition may optionally contain at least one additional active ingredient. According to some embodiments, the optional active ingredient may include one or more of a fertilizer, a micronutrient, a trace nutrient, a biostimulant, a pesticide, or a mixture thereof. According to some embodiments, the biostimulant may, for example, contain or contain organic carbon, or be a source of organic carbon. According to further embodiments, the biostimulant may be one or more of humic acid or humic acid substances, fulvic acid, or biochar. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other active ingredients may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0204] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutritional and enrichment compositions are free of fertilizers that primarily contain urea or other conventional nitrogen fertilizers.

[0205] According to one embodiment, the additional active ingredient is present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

[0206] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition optionally further comprises one or more phosphorus fertilizers or salts, derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental phosphorus in the composition is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition.

[0207] According to some embodiments, the content of elemental phosphorus may be in the range of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the content of elemental phosphorus may be in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition.

[0208] According to an embodiment, the phosphorus fertilizer may be potassium phosphate; dipotassium hydrogen phosphate; potassium dihydrogen phosphate; phosphate rock; ammonium sulfate phosphate ((NH4)2SO4 + NH4H2PO4); potassium sulfate ammonium phosphate ((NH4)2SO4 + NH4H2PO4 + K2SO4); dumpling fertilizer (ammonium sulfate + calcium superphosphate + potassium salt + peat, the form of phosphate is Ca(H2PO4)2); compound fertilizer (Ca(H2PO4)2, CaHPO4, Ca3(HPO4)2); calcium phosphate; dicalcium phosphate; tricalcium phosphate; bone meal; calcium superphosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2 + CaSO4); concentrated superphosphate (Ca(H2P O4)2); serpentine-superphosphate (calcium superphosphate + serpentine); fused phosphate fertilizer (CaO-MgO-P2O5-SiO2 glass); calcined phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2-CaNaPO4 solid solution); phosphate mixture (calcium superphosphate (concentrated superphosphate) + fused phosphate fertilizer); precipitated phosphate (CaHPO4); magnesium hydrogen phosphate; magnesium phosphate; ammonium phosphate; monoammonium dihydrogen phosphate; diammonium hydrogen phosphate, and mixed salts, such as dipotassium ammonium phosphate and potassium ammonium hydrogen phosphate, as well as hydrates or potassium hydrates of the above salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof. According to certain embodiments, the phosphorus fertilizer may be in the form of elemental phosphorus. The phosphorus fertilizer may also be in the form of phosphoric acid. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other phosphorus salts, or derivatives or mixtures thereof, may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0209] According to certain embodiments, the phosphorus derivative may be a phosphorus fertilizer, salt or derivative thereof, phosphorite, fluorapatite, francolite, phosphate rock or phosphate rock, feldspar or microcline, variscite, strengite, vivantite, struvite, turquoise, lazulite, triphylite, archelite, alogadite, alogadite, bicapite, francoanellite, gengenbachite, hykalachite, heckler ... The present invention also includes one or more of the phosphorus-containing minerals or phosphorus-containing ores or processed ores, including, but not limited to, one or more of: ozenite, kosnalite, leucophosphite, manganoalojadite, mantienneite, mantienneite, meta-ankoleite, millicite, minulite, phosphofibrite, phosphouranite, sphenicidite, struvite-(K), taranakite, tinsleyite, and apatite, bone meal, and bone ash. However, the above list of ores or minerals is exemplary and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0210] According to some embodiments, the phosphorus salts, derivatives and mixtures may be present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 45% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the phosphorus salts, derivatives and mixtures may be present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 35% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the phosphorus salts, derivatives and mixtures may be present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 25% w / w of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the phosphorus salts, derivatives and mixtures may be present in the range of 0.1% w / w to 20% w / w of the total composition.

[0211] According to certain embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification composition optionally further comprises at least one micronutrient selected from one or more copper salts or derivatives or mixtures, and one or more manganese salts or derivatives or mixtures.

[0212] According to certain embodiments, the copper salt, manganese salt, or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in a water-insoluble or water-soluble form.

[0213] According to some embodiments, the elemental copper content is in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the elemental copper content is in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0214] According to certain embodiments, water-insoluble copper salts include copper oxalate, copper salts of carboxylic acids, such as citrate, succinate, and tartaric acid, copper oxide, copper hydroxide, copper molybdate, copper phosphate, cupric oxide, cuprous oxide, copper hydroxide, copper octoate, copper oxychloride, copper-lime mixture, copper linoleate, copper carbonate, copper humate, copper fulvic acid, copper(II) selenite, and copper oleate. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other copper salts may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0215] According to certain embodiments, water-soluble copper salts include copper sulfide, cupric sulfide, copper selenide, copper sulfate, basic cupric carbonate, basic cupric carbonate monohydrate, copper oxysulfate, and cuprous chloride, tribasic copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, and copper sulfate pentahydrate, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other copper salts may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0216] According to some embodiments, the copper salts, minerals, derivatives or mixtures thereof are present in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the copper salts, minerals, derivatives or mixtures thereof are present in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition.

[0217] According to some embodiments, the elemental manganese content is in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the elemental manganese content is in the range of 0.1% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0218] According to further embodiments, the water-insoluble manganese salt is manganese oxide, trimanganese tetroxide or mangano-manganese oxide or hausmannite, manganese hydroxide, manganese phosphate, manganese phosphate heptahydrate, manganese carbonyl, manganese dioxide, manganese diselenide, manganese tetroxide, manganese carbonate, manganese molybdate, manganese selenide, manganese telluride, manganese titanate, manganese nitride, manganese oxalate, manganese borate, manganese sulfide Manganese oxides include manganese(II) oxide, MnO (ferrite grade); manganese(II,III) oxide, MnO; manganese(III) oxide, MnO; manganese dioxide (manganese(IV) oxide), MnO; manganese(VI) oxide, MnO; and manganese(VII) oxide, MnO; manganese hydroxides include manganese dihydroxide and manganous hydroxide; manganese phosphates include manganese(II) phosphate, manganese diphosphate, and manganese tribasic phosphate; manganese dioxides include manganese(IV) oxide, manganese peroxide, manganese black, pyrolusite, and manganese superoxide. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that other manganese salts can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0219] According to further embodiments, water soluble manganese salts include manganese acetate, manganese diacetate, manganese gluconate, manganese succinate, manganese fumarate, manganese chloride including manganese dichloride, manganese trioxide, manganese sulfate, manganous sulfate monohydrate, manganese chelate, manganese citrate, manganese bicarbonate, manganese zinc ferrite, and sodium manganate, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other manganese salts may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0220] According to some embodiments, the manganese salt, or mineral, derivative or mixture thereof, may be present in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition. According to some embodiments, the manganese salt, or mineral, derivative or mixture thereof, may be present in the range of 0.1% to 15% by weight of the total composition.

[0221] The composition of the present invention has also been found to play a vital role in regulating soil pH and promoting plant uptake of other nutrients trapped in the soil due to various factors, primarily soil degradation caused by the excessive use of NPK fertilizers. The composition of the present invention acts as a highly nutrient-efficient composition, meeting crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by the crop.

[0222] Surprisingly, it has been found that the crop nutrition and fortification compositions of the present invention enhance and improve the physical properties of dispersibility, suspendability, wettability, viscosity, pourability, hardness, disintegration time, and attrition resistance, providing ease of handling and also reducing material loss during handling of the product during packaging and field application.

[0223] Wettability is the state or condition of being wettable and is defined as the degree to which a solid is wetted by a liquid, as measured by the adhesive force between the solid and liquid phases. The wettability of a granular composition is measured using standard CIPAC test MT-53, which describes a procedure for determining the time to complete wetting of a wettable formulation. A weighed amount of the granular composition is dropped from a specified height into a beaker of water, and the time to complete wetting is determined. According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enhancement composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a wettability of less than 2 minutes. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a wettability of less than 1 minute. According to some embodiments, the composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a wettability of less than 30 seconds.

[0224] According to some embodiments, crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions pass the wet sieve retention test. This test is used to determine the amount of non-dispersible material in a formulation applied as a dispersion in water. The wet sieve retention value of compositions in the form of liquid suspensions and granules is measured using the standard CIPAC test MT-185, which describes a procedure for measuring the amount of material retained on a sieve. A sample of the formulation is dispersed in water, and the resulting suspension is transferred to a sieve and washed. The amount of material retained on the sieve is determined by drying and weighing.

[0225] In some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition in the form of a water-dispersible granule or liquid suspension has a wet sieve retention value of less than 2% on a 75 micron sieve. In some embodiments, the crop nutritional composition has a wet sieve retention value of less than 0.2% on a 75 micron sieve. A wet sieve retention value of less than 2% indicates that the crop nutritional and enrichment composition helps prevent clogging of nozzles or filter equipment, facilitating application of the formulation.

[0226] 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.

[0227] 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 liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of 150 cps to 2000 cps at 25°C and is pourable. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of 200 cps to 1000 cps at 25°C.

[0228] According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of less than 2000 cps at 25° C. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of less than 1000 cps at 25° C. Compositions that are too viscous and highly concentrated tend to form a solid and become unpourable, and are therefore undesirable.

[0229] According to certain embodiments, the liquid suspension compositions of the present invention are easily pourable. Pourability is a measure of the percentage of residue.

[0230] According to one embodiment, the pourability of the composition is determined by allowing the composition to stand for 24 hours and determining the amount remaining in the container after a standardized pouring procedure, as per CIPAC MT-148.1. The container is rinsed, the amount remaining is determined, and the maximum rinse residue is calculated as a percentage. According to a further embodiment, the pourability of the composition is less than 5% rinse residue. According to a further embodiment, the pourability of the composition is preferably less than 2.5% rinse residue.

[0231] In one embodiment, dispersion spontaneity is measured according to CIPAC MT 160. This involves preparing a 250 ml mixture of formulation and water, inverting the measuring cylinder only once to mix. After standing under defined conditions, the top nine-tenths is removed and the remaining tenth is assayed chemically, gravimetrically, or by solvent extraction. Dispersion spontaneity is easily calculated.

[0232] According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension compositions of the present invention have a dispersion spontaneity of at least 50%. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension compositions of the present invention have a dispersion spontaneity of at least 60%. According to some embodiments, the liquid suspension compositions of the present invention have a dispersion spontaneity of at least 50%.

[0233] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention demonstrate excellent stability against heat, light, temperature, and solidification. According to some embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 3 years. According to further embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 2 years. According to further embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 1 year. According to further embodiments, the compositions exhibit stability for at least 6 months.

[0234] According to some embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 4 Newtons. According to further embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 3 Newtons. According to further embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 2 Newtons. According to further embodiments, the plant nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has a hardness of less than 1 Newton.

[0235] More preferably, the crop nutritional composition in the form of water-dispersible granules has zero hardness. Reference to zero hardness refers to the fact that the hardness of the granules cannot be measured by a hardness measuring device. The hardness exhibited by the granules can be estimated by a hardness tester, such as that provided by the Vinsyst portable benchtop hardness tester VTHT series.

[0236] The water-disintegrable granular composition is formulated in a manner that provides sufficient hardness to prevent the granules from crumbling during storage and transportation. The hardness that the granules exhibit is determined by the United States Pharmacopoeia, Section <1217> The hardness of the water-disintegrating granules of the present invention is estimated by a hardness tester such as those provided by Monsanto, Sotax, or Erweka, according to standard methods described in Pharmacopoeias such as those described in the Pharmacopoeias of the United States and other countries. According to one embodiment, the hardness of the water-disintegrating granules of the present invention is at least 5 Newtons. According to one embodiment, the hardness of the water-disintegrating granules of the present invention is at least 10 Newtons. According to one embodiment, the hardness of the water-disintegrating granules of the present invention is at least 20 Newtons. According to one embodiment, the hardness of the water-disintegrating granules of the present invention is at least 30 Newtons.

[0237] The dispersibility of crop nutrition and enrichment compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules is a measure of the percentage of dispersion. The dispersibility of the granular compositions of the present application is determined according to the standard CIPAC test, MT174. According to some embodiments, the compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules have a dispersibility of at least 50%. According to some embodiments, the compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules have a dispersibility of at least 70%. According to some embodiments, the compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules have a dispersibility of at least 70%.

[0238] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate excellent stability in terms of dispersibility under accelerated storage conditions (ATS). According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate a dispersibility of more than 40% under the ATS. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate a dispersibility of more than 60% under the ATS. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate a dispersibility of more than 80% under the ATS.

[0239] According to certain embodiments, crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions exhibit near-instantaneous dispersion, thus making nutrients readily available to the crop.

[0240] According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-disintegrable granules has a percent disintegration value of greater than 30%. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-disintegrable granules has a percent disintegration value of greater than 50%. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-disintegrable granules has a percent disintegration value of greater than 70%. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-disintegrable granules has a percent disintegration value of greater than 90%.

[0241] Disintegration Method: The disintegration of a water-disintegrable granular composition is determined by the following method.

[0242] A 1 gram sample is mixed in 100 ml of water at 300 rpm, the solution is passed through a 150 micron sieve, washed with water for 10 minutes, the resulting residue is dried and weighed, and the material that passes through the sieve is calculated as the % disintegration.

[0243] According to certain embodiments, crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-disintegrating granules make the active substances available both instantly and over a long period of time, which can extend throughout the entire crop cycle, providing immediate and sustained release of nutrients, ultimately fortifying and protecting crops at any and all stages of the crop cycle.

[0244] According to certain embodiments, crop nutrients and fortifications in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions exhibit good suspendability.

[0245] 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".

[0246] In some embodiments, the crop nutritional and enrichment compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions have a suspendability of at least 50%. In some embodiments, the crop nutritional and enrichment compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions have a suspendability of at least 70%. In some embodiments, the crop nutritional and enrichment compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions have a suspendability of at least 90%.

[0247] According to some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate excellent stability in terms of suspension under accelerated storage conditions (ATS). According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate a suspension level of greater than 40% under the ATS. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate a suspension level of greater than 60% under the ATS. According to some embodiments, the crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules or liquid suspensions demonstrate a suspension level of greater than 80% under the ATS.

[0248] Abrasion resistance determines the resistance of a granular material to wear. Water-disintegrable granular compositions have good abrasion resistance. Samples can be tested for abrasion according to the CIPAC Handbook test "MT 178 - Abrasion Resistance of Granules." According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the water-disintegrable granular composition is at least 50%. According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the water-disintegrable granular composition is at least 60%. According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the water-disintegrable granular composition is at least 70%. According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the water-disintegrable granular composition is at least 80%. According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the water-disintegrable granular composition is at least 90%. According to some embodiments, the abrasion resistance of the water-disintegrable granular composition is at least 99%.

[0249] Surprisingly, the inventors have also determined that crop nutrition and fortification compositions in the form of water-dispersible granules exhibit superior efficacy compared to previously known compositions, even when applied at reduced application rates.

[0250] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of a water-dispersible or water-disintegrating granule or liquid suspension, the composition comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more excipients, wherein the composition comprises particles within a size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

[0251] According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and fortification composition in the form of water dispersible or water disintegrable granules is prepared by various techniques such as spray drying, fluidized bed granulation, pan granulation, pin agglomerator, spheronizer, freeze drying, etc. The granules can also be extruded through an extruder to obtain extruded granules.

[0252] According to one embodiment, a process for preparing a water-dispersible granular crop nutrition and enrichment composition involves milling a homogeneous admixture comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts, derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more excipients to obtain a slurry or wet mix having particles within a size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, wherein the total content of water-soluble salts in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition. The resulting wet mix is ​​then dried, for example in a spray dryer, fluid bed dryer, or any suitable granulation equipment, followed by sieving to remove undersized and oversized granules, as needed, to obtain water-dispersible granules in the size range of 0.025 mm to 3.00 mm. The granules obtained from the granulator can also be dried or air-dried in the open air to remove any residual moisture, if any. The resulting water-dispersible granules have an elemental sulfur content in the range of 5% to 90% by weight, an elemental potassium content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental magnesium content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental iron content in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight, an elemental zinc content in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, an elemental boron content in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, an elemental selenium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and an elemental vanadium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0253] According to another embodiment, the crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-dispersible granules may also be prepared by dry-milling an effective amount of elemental sulfur, at least one trace element selected from one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more excipients in an air mill or jet mill to obtain a homogeneous mixture with a fine particle size. Water is added to the dry powder and the mixture is blended to obtain a dough or paste which is then extruded through an extruder and the resulting extrudate is dried by suitable means such as air drying, fluid bed dryer and tray dryer, followed by sieving to remove oversized and oversized granules to obtain granules within the size range of 0.05-4.0 mm. The resulting water-dispersible granules have an elemental sulfur content in the range of 5% to 90% by weight, an elemental potassium content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental magnesium content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental iron content in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight, an elemental zinc content in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, an elemental boron content in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, an elemental selenium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and an elemental vanadium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0254] According to another embodiment, the present invention further relates to a process for preparing water-disintegrable granules, the process comprising milling an admixture comprising an effective amount of elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient, to obtain a slurry or wet mix, wherein the particles are within the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition. The obtained wet mix is ​​then dried, for example, in a spray dryer, a fluidized bed dryer, or any suitable granulation equipment, followed by sieving to remove undersized and oversized granules to obtain a dry mix. Water is added to the dry mix and mixed to obtain a dough or paste, which is then extruded through an extruder to obtain extruded granules within a size range of 0.05 mm to 6 mm. Alternatively, the obtained wet mix or dry mix is ​​agglomerated in an agglomerator to obtain a spheronized granular or water-disintegrable granular composition within a size range of 0.05 mm to 6 mm. The resulting water-disintegrable granules have an elemental sulfur content in the range of 5% to 90% by weight, an elemental potassium content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental magnesium content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental iron content in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight, an elemental zinc content in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, an elemental boron content in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, an elemental selenium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and an elemental vanadium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0255] Agglomerators include a variety of equipment, such as disc pelletizers or pan granulators, pin agglomerators, spheronizers, or combinations thereof.

[0256] According to one embodiment, the present invention further relates to a process for preparing water-disintegrating granules, the process comprising milling an admixture containing an effective amount of elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts, derivatives, or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient to obtain a dry mix, wherein the particles are within a size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition. Water or moisture is introduced to form a dough, which is then extruded to form water-disintegrating granules of 0.05 mm to 6 mm.

[0257] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing wettable powders (WP), comprising mixing an effective amount of elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts, derivatives, or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, with one or more excipients. The mixture is then passed through an air jet mill to obtain a wettable powder composition having a desired particle size range of 0.1 to 50 microns. Alternatively, the wettable powder compositions are prepared by mixing effective amounts of at least one trace element selected from elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and one or more excipients using a suitable mass mixer for 30 minutes, and then passing the mixture through an air jet mill to obtain a wettable powder composition having the desired particle size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, wherein the total content of water-soluble salts in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.The resulting wettable powder composition has an elemental sulfur content ranging from 5% to 90% by weight, an elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental magnesium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight, an elemental iron content ranging from 0.1% to 45% by weight, an elemental zinc content ranging from 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, an elemental boron content ranging from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, an elemental selenium content ranging from 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and an elemental vanadium content ranging from 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0258] According to one embodiment, a process for preparing a crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of a liquid suspension comprises homogenizing an effective amount of elemental sulfur, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts, derivatives, or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one trace element selected from water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient in a liquid vehicle to obtain a suspension. The process further comprises wet-milling the suspension to obtain a composition having a particle size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns, and the total content of water-soluble salts in the composition does not exceed 50% by weight of the total composition. The resulting liquid suspension has elemental sulfur in the range of 5% to 55% by weight, an elemental potassium content in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight, an elemental magnesium content in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight, an elemental iron content in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight, an elemental zinc content in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition, an elemental boron content in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition, an elemental selenium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and an elemental vanadium content in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0259] According to certain embodiments, the present invention further relates to the use of the crop nutrition or enhancement composition as at least one of a nutritional composition, a crop supplement composition, a soil conditioner composition, a crop enhancement composition, a crop protection and yield enhancer composition.

[0260] According to a further embodiment, the present invention also relates to a method of application of the present invention, wherein the composition is applied to a seed, a seedling, a crop, a plant, plant propagation material, a locus, a part thereof, or the surrounding soil.

[0261] According to one embodiment, the present invention further comprises: i. elemental sulfur, ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or their salts or derivatives or mixtures; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vii. trace elements selected from one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; and viii. one or more excipients; 1. A method for treating plants and meeting their nutritional requirements by enhancing the uptake of sulfur, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, boron, and trace elements such as vanadium and selenium by application of a crop nutritional composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of: the composition has elemental sulfur in the range of 5% to 90% by weight, the elemental potassium content is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, the elemental magnesium content is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight, the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight, the elemental zinc content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition, the elemental boron content is in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition, the elemental selenium content is in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the elemental vanadium content is in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition.

[0262] According to certain embodiments, the present invention further relates to a method for providing a balanced uptake of all nutrients, improving crop health, improving crop nutrition by promoting the uptake of essential nutrients, protecting crops, enhancing crop yield, strengthening plants, or conditioning soil, comprising the step of treating at least one of a seed, a seedling, a crop, a plant, a plant propagation material, a location, a portion thereof, or the surrounding soil with application of an effective amount of the crop nutrition and strengthening composition of the present invention.

[0263] 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 soil and other such methods.The composition can also be applied in the form of foliar spray.

[0264] The application rate or dose of the composition will depend on the type of crop or the specific active ingredient in the composition, but will be such that the active ingredient is in an effective amount to provide the desired effect, such as crop protection, crop yield and nutrient uptake.

[0265] The compositions of the present invention have been observed to demonstrate enhanced, effective, and superior performance in the field. The inventors have discovered that application of the compositions of the present invention not only results in more balanced uptake of magnesium even in the presence of potassium, or iron in the presence of zinc, or copper or manganese in the presence of zinc, but also promotes the uptake of all macronutrients and micronutrients contained in the compositions. Furthermore, application of the compositions has been observed to enable higher absorption of all nutrients, especially in acidic soils. This results in more balanced uptake of all nutrients, leading to healthier plants and more nutritious yields. The compositions of the present invention minimize the number of applications or the amount of nutrients, fertilizers, or pesticides. The compositions are highly safe for users and the environment. The compositions of the present invention have been observed to not only be synergistic, but also improve crop yields and physiological characteristics of crops, such as increased green color and improved foliage. Thus, the compositions of the present invention have been observed to demonstrate enhanced, effective, and superior performance in the field at reduced application doses. The compositions of the present invention also promote soil health.

[0266] It has also been observed that when the particles of the composition are in the form of water dispersible granules or liquid suspensions or water disintegrating granules and comprise particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, the composition provides better uptake of magnesium, zinc, iron and other micronutrients trapped in the soil along with the macronutrients.

[0267] Furthermore, it has been observed that the compositions of the present invention allow for higher absorption of all nutrients, reducing the need for over-application of traditional NPK fertilizers, thereby eliminating drawbacks such as nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching associated with the excessive use of NPK fertilizers. In particular, it has been observed that the crop nutrition and fortification compositions of the present invention not only eliminate the over-use of NPK fertilizers applied at higher doses, but also meet crop needs by providing a multi-nutrient solution with improved uptake by crops of macronutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and sulfur at reduced application rates, along with other micronutrients trapped in the soil, while also improving soil health.

[0268] Additionally, various advantageous properties associated with compositions according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, improved stability, improved toxicity and / or biotoxicity behavior, improved crop yield, crop quality, improved crop characteristics including improved rooting, dense foliage and characteristics, and other benefits well known to those skilled in the art.

[0269] 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. [Example]

[0270] A. Preparation example The following examples illustrate the basic methodology and versatility of the compositions of the present invention. The sources of magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, boron or trace elements exemplified in the preparation examples can be replaced with any other salts or derivatives of magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, boron and trace elements, as encompassed herein by changing the claimed concentration ranges, respectively. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0271] I. Water-dispersible granular composition or water-disintegrable granular composition Example 1: GR of 5% sulfur (20% elemental S), 65% magnesium oxide (39.19% elemental Mg), 7% potassium persulfate (2.025% elemental K), 0.2% iron oxide (0.14% elemental Fe), 0.15% zinc oxide (0.12% elemental Zn), 0.1% sodium tetraborate (0.11% elemental B), and 0.01% vanadium (II) oxide (0.006% elemental Va). 15.50 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 65 parts of magnesium oxide, 7 parts of potassium persulfate, 0.2 parts of iron oxide, 0.15 parts of zinc oxide, 0.1 parts of sodium tetraborate, 0.01 parts of vanadium(II) oxide, 3 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 6.7 parts of a sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate condensate, and 2.34 parts of sodium lignosulfonate in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous powder. The resulting mixture was then jet-milled to obtain a powder with a particle size of less than 20 microns. 10 grams of water was then added to the mixture to prepare a dough, and the material was then granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 4 mm.

[0272] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 96%, a disintegration value of 80% and a hardness of 10 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 8.5 microns; D50: 12.2 microns and D90: 16.7 microns.

[0273] Example 2: GR of 90% sulfur (90% elemental S), 1% magnesium carbonate (0.28% elemental Mg), 0.6% potassium schoenite (0.11% elemental K), 0.2% ferrous oxide (0.15% elemental Fe), 0.2% zinc carbonate (0.1% elemental Zn), 0.1% boric acid (0.017% elemental B), 0.01% vanadium(II) oxide (0.006% elemental Va), and 0.01% selenium dioxide (0.007% elemental Se). 91 parts of technical sulfur were combined with 1 part magnesium carbonate, 0.6 parts potassium schoenite, 0.2 parts ferrous oxide, 0.2 parts zinc carbonate, 0.1 parts boric acid, 0.01 parts vanadium(II) oxide, 0.01 parts selenium dioxide, 2.435 parts sodium lauryl sulfate, 1 part sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate condensate, 2 parts sodium lignosulfonate, and 1.445 parts clay in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture.

[0274] The mixture was then jet milled to obtain a powder with the desired particle size. 9 grams of water was added to the mixture to prepare a dough, and the material was then granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 5 mm.

[0275] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 95%, a disintegration value of 75% and a hardness of 10 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 7.5 microns; D50: 11.6 microns and D90: 18.5 microns.

[0276] Example 3: GR of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S), 30% magnesium sulfate (6.057% elemental Mg), 1% potassium silicate (0.5% elemental K), 45% ferrous oxide (34.97% elemental Fe), 5% zinc sulfate (2.02% elemental Zn), 1% sodium tetraborate (0.11% elemental B), 4% vanadium pentoxide (2.24% elemental Va), and 1% selenium dioxide (0.7% elemental Se). 5.5 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 30 parts magnesium sulfate, 1 part potassium silicate, 45 parts ferrous oxide, 5 parts zinc sulfate, 1 part sodium tetraborate, 4 parts vanadium pentoxide, 1 part selenium dioxide, 3 parts sodium lauryl sulfate, 1.4 parts talc, 1.5 parts kraft lignin polymer, and 1.6 parts clay in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The mixture was then jet-milled to obtain a powder with the desired particle size. 12 grams of water was added to the mixture to prepare a dough, and the material was then granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 6 mm.

[0277] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 98%, a disintegration value of 72% and a hardness of 12 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 6.5 microns; D50: 12.5 microns and D90: 20 microns.

[0278] Example 4: GR of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S) + 5% magnesium hydroxide (2.084% elemental Mg) + 53% potassium carbonate (29.98% elemental K) + 5% iron sulfate (1.83% elemental Fe) + 15% zinc borate (1.4% elemental B, 9.37% elemental Zn) + 0.010% vanadium(II) oxide (0.007% elemental Va) + 0.010% selenium dioxide (0.007% elemental Se) 5.5 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 5 parts of magnesium hydroxide, 53 parts of potassium carbonate, 5 parts of iron sulfate, 15 parts of zinc borate, 0.010 parts of vanadium(II) oxide, 0.010 parts of selenium dioxide, 3 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 5 parts of sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate condensate, 5.48 parts of talc, and 3 parts of sodium lignosulfonate in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The mixture was then jet-milled to obtain a powder with the desired particle size. 8 grams of water was added to the mixture to prepare a dough, and the material was then granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 5 mm.

[0279] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 94%, a disintegration value of 70% and a hardness of 15 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 8.5 microns; D50: 14.5 microns and D90: 24.7 microns.

[0280] Example 5: GR of 5% sulfur + 0.5% magnesium hydroxide (0.2% elemental Mg) + 1% potassium schoenite (0.19% elemental K) + 20% iron oxide (14.34% elemental) + 45% zinc oxide (36.1% elemental Zn) + 15% vanadium pentoxide (8.4% elemental Vanadium) + 5% selenium dioxide (3.55% elemental Se) + 0.5% boric acid (0.08% elemental B) 5.5 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 0.5 parts of magnesium hydroxide, 1 part of potassium schoenite, 20 parts of iron oxide, 45 parts of zinc oxide, 15 parts of vanadium pentoxide, 5 parts of selenium dioxide, 0.5 parts of boric acid, 2 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 1.4 parts of talc, 1.3 parts of kraft lignin polymer, and 2.8 parts of kaolin in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous powder. The mixture was then jet-milled to obtain a powder with the desired particle size. 10 grams of water was added to the mixture to prepare a dough, and the material was then granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 4 mm.

[0281] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 99%, a disintegration value of 85% and a hardness of 8 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 9.5 microns; D50: 11.5 microns and D90: 16.7 microns.

[0282] Example 6: Working Group of 10% Sulfur (20% Elemental S), 15% Magnesium Carbonate (4.32% Elemental Mg), 1% Potassium Persulfate (0.28% Elemental K), 15% Iron Oxide (10.75% Elemental Fe), 15% Zinc Oxide (12.05% Elemental Zn), 0.15% Vanadium (II) Oxide (0.10% Elemental Va), 15% Selenium Dioxide (10% Elemental Se), and 4.5% Sodium Tetraborate (0.510% Elemental B) 10.2 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 15 parts of magnesium carbonate, 1 part of potassium persulfate, 15 parts of iron oxide, 15 parts of zinc oxide, 0.15 parts of vanadium(II) oxide, 15 parts of selenium dioxide, 4.5 parts of sodium tetraborate, 6.15 parts of a sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate condensate, 12 parts of sodium lignosulfonate in 110 parts of water and ground to obtain the desired particle size.

[0283] To the milled slurry during blending, 6 parts of a salt of a naphthalene sulfonic acid condensate product was added and stirred for 1 hour, then the slurry was spray dried / fluid bed dried to give a product with a granule size of less than 1 mm.

[0284] Results: The composition exhibited a suspendability of 82%, a wet sieve retention of 0.04% on a 75 micron sieve, a dispersibility of 77%, an attrition resistance of 90%, and a wettability of less than 15 seconds. The composition further demonstrated a suspendability of approximately 78%, a dispersibility of 73%, and a wettability of less than 10 seconds under accelerated storage conditions. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 2.6 microns; D50: 5.3 microns, and D90: 11.5 microns.

[0285] Example 7: GR of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S) + 5% potassium sulfate (1.12% elemental K) + 5% ferrous oxide (3.58% elemental Fe) + 10% zinc oxide (8.03% elemental Zn) + 0.01% vanadium (II) oxide + 0.1% sodium selenite (0.04% elemental Se) + 55% magnesium borate (12% elemental Mg, 10.8% elemental B) 5.5 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 5 parts potassium sulfate, 5 parts ferrous oxide, 10 parts zinc oxide, 0.01 parts vanadium(II) oxide, 0.1 parts sodium selenite, 55 parts magnesium borate, 4.89 parts dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, 3 parts silica, 1 part tristyrylphenol phosphate, 1 part polyethylene glycol talc, 3.5 parts cornstarch, and 6 parts clay in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The mixture was then jet-milled to obtain a powder with the desired particle size. 10 grams of water was added to the mixture to prepare a dough, and the material was then granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 3 mm.

[0286] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 97%, a disintegration value of 90% and a hardness of 5 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 12.5 microns; D50: 17.5 microns and D90: 27.5 microns.

[0287] Example 8: Working Group of 8% Sulfur + 15% Magnesium Hydroxide (6.251% Elemental Mg) + 2% Potassium Schoenite (0.38% Elemental K) + 20% Black Iron Oxide (14.34% Elemental Fe) + 10% Zinc Oxide (8.03% Elemental Zn) + 10% Selenium Dioxide (7.1% Elemental Se) + 5% Vanadium Pentoxide (2.8% Elemental Va) + 20% Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (4.193% Elemental B) 8.5 parts technical sulfur was mixed with 15 parts magnesium hydroxide, 2 parts potassium schoenite, 20 parts black iron oxide, 10 parts zinc oxide, 5 parts vanadium pentoxide, 10 parts selenium dioxide, 20 parts disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, 2 parts sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensate, 3.5 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 2 parts modified polyacrylate, and 2 parts clay in 130 parts water and milled to obtain the desired particle size. The milled slurry was stirred for 1 hour, and then the material was spray-dried / fluid-bed dried to obtain a water-dispersible granular composition with a granule size of less than 1 mm.

[0288] Results: The composition exhibited a 92% suspendability, a wet sieve retention of 0.02% on a 75 micron sieve, 87% dispersibility, 88% attrition resistance, and a wettability of less than 10 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 88% suspendability, 85% dispersibility, and a wettability of less than 5 seconds under accelerated storage conditions. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 2.9 microns; D50: 6.3 microns, and D90: 12.2 microns.

[0289] Example 9: WG of 26% sulfur (25% elemental S), 0.35% magnesium phosphate (0.10% elemental Mg), 14% rock phosphate (0.83% elemental P), 0.5% potassium schoenite (0.11% elemental K), 5% ferric oxide (3.88% elemental Fe), 10% zinc oxide (8.03% elemental), 0.5% vanadium (II) oxide (0.38% elemental Va), 5% selenium dioxide (3.5% elemental Se), 1% sodium tetraborate (0.11% elemental B), and 20% copper hydroxide (13% elemental Cu). 26.5 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 0.35 parts of magnesium phosphate, 14 parts of phosphate rock, 0.5 parts of potassium schoenite, 5 parts of ferric oxide, 10 parts of zinc oxide, 0.5 parts of vanadium(II) oxide, 5 parts of selenium dioxide, 1 part of sodium tetraborate, 20 parts of copper hydroxide, 2 parts of sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensate, 8.63 parts of sodium lignosulfonate, 4.6 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate in 120 parts of water and ground to obtain the desired particle size.

[0290] To the milled slurry during blending, 1.92 parts of kraft lignin polymer was added and stirred for 1 hour, then the material was spray dried / fluid bed dried to obtain water dispersible granules with a granule size of less than 1 mm.

[0291] Results: The composition exhibited a suspendability of 89%, a wet sieve retention of 0.03% on a 75 micron sieve, a dispersibility of 85%, an attrition resistance of 87%, and a wettability of less than 5 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 85% suspendability, 82% dispersibility, and a wettability of less than 10 seconds under accelerated storage conditions. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 3.5 microns; D50: 7.5 microns, and D90: 14.5 microns.

[0292] Example 10: Working Group of 50% Sulfur (50% Elemental S), 10% Magnesium Oxide (6.03% Elemental Mg), 0.5% Potassium Schoenite (0.28% Elemental K), 0.15% Red Iron Oxide (0.1% Elemental), 0.15% Zinc Oxide (0.8% Elemental Zn), 2.5% Vanadium (III) Oxide (1.69% Elemental Va), 0.15% Selenium Dioxide (0.1% Elemental), 1% Boric Acid (0.175% Elemental B), and 20% Manganese Oxide (12.63% Elemental Mn). 50.5 parts of technical sulfur were mixed with 10 parts magnesium oxide, 0.5 parts potassium schoenite, 0.15 parts red iron oxide, 0.15 parts zinc oxide, 2.5 parts vanadium(III) oxide, 0.15 parts selenium dioxide, 1 part boric acid, 20 parts manganese oxide, 1.5 parts sodium alkylnaphthalene sulfonate condensate, 6.55 parts sodium lignosulfonate, 5 parts sodium lauryl sulfate, and 2 parts hydrophilic comb polymer in 130 parts water and milled to achieve the desired particle size. The milled slurry was stirred for 1 hour, and then the material was spray-dried / fluid-bed dried to yield a product with a granule size of less than 1 mm.

[0293] Results: The composition exhibited a 75% suspendability, a wet sieve retention of 0.06% on a 75 micron sieve, a 71% dispersibility, a 90% attrition resistance, and a wettability of less than 10 seconds. The composition further demonstrated approximately 71% suspendability, 67% dispersibility, and a wettability of less than 15 seconds under accelerated storage conditions. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 4.5 microns; D50: 9.5 microns, and D90: 18.5 microns.

[0294] Example 11: GR of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S) + 30% magnesium sulfate (6.057% elemental Mg) + 1% potassium hydroxide (0.69% elemental K) + 2.5% ferrous oxide (1.94% elemental Fe) + 30% zinc sulfate (12.14% elemental Zn) + 20% sodium tetraborate (2.268% elemental B) + 1% selenium dioxide (0.7% elemental Se) 5.5 parts technical sulfur was combined with 30 parts magnesium sulfate, 1 part potassium hydroxide, 2.5 parts ferrous oxide, 30 parts zinc sulfate, 20 parts sodium tetraborate, 1 part selenium dioxide, 3 parts sodium lauryl sulfate, 1.4 parts talc, 1.5 parts kraft lignin polymer, and 4.1 parts clay in a ribbon blender to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The mixture was then jet-milled to obtain a powder with the desired particle size.

[0295] 12 grams of water was added to the above mixture to prepare a dough, then the material was granulated and dried to obtain granules with a mesh size of less than 6 mm.

[0296] Results: The composition exhibited an abrasion resistance of 94%, a disintegration value of 70% and a hardness of 15 N. The composition had a particle size distribution as follows: D10: 6.5 microns; D50: 13.5 microns and D90: 21.7 microns.

[0297] II. Liquid Suspension Compositions Example 12: SC of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S) + 45% magnesium oxide (27.13% elemental Mg) + 0.15% potassium hydroxide (0.1% elemental K) + 0.15% black iron oxide (0.11% elemental Fe) + 0.15% zinc oxide (0.12% elemental Zn) + 0.010% selenium dioxide (0.007% elemental Se) + 0.14% borax (0.02% elemental B) 50 parts of polymeric surfactant and 100 parts of propylene glycol were added to 320 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirrer. 51 parts of sulfur powder, 450 parts of magnesium oxide, 1.5 parts of potassium hydroxide, 1.5 parts of black iron oxide, 1.5 parts of zinc oxide, 0.1 parts of selenium dioxide, and 1.4 parts of borax were further added to the homogenized mixture and continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture became homogenous. 0.4 parts of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce particle size. 1.2 parts of xanthan gum, 1 part of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remaining water, and 0.3 parts of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0298] Results: The composition had a particle size of D10: 1.2 microns, D50: 2.3 microns, and D90 3.19 microns, a viscosity of 480 cps, and a suspendability of 90%. The pourability rinsed residue was found to be 0.32%. The spontaneity of the dispersion was 87% and the wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve was 0.01%.

[0299] Example 13: SC of 55% sulfur (55% elemental S) + 0.25% magnesium hydroxide (0.1% elemental Mg) + 0.50% schoenite (0.10% elemental K) + 0.25% ferrous oxide (0.19% elemental Fe) + 5% zinc carbonate (2.6% elemental Zn) + 0.010% vanadyl sulfate (0.002% elemental Va) + 0.1% sodium tetraborate (0.01% elemental B) 25 parts of sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensate and 50 parts of ethylene glycol were added to 310 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 550 parts of sulfur powder, 2.5 parts of magnesium hydroxide, 5 parts of schoenite, 2.5 parts of ferrous oxide, 1.5 parts of zinc oxide, 0.1 parts of vanadyl sulfate, and 1 part of sodium tetraborate were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture became homogenous. 25 parts of polyalkylene oxide-modified heptamethyltrisiloxane and 0.4 parts of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while being continuously homogenized to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce the particle size. Then, 1 part xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remainder water and 0.5 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added with continuous homogenization to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0300] Results: The composition had a particle size of D10: 3.5 microns, D50: 6.25 microns and D90 9.8 microns, a viscosity of 800 cps and a suspension of 90%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.42%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 87% and the wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve was found to be 0.09%.

[0301] Example 14: SC of 10% sulfur (15% elemental S), 1% magnesium sulfate (0.20% elemental Mg), 1% potassium schoenite (0.19% elemental K), 1% ferric oxide (0.67% elemental Fe), 45% zinc oxide (36.14% elemental Zn), 1% vanadium pentoxide (0.56% elemental Va), 1% copper selenide (0.6% elemental Cu), and 2.5% boric acid (0.437% elemental B). 15 parts of branched alcohol alkoxylate and 70 parts of propylene glycol were added to 330 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 105 parts of sulfur powder, 10 parts of magnesium sulfate, 10 parts of potassium schoenite, 10 parts of ferric oxide, 450 parts of zinc oxide, 10 parts of vanadium pentoxide, 10 parts of copper selenide, and 25 parts of boric acid were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture became homogenous. 7.5 parts of a polymer dispersant and 0.4 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce particle size. 1.2 parts of xanthan gum, 1 part of a mixture of MIT and CIT, the remaining water, and 0.3 parts of the polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0302] Results: The composition had a particle size of d10: 5.2 microns, d50: 9.1 microns and d90: 12.5 microns, a viscosity of 520 cps and a suspendability of 98%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.32%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 93% and the wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve was found to be 0.02%.

[0303] Example 15: SC of 15% sulfur (5% elemental S), 0.5% magnesium carbonate (0.14% elemental Mg), 1% potassium carbonate (0.56% elemental K), 35% red iron oxide (23.58% elemental Fe), 5% zinc oxide (4.01% elemental Zn), 1% vanadium pentoxide (0.5% elemental Va), 1% selenium dioxide (0.71% elemental Se), and 1% disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (0.21% elemental B). 30 parts tristyrylphenol phosphate and 50 parts ethylene glycol were added to 300 parts water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirrer. 155 parts sulfur powder, 10 parts potassium carbonate, 5 parts magnesium carbonate, 350 parts red iron oxide, 50 parts zinc oxide, 10 parts vanadium pentoxide, 10 parts selenium dioxide, and 10 parts disodium octaborate tetrahydrate were further added to the homogenized mixture and continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture became homogenous. 0.4 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion was added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce particle size. 1.4 parts xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remaining water, and 0.3 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0304] Results: The composition had a particle size of d10: 3.2 microns, d50: 8.4 microns and d90: 11.5 microns, a viscosity of 565 cps and a suspension of 85%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.22%. The spontaneity of the dispersion was 79% and the wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve was 0.04%.

[0305] Example 16: SC of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S), 5% magnesium oxide (3.2% elemental Mg), 1% potassium schoenite (0.2% elemental K), 2.5% ferrous oxide (1.94% elemental Fe), 1% zinc oxide (0.8% elemental Zn), 1% vanadium pentoxide (0.57% elemental Va), 1% sodium selenite (0.63% elemental Se), 30% disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (6.28% elemental B), and 2.5% manganese sulfate (0.90% elemental Mn). 5 parts of sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensate and 100 parts of propylene glycol were added to 310 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 51 parts of sulfur, 50 parts of magnesium oxide, 10 parts of potassium schoenite, 25 parts of ferrous oxide, 10 parts of zinc oxide, 10 parts of vanadium pentoxide, 10 parts of sodium selenite, 300 parts of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, and 25 parts of manganese sulfate were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture was homogenized. 0.4 parts of polydimethylsiloxane emulsion was added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce the particle size. Then, 1.4 parts xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remainder water and 0.3 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added with continuous homogenization to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0306] Results: The composition had a particle size range of d10: 6.5 microns, d50: 12.10 microns and d90: 18.6 microns, a viscosity of 670 cps and a suspendability of 93%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.42%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 87% and the wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve was found to be 0.09%.

[0307] Example 17: SC of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S), 0.5% magnesium carbonate (0.14% elemental Mg), 10% potassium bicarbonate (3.90% elemental K), 0.15% ferric oxide (0.1% elemental Fe), 0.25% zinc sulfate (0.13% elemental Zn), 1% vanadium pentoxide (0.56% elemental Va), 17% manganese(II) selenide (6.97% elemental Mn, 10.02% elemental Se), and 15% boron phosphate (1.533% elemental B). 30 parts tristyrylphenol phosphate and 70 parts ethylene glycol were added to 300 parts water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirrer. 51 parts sulfur powder, 5 parts magnesium carbonate, 100 parts potassium bicarbonate, 1.5 parts ferric oxide, 2.5 parts zinc sulfate, 10 parts vanadium pentoxide, 170 parts manganese selenide, and 100 parts boron phosphate were further added to the homogenized mixture and continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture became homogenous. 2.5 parts polymer dispersant and 0.4 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce particle size. 1.4 parts xanthan gum, 1 part MIT and CIT mixture, the remaining water, and 0.3 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were then added while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0308] Results: The composition had a particle size of d10: 3.52 microns, d50: 5.45 microns and d90: 9.5 microns, a viscosity of 610 cps and a suspension of 84%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.45%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 80% and the wet sieve retention on a 75 micron sieve was found to be 0.06%.

[0309] Example 18: SC of 25% sulfur (25% elemental S) + 10% magnesium carbonate (2.88% elemental Mg) + 0.55% potassium persulfate (0.1% elemental K) + 1% iron silicate (0.25% elemental Fe) + 15% zinc oxide (12.04% elemental Zn) + 1% vanadium(III) oxide (0.67% elemental Va) + 0.15% selenium dioxide (0.1% elemental Se) + 1% boric acid (0.175% elemental B) + 2.5% copper sulfate (1% elemental Cu) 20 parts of alkylnaphthalenesulfonate sodium condensate and 70 parts of propylene glycol were added to 300 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 250 parts of sulfur powder, 100 parts of magnesium carbonate, 5.5 parts of potassium persulfate, 10 parts of iron silicate, 150 parts of zinc oxide, 10 parts of vanadium(III) oxide, 1.5 parts of selenium dioxide, 10 parts of boric acid, and 25 parts of copper sulfate were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture was homogenized. 15 parts of a polymer dispersant and 0.4 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce the particle size. Then, 1.1 parts xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remainder water and 0.3 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added with continuous homogenization to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0310] Results: The composition had a particle size of d10: 1.98 microns, d50: 3.02 microns and d90: 5.7 microns, a viscosity of 450 cps and a suspension of 82%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.55%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 77% and the wet sieve retention value on 75 microns was 0.03%.

[0311] Example 19: SC of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S), 20% magnesium sulfate (4.04% elemental Mg), 15% potassium carbonate (8.475% elemental K), 1% ferrous oxide (0.25% elemental Fe), 10% zinc sulfate (4.04% elemental Zn), 0.1% vanadium(III) oxide (0.067% elemental Va), 0.15% selenium dioxide (0.1% elemental Se), 2.5% boric acid (0.435% elemental B), and 2.5% manganese sulfate (0.905% elemental Mn). 20 parts of sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate condensate and 50 parts of propylene glycol were added to 200 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 55 parts of sulfur powder, 200 parts of magnesium sulfate, 150 parts of potassium carbonate, 10 parts of ferrous oxide, 100 parts of zinc sulfate, 1 part of vanadium(III) oxide, 1.5 parts of selenium dioxide, 25 parts of boric acid, and 50 parts of manganese sulfate were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture became homogenous. 15 parts of a polymer dispersant and 0.4 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while continuously homogenizing to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce the particle size. Then, 1.1 parts xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remainder water and 0.3 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added with continuous homogenization to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0312] Results: The composition had a particle size of d10: 4.90 microns, d50: 6.5 microns and d90: 15.75 microns, a viscosity of 480 cps and a suspension of 85%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.65%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 85% and the wet sieve retention value on 75 microns was 0.05%.

[0313] Example 20: SC of 5% sulfur (5% elemental S) + 0.5% magnesium silicate (0.12% elemental Mg) + 1% potassium bicarbonate (0.39% elemental K) + 20% iron oxide (14.34% elemental Fe) + 0.5% zinc carbonate (0.26% elemental Zn) + 17% vanadium pentoxide (9.52% elemental Va) + 10% selenium dioxide (7.11% elemental Se) + 0.5% boric acid (0.087% elemental B) 20 parts of alkylnaphthalenesulfonate sodium condensate and 70 parts of propylene glycol were added to 300 parts of water and homogenized by feeding them into a vessel equipped with a stirring device. 50 parts of sulfur powder, 5 parts of magnesium silicate, 10 parts of potassium bicarbonate, 200 parts of iron oxide, 5 parts of zinc carbonate, 170 parts of vanadium pentoxide, 100 parts of selenium dioxide, and 5 parts of boric acid were further added to the homogenized mixture, and the mixture was continuously stirred for approximately 10 minutes until the entire mixture was homogenized. 15 parts of a polymer dispersant and 0.4 parts of a polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added to the above mixture while being continuously homogenized to obtain a liquid suspension. The resulting suspension was then passed through a wet mill to reduce the particle size. Then, 1.1 parts xanthan gum, 1 part 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, the remainder water and 0.3 parts polydimethylsiloxane emulsion were added with continuous homogenization to obtain a liquid suspension.

[0314] Results: The composition had a particle size of d10: 4.90 microns, d50: 6.5 microns and d90: 15.75 microns, a viscosity of 480 cps and a suspension of 85%. The pourability of the rinse residue was found to be 0.65%, the spontaneity of the dispersion was 85% and the wet sieve retention value on 75 microns was 0.05%.

[0315] B. Field Survey Experiment 1: To study the effect on commercially grown tomato crops of compositions containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium in the form of water-disintegrable granules, water-dispersible granules and liquid suspensions having particle sizes as per the present invention, with comparative samples in the form of pellets of larger particle size.

[0316] The trial was conducted in Vadodara, Gujarat during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with 11 treatments including an untreated control replicated four times. A plot size of 40 square meters (8m x 5m) was maintained for each treatment. The composition being tested includes sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium, and selenium at various concentrations as per the present invention, along with a control. Tomato crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices. Seeds of tomato, variety GT-3, were used in the study and planted at a spacing of 120cm between rows and 45cm between plants. The details of the experiment are as follows:

[0317] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Vadodara, Gujarat b) Crop: Tomato (variety GT-3) c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 11 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 sq.m h) Applicable date: 22.07.2022 i) Application method: bending / lateral installation j) Porting date: 22.07.2022 k) Picking date: 05.10.2022, 13.10.2022, 20.11.2022

[0318] Fruit set was monitored by tagging newly bloomed flowers once a week and counting the number of tagged flowers that had set fruit one week later. Fruit was harvested three times and weighed each time.

[0319] The observations were recorded in the table below.

[0320] [Table 1]

[0321] [Table 2]

[0322] From Table 1 above, it can be observed that compositions T1, T3, T5, T7, and T9 in the form of water-dispersible granules, water-disintegrable granules, or liquid suspensions having particle sizes as per embodiments of the present invention demonstrated significantly enhanced increase in tomato yield compared to treatments T2, T4, T6, T8, and T10 with conventional pellet compositions comprising swelling clay and having a particle size range of greater than 75 microns. It can be seen that treatments T1, T3, T5, T7, and T9 with compositions as per the present invention showed an increase in tomato yield of 22.98%, 22.45%, 21.47%, 22.04%, and 19.05%, respectively, over the untreated control, compared to treatments T2, T4, T6, T8, and T10, which showed only an increase in yield of 7.43%, 6.32%, 7.57%, 6.59%, and 7.18%, respectively, over the untreated control.

[0323] [Table 3]

[0324] [Table 4]

[0325] It can be noted from Table 1A above that treatments T1, T3, T5, T7 and T9 with the water-disintegrable granular composition, water-dispersible granular composition and liquid suspension composition having particle sizes according to embodiments of the present invention demonstrated significantly enhanced increases in tomato plant height and number of fruits per plant compared to treatments T2, T4, T6, T8 and T10 with conventional tablet compositions having a larger particle size range. Treatments T1, T3, T5, T7 and T9 with the compositions according to the present invention showed increases in plant height of 23.54%, 18.97%, 22.0%, 22.99% and 18.69%, respectively, over the untreated control, while treatments T2, T4, T6, T8 and T10 showed increases in plant height of only 8.58%, 6.92%, 8.17%, 6.5% and 5.95%, respectively, over the untreated control. Furthermore, treatments T1, T3, T5, T7 and T9 with the composition according to the present invention each showed a significant increase in the number of fruits per plant over the untreated control, while treatments T2, T4, T6, T8 and T10 each showed a poor increase in the number of fruits per plant over the untreated control.

[0326] Additionally, crops treated with compositions according to embodiments of the present invention had denser, greener foliage along with improved root development.

[0327] The surprising results observed in Tables 2 and 2A with treatments including compositions as per the present invention can be attributed to the presence of all elements, namely sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium, and selenium, at specific concentrations and formulations with particle sizes as per embodiments of the present invention, whereas the conventional pellet compositions as per treatments 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 have very poor dispersibility and suspendability and therefore exhibit reduced uptake and availability to plants, and thus these compositions have reduced efficacy.

[0328] Experiment 2: To study the effect of a "Sulfur, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Boron, Vanadium and Selenium" composition in the form of a suspension concentrate having a particle size range as per an embodiment of the present invention, on commercially grown rice crops, where the composition was applied in combination with various doses of RDF (120-60-60 N-P2O5-KO / ha) and a composition containing only RDF in rice.

[0329] (On-site experiment method) A field trial was conducted in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to assess the effect of an embodiment of the composition of the present invention on rice (paddy rice) yield. The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with 11 treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 40 square meters (8 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. The prescribed dose of the test product was applied as a top dressing 15 days after transplanting the rice. The paddy rice crops in the trial field were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice. Seeds of the paddy rice variety CSR-30 were used for seedling raising, and 25-day-old seedlings were transplanted into the trial field with a planting spacing of 30 cm between rows and 25 cm between plants. The active doses applied in the field trial were those of elemental sulfur, elemental potassium, elemental magnesium, elemental zinc, elemental iron, elemental boron, elemental selenium, and elemental vanadium.

[0330] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Gandhinagar, Gujarat b) Crop: Rice (variety CSR-30) c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 11 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 sq.m h) Transplant date: 26.06.2023 i) Applicable date: 11.07.2023 j) Application method: Top dressing k) Harvest date: 10.10.2023

[0331] Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 1, listing the efficacy of compositions containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, selenium and vanadium prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0332] [Table 5]

[0333] [Table 6]

[0334] From the data set forth in Table 2 above, it can be observed that Process T1 is carried out with a liquid suspension composition according to an embodiment of the present invention (with 25% RDF 120-60-60 N-P2O5-K2O). Processes T2 and T3 are carried out using a composition according to an embodiment of the present invention in combination with 50% RDF (120-60-60 N-P2O5-K2O) and 100% RDF (120-60-60 N-P2O5-K2O), respectively, applied at various dosages. Processes T4, T5, and T6 are carried out using a five-way composition of sulfur, zinc, iron, potassium, and magnesium at various concentrations, with Process T4 containing 25% RDF, Process T5 containing 50% RDF with the five-way composition, and Process T6 containing 100% RDF with the five-way composition. Treatments T7, T8, and T9 were carried out using a three-way composition of sulfur, potassium, and magnesium at various concentrations, with treatment T7 containing 25% RDF, treatment T8 containing 50% RDF with the five-way composition, and treatment T9 containing 100% RDF with the five-way composition. Treatment T10 was carried out using RDF alone. From the data in the table above, it can be noted that treatment T1 with a composition according to an embodiment of the present invention applied at a formulation dose of 32 kg / acre showed a better increase in yield compared to RDF alone (treatment 10). The composition according to the present invention also showed a significant increase in yield over treatment T4 with a five-way composition of active substances or treatment T7 with a three-way composition of active substances.

[0335] [Table 7]

[0336] From Table 2A above, it can be observed that the composition as an embodiment of the present invention resulted in a significant reduction in NO and CO emissions compared to the compositions of treatments T2, T3, and T10, thereby making the composition of the present invention environmentally friendly and eliminating the harm associated with nitrous oxide emissions.

[0337] Furthermore, it is worth noting that Treatment 1 with 25% RDF (conventional NPK fertilizer) containing a composition according to an embodiment of the present invention showed higher yields compared to Treatment T2 with 50% RDF or compared to Treatment T10 with RDF applied separately, while at the same time exhibiting a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Treatment 1 with a composition according to the present invention containing 25% RDF showed a surprising 80.75% reduction in CO emissions and a 69.5% reduction in N2O emissions compared to Treatment T10 containing only RDF. The composition of the present invention also showed a significant reduction in GHG emissions than Treatments T2 and T3 containing 50% RDF and 100% RDF with the composition of the present invention.

[0338] Furthermore, treatment T1 with the composition according to the invention showed a significant increase in yield compared to treatment T4 with a quinary composition of sulfur, potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc, and treatment T7 with a ternary composition containing sulfur, potassium and magnesium.

[0339] Experiment 3: To evaluate in soybeans a composition comprising sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium in the form of water-disintegrating granules, with particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns as per the present invention, compared to a comparison sample comprising a water-soluble salt of zinc, a water-soluble salt of iron and a water-soluble salt of magnesium, each in the form of water-disintegrating granules.

[0340] (On-site experiment method) A field trial was conducted in Junagadh, Gujarat to observe the effect of water-disintegrable granules as per the present invention containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, along with a control, on soybean. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times, during the kharif season. A plot size of 30 square meters (6 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Defined doses of test product compounds in various concentration ranges of the water-disintegrable granular composition as per the present invention, along with the control composition, were applied to the soil at the time of sowing. Soybean crops at the trial site were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice practices.

[0341] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Junagadh, Maharashtra b) Crop and variety: Soybean-3 (GJS-3) c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 7 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 sq.m h) Sowing date: 18.07.2023 i) Applicable date: 18.07.2023 j) Application method: Soil application k) Harvest date: 20.10.2023

[0342] The observations were recorded in the table below.

[0343] [Table 8]

[0344] [Table 9]

[0345] From the data set forth in Table 3, it can be inferred that treatment T1 with a composition in the form of a suspension concentrate according to an embodiment of the present invention having a size within the range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns demonstrated a significant enhancement in soybean yield of 31.28% over the untreated control, compared to treatment T2 with a composition comprising sulfur, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron in the form of water-dispersible granules, the composition of treatment T2 not comprising boron, vanadium, selenium, or copper, compared to treatment T3, in which the composition comprises sulfur, magnesium, and zinc in the form of water-dispersible granules within the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns. It can be seen that treatments 2 and 3 showed yield increases of 13.87% and 6.43% over the untreated control. Further treatment T4 with a composition in the form of a suspension concentrate according to an embodiment of the present invention showed a yield increase of 28.07% over the untreated control, while treatments T5 with a composition containing sulfur, potassium, iron, zinc and boron, and T6 with a composition containing only sulfur, zinc and boron showed yield increases of 12.86% and 4.97%, respectively, over the untreated control.

[0346] [Table 10]

[0347] The soil nutrient contents prior to sowing and application of treatments were estimated and it was noted that the plots under treatment and observation initially had a magnesium content of 1010 ppm, a zinc content of 1156 parts per million, an iron content of 1230 parts per million, a potassium content of 1227 parts per million, a boron content of 960 parts per million, a selenium content of 946 parts per million, a vanadium content of 925 parts per million, and a copper content of 965 parts per million.

[0348] From the data set forth in Table 3A above, it can be seen that after application of the compositions according to embodiments of the present invention and the comparative sample treatments, treatments T1 and T4 according to the compositions according to embodiments of the present invention demonstrated significantly enhanced uptake of magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, potassium, selenium, vanadium, and copper from soil compared to treatments T2, T3, T5, and T6 according to the comparative sample. Furthermore, it can be seen that the compositions according to the present invention with optimized particle size distribution not only enhanced the uptake of nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, potassium, selenium, and vanadium, but also addressed and overcame the issue of nutrient antagonism. As previously mentioned, the presence of ions is known to inhibit the uptake of zinc or manganese from soil. Similarly, copper uptake is reduced by the presence of zinc in the composition. This is evident from treatments 2, 3, 5, and 6 in the table above, where it can be seen that zinc uptake is clearly poor due to the presence of iron in the composition, and copper uptake is reduced by the presence of zinc. On the other hand, it is noted that treatments 1 and 3 with the composition as an embodiment of the present invention showed a surprising enhancement in the uptake of nutrients such as sulfur, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, boron, manganese and copper present in the soil, thus overcoming the problem of nutrient antagonism and promoting balanced uptake of nutrients by the plants.

[0349] Experiment 4: To evaluate the efficacy of different formulations of sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium (8-composition) against comparison samples containing a 7-composition of active substances, a 6-composition of active substances, a 5-composition of active substances and a 3-composition of active substances in commercially grown wheat crops.

[0350] (On-site experiment method) A field trial was conducted in Satara, Maharashtra, to observe the efficacy of a liquid suspension composition according to the present invention containing an octal composition of active substances (sulfur, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, boron, vanadium, and selenium) in wheat compared with a liquid suspension composition containing a 7-component composition of active substances (sulfur, potassium, magnesium, iron, boron, vanadium, and selenium), a 6-component composition of active substances (sulfur, magnesium, iron, zinc, and selenium), a 5-component composition of active substances (sulfur, magnesium, iron, zinc, and selenium), or a 3-component composition of active substances (sulfur, magnesium, and iron). The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with six treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times, during the rabi season. A plot size of 30 square meters (6 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Test product compounds in the form of liquid suspension compositions according to the present invention at various concentration ranges at defined doses, along with comparative samples, were applied to the soil at the time of the first irrigation of wheat (25 days after sowing). Wheat crops at the trial sites were grown in accordance with good agricultural practice.

[0351] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Satara, Maharashtra b) Crop: Wheat (variety Lokwan) c) Experimental season: Rabi 2022 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iteration 4 f) Processing: 6 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 sq.m h) Sowing date: 14-11-2022 i) Applicable date: 9-12-2022 j) Application method: Soil application k) Harvest date: 18-03-2023

[0352] [Table 11]

[0353] From Table 4 above, it can be noted that treatment T1 with a liquid suspension composition containing sulfur, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium, and selenium, having a particle size according to an embodiment of the present invention, demonstrated a significant enhancement in wheat yield of 33.03% over the untreated control, compared to treatments T2, T3, T4, and T5 with liquid suspension compositions, where treatment T2 contained no zinc, treatment T3 contained no zinc or vanadium, treatment T4 contained no potassium, boron, or selenium, while treatment T5 contained only sulfur, potassium, and magnesium. Treatments T2 and T3 exhibited yield increases of only 21.33% and 20.03%. Treatment T4 with a quinary composition of sulfur, zinc, iron, magnesium, and vanadium exhibited a yield increase of 18.07% over the untreated control, while treatment T5 with a ternary composition of sulfur, magnesium, and zinc exhibited a yield increase of only 8.95%.

[0354] The surprising results observed in the above table with treatment 1 comprising the composition as per the present invention can be attributed to the presence of all elements, namely sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, boron, iron, vanadium and selenium, at the specific concentrations and formulations, with particle sizes as per embodiments of the present invention, and the absence of any one element that has been found to show a significant reduction in wheat yield and other crop characteristics.

[0355] Experiment 5: To study the effect on a commercially grown peanut crop of different compositions of "sulphur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium" in the form of water-disintegrating granules and suspension concentrates as per an embodiment of the present invention, together with comparative samples, the granular compositions as per the present invention containing 80% water-soluble active substance and the comparative granular compositions containing more than 80% water-soluble active substance.

[0356] A field trial was conducted in Jalgaon, Maharashtra to evaluate the compositions of the present invention on a peanut crop, variety JL-220. The trial was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three treatments, including an untreated control, replicated four times. A plot size of 35 square meters (7 m x 5 m) was maintained for each treatment. Defined doses of the test nutrient compositions according to embodiments of the present invention and comparative samples in the form of water-dispersible granules or suspension concentrates with various concentration ranges were applied as root applications at the time of sowing of the peanut crop.

[0357] The details of the experiment are as follows. a) Trial location: Jalgaon, Maharashtra b) Crop: Peanut (variety JL-220) c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 3 g) Plot size: 7m x 5m = 35 sq m h) Applicable date: 15.06.2023 i) Sowing date: 15.06.2023 j) Application method: stock origin k) Harvest date: 1.10.2023

[0358] [Table 12]

[0359] From Table 5 above, it can be seen that treatment T1 with a water-dispersible granular composition having a water-soluble active substance content not exceeding 80% by weight according to an embodiment of the present invention showed a significant yield enhancement in peanuts compared to treatment T2 with a water-dispersible granular composition having a water-soluble active substance content of 85% by weight of the total composition. It was also observed that the composition T2 with a water-soluble salt content of more than 85% by weight became hygroscopic and failed in stability and application due to degradation during long-term storage.

[0360] [Table 13]

[0361] Furthermore, from Table 5A above, it can be seen that treatment T1 with a water-dispersible granular composition having a water-soluble active substance content not exceeding 80% by weight according to an embodiment of the present invention showed a significant enhancement in the average number of pods per plant and in the protein content in the peanut seeds compared to treatment T2 with a water-dispersible granular composition having a water-soluble active substance content of 85% by weight.

[0362] Treatment 1 with the composition as per the present invention showed a 22.67% increase in the number of peanut pods per plant over the untreated control, while treatment T2 exhibited only a 14.97% increase in the number of peanut pods. Furthermore, it can be seen that treatment T1 showed a 24.19% increase in the number of protein content in peanut seeds compared to treatment T2, which only showed a 14.97% increase in the protein content of peanut seeds over the untreated control.

[0363] The surprising results observed in Tables 5 and 5A with treatments involving compositions according to the present invention can be attributed to the presence of the active water-soluble salt present in the water-dispersible granular composition in a concentration range not exceeding 80% by weight.

[0364] Experiment 6: To evaluate the efficacy in rice of different formulations containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, selenium and vanadium, where the composition has a particle size as per an embodiment of the present invention, versus compositions with a higher particle size range.

[0365] (On-site experiment method) The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with five treatments including an untreated control replicated four times. The rice crop at the trial site was grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0366] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Bhandara, Maharashtra b) Crop and variety: Rice IGP-1-37 (Darana) c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 7 g) Plot size: 8m x 5m = 40 sq.m h) Transplant date: 24.06.2023 i) Applicable date: 10.07.2023 j) Application method: Top dressing k) Harvest date: 08.10.2023

[0367] Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data are presented in Table 1, listing the efficacy of compositions containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, selenium and vanadium prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0368] [Table 14]

[0369] [Table 15]

[0370] It can be noted from Table 6 above that treatments T1, T3 and T5 with water-disintegrable granular compositions having particle sizes as per an embodiment of the present invention demonstrated significantly enhanced increases in rice yield compared to treatments T2, T4 and T6 with granular compositions having a larger particle size range. Treatments T1, T3 and T5 with compositions as per the present invention showed a yield increase of 22.67%, 25.23% and 21.77%, respectively, over the untreated control, while treatments T2, T4 and T6 with granular compositions having a larger particle size range showed only a yield increase of 6.80%, 7.75% and 7.27%, respectively, over the untreated control.

[0371] Additionally, crops treated with compositions according to embodiments of the present invention had denser, greener foliage.

[0372] [Table 16]

[0373] The soil nutrient content prior to sowing and application of the treatment was estimated and it was noted that the plot under treatment and observation initially had a sulfur content of 2632 ppm, a magnesium content of 1480 ppm, a zinc content of 1890 parts per million, an iron content of 1682 parts per million, a potassium content of 1450 parts per million, a boron content of 1308 parts per million, a vanadium content of 1065 parts per million, and a selenium content of 987 parts per million.

[0374] From the data set forth in Table 6A above, it can be seen that after application of the compositions according to embodiments of the present invention and the comparative samples, treatments T1, T3, and T5 using water-disintegrating granules according to embodiments of the present invention, whose compositions comprise potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vanadium, and selenium, demonstrated significantly enhanced uptake of zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, boron, vanadium, and selenium from the soil compared to treatments T2, T4, and T6 using water-disintegrating granules with larger particle sizes. Furthermore, it can be seen that the compositions according to the present invention not only enhanced nutrient uptake from the soil, but also addressed and overcame the problem of nutrient antagonism. As noted in the paragraphs above, the presence of iron is known to inhibit zinc uptake from the soil, or the presence of magnesium is known to inhibit potassium uptake, and vice versa. This is evident from treatments 2, 4, and 6 in the table above, where it can be seen that uptake of zinc or iron was significantly poorer due to the antagonism exhibited by these active substances when present in a single composition. Furthermore, potassium uptake is clearly poorer with the presence of magnesium in the composition, and vice versa, as can be seen from treatments 2, 4, and 6. On the other hand, it is noted that treatments 1, 3, and 5, with compositions according to embodiments of the present invention, showed a surprising enhancement in the uptake of nutrients such as sulfur, magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium present in the soil, thus addressing the issue of nutrient antagonism.

[0375] Experiment 7: To study the effect in commercially grown corn of a composition of "sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium" in the form of water dispersible granules having a particle size range as an embodiment of the present invention, combined with various doses of RDF (120-60-60 N-P2O5-KO / ha).

[0376] (On-site experiment method) The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with three treatments replicated four times. Maize crops at the trial sites were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0377] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Umargaon, Gujarat b) Crop and variety: Corn c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 3 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 sq.m h) Sowing date: 10.07.2023 i) Applicable date: 10.07.2023 j) Application method: Soil application k) Harvest date: 18.11.2023 l) Soil pH: 6.5-7

[0378] Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 7, listing the efficacy of compositions containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, selenium and vanadium prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0379] [Table 17]

[0380] From Table 7 above, it can be observed that compositions T1 and T2 as an embodiment of the present invention result in a significant reduction in N2O and CO2 emissions compared to treatment T3, thereby making the compositions of the present invention environmentally friendly.

[0381] Furthermore, it is worth noting that Treatment T1 with 25% RDF and Treatment T2 with 15% RDF containing compositions according to embodiments of the present invention showed better yields compared to Treatment T3, but at the same time exhibited significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Treatment 1 showed a surprising 82.39% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 68.46% reduction in N2O emissions compared to Treatment T3 containing only RDF. Treatment 2 showed a surprising 87.69% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 76.92% reduction in N2O emissions compared to Treatment T3.

[0382] Experiment 8: To study the effect on commercially grown paddy rice of a composition of "Sulphur, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Boron, Vanadium and Selenium and Biostimulants" in the form of water dispersible granules having a particle size range as an embodiment of the present invention, combined with various doses of RDF (120-60-60 N-P2O5-KO / ha).

[0383] (On-site experiment method) The trial was conducted during the kharif season in a randomized block design (RBD) with three treatments replicated four times. Paddy crops at the trial sites were grown in accordance with good agricultural practices.

[0384] (Experiment details) a) Trial location: Umargaon, Gujarat b) Crops and varieties: Paddy rice c) Experimental Season: Khalifa 2023 d) Trial design: Randomized block method e) Iterations: 4 f) Processing: 3 g) Plot size: 6m x 5m = 30 sq.m h) Sowing date: 26.06.2023 i) Applicable date: 11.07.2023 j) Application method: Soil application k) Harvest date: 10.10.2023 l) Soil pH: 6.5-7

[0385] Yield observations were recorded at harvest and average data is presented in Table 8, listing the efficacy of compositions containing sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, selenium and vanadium prepared according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0386] [Table 18]

[0387] From Table 8 above, it can be observed that compositions T1 and T2 as embodiments of the present invention result in a significant reduction in CO2 and CH4 emissions compared to treatment T3, thereby making the compositions of the present invention environmentally friendly. Furthermore, treatment T1 with a composition comprising biochar (biostimulant) shows a relatively greater reduction in CO2 and CH4 emissions compared to treatments 2 and 3.

[0388] It can be observed that treatments T1 and T2 with 25% RDF containing compositions according to embodiments of the present invention showed better yields compared to treatment T3 containing only RDF (100%), while also exhibiting significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. For example, treatment 1 showed a remarkable 83.5% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 9.74% reduction in CH4 emissions compared to treatment T3 containing only RDF.

[0389] The inventors of the present invention further observed that apart from the magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium salts listed in Tables 1 to 8 above, other magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium salts as per the present application also exhibited similar effects in terms of efficacy when applied as per the embodiments of the present invention.

[0390] The compositions of the present invention have been observed to demonstrate enhanced, effective, and superior performance in the field. The inventors have discovered that application of the compositions of the present invention not only results in a more balanced uptake of magnesium, even in the presence of potassium, or iron in the presence of zinc, but also promotes the uptake of all macronutrients and micronutrients contained in the compositions. Furthermore, application of the compositions has been observed to enable higher absorption of all nutrients, especially in acidic soils. This results in a more balanced uptake of all nutrients, leading to healthier plants and more nutritious yields. The compositions of the present invention minimize the number of applications or the amount of nutrients, fertilizers, or pesticides. The compositions also promote the reduction of nitrous oxide emissions and other greenhouse gases. The compositions are highly safe for users and the environment. The compositions of the present invention have been observed to be not only synergistic, but also improve crop yields and physiological characteristics of crops, such as increased green color and improved foliage. Thus, the compositions of the present invention have been observed to demonstrate enhanced, effective, and superior performance in the field at reduced application doses. The compositions of the present invention also promote soil health.

[0391] It has also been observed that when the composition is in the form of water dispersible granules or liquid suspensions or water disintegrating granules and comprises particles in the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, the composition of the present invention provides better uptake of the macronutrients as well as magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, boron, vanadium and selenium salts and other micronutrients trapped in the soil.

[0392] Additionally, various advantageous properties associated with compositions according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, improved stability, improved toxicity and / or biotoxicity behavior, improved crop yield, crop quality, improved crop characteristics including improved rooting, dense foliage and characteristics, and other benefits well known to those skilled in the art.

[0393] 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 this invention, it being understood that no limitation is intended with respect to the specific embodiments which have been illustrated.

Claims

1. i. elemental sulfur; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; vii. at least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof; viii. one or more excipients; 1. A crop nutrition and enrichment composition comprising: said composition being comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns; and wherein the total content of said water-soluble salt or derivative or mixture in said composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

2. 10. The composition of claim 1, i. elemental sulfur, wherein the elemental sulfur content is in the range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental potassium content is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental zinc content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental boron content is in the range of 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition; vii. at least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, wherein the content of elemental selenium is in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the content of elemental vanadium is in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, viii. one or more excipients, in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 50 microns, and the total content of the water-soluble salt or derivative or mixture in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

3. 2. A composition according to claim 1, comprising the magnesium salt or derivative or mixture thereof in the range of 1% to 75% w / w of the total composition, the potassium fertilizer or salt or derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, the iron salt or derivative or mixture thereof in the range of 1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, the zinc salt or derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, the boron salt or derivative or mixture thereof present in the range of 0.1% to 55% w / w of the total composition, and at least one trace element selected from selenium salt or derivative or mixture thereof and vanadium salt or derivative or mixture thereof, wherein the selenium salt or derivative or mixture thereof or the vanadium salt or derivative or mixture thereof is present in the range of 0.01% to 20% w / w of the total composition.

4. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel.

5. 5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the solid composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, wettable powders, scattering granules, extruded granules, water-disintegrating granules or spheronized granules.

6. 6. The composition according to claim 5, wherein the solid composition is in the form of water-dispersible granules, water-disintegrable granules or spheronized granules.

7. 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the water-dispersible granules are within the size range of 0.05 mm to 4 mm and comprise particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 30 microns.

8. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the water-dispersible granular composition is comprised of particles having a mean diameter distribution (D50) of less than 10 microns.

9. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein said composition in the form of a water-dispersible granular composition is comprised of particles having a mean diameter distribution of less than 1 micron.

10. 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the water-disintegrable granules or spheronized granules are within the size range of 0.05 mm to 6 mm and comprise particles within the size range of 0.1 microns to 50 microns.

11. 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the liquid composition is in the form of a liquid suspension.

12. 12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the liquid suspension composition comprises: i. elemental sulfur in the range of 5% to 55% by weight of the total composition; ii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; iii. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental potassium content is in the range of 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition; iv. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; v. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental zinc content is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; vi. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental boron content is in the range of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition; vii. at least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, wherein the content of elemental selenium is in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the content of elemental vanadium is in the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, viii. one or more excipients, in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; wherein said composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, and wherein the total content of said water-soluble salts, derivatives or mixtures in said composition does not exceed 50% by weight of the total composition.

13. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the composition in the form of a liquid suspension is comprised of particles having a mean diameter distribution (D50) of less than 10 microns.

14. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the composition in the form of a liquid suspension is comprised of particles having a mean diameter distribution of less than 1 micron.

15. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the potassium fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of potassium chloride, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium sodium nitrate, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium orthophosphate, potassium polyphosphate, potassium phosphate, potassium metaphosphate, potassium sulfate, potassium magnesia sulfate, potassium chloride, potassium rock, bitter potassium salt (KCl (+NaCl + MgSO4)), wood ash (K2CO3 + KHCO3) and seaweed ash (KCl + K2SO4), potassium fulvic acid, potassium humic acid, potassium rock A composition comprising stone powder, schoenite or picromerite, feldspar, orthoclase, potassium halite, carnallite, kainite, polyhalite or ischelite or polygallite, leucite, alogadite, gengenbachite, hykerlachite, leucite, hazenite, kosnalite, langbeinite, leucophosphite, lipuite, manganoallogadite, mantienneite, minulite, parwanite, phosphofibrite, sylvinite, taranakite and tinsleyite.

16. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble magnesium salt or derivative comprises one or more of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia), magnesium molybdate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium calcium phosphate, tribasic magnesium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium calcium silicate, ammonium magnesium phosphate, magnesium humate, magnesium fulvate, magnesium oxalate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium sulfide, or periclase, brucite, cerraite, scutellite, perzevite, suanite, magnesite, sazeberite, kieserite, dolomite, hydrated dolomite, and struvite.

17. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble magnesium salt comprises one or more of magnesium sulfate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium gluconate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium lactate, magnesium aspartate, magnesium ascorbate, magnesium lignosulfonate, magnesium acetate, and magnesium citrate.

18. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a water-insoluble magnesium salt.

19. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble iron salt or derivative comprises one or more of iron oxide, iron hydroxide, iron phosphate, iron fumarate, iron succinate, iron sulfide, iron sucrate, iron tartrate, iron carbonyl, iron carbonate, iron (II) oxalate (anhydrous), iron (II) oxalate (dihydrate), rhaldite, wustite, magnetite, hematite, goethite, limonite, siderite, pyrite or marcasite, vernalite, greenite, and mixtures thereof.

20. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble iron salt comprises one or more of iron sulfate, iron citrate, iron silicate, iron ascorbate, iron lignosulfonate, iron sucrose, iron gluconate, iron dextran, and iron chelates.

21. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble zinc salt or derivative comprises one or more of zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, zinc hydroxide, zinc carbonate, zinc molybdate, zinc phosphate, zinc borate, zinc silicate, zinc pyrophosphate, zinc humate, zinc fulvate, zinc citrate, zinc oxalate, zinc monomethionine, zinc carnosine, zinc chromate, zinc nitrilotriacetate (NTA), zinc phosphide, zinc selenide, zinc telluride, zinc aspartate, dumbite, aschobelite, periclase, sphalerite, wurtzite, hydrozincite, Bryan-Youngite, hemimorphite, smithsonite, becklerite, pyrozinite, hopeite, hodgkinsonite, flypontite, junitite, clinolite, cristellite, gunningite, cyanusiulite, ecandrusite, bailichlore, boyleite, and bianchite.

22. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble zinc salt comprises one or more of zinc sulfate, zinc sulfate monohydrate, zinc sulfate heptahydrate, zinc chelate, zinc oxysulfate, zinc chloride, zinc eugenol chelate, zinc glycine, zinc carbohydrate, zinc lignophosphonate, zinc sucrate, zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, zinc polyflavonoid, zinc glucoheptonate, and zinc phenolate.

23. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a water-insoluble iron salt and a water-insoluble zinc salt.

24. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the boron salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc borate, boron phosphate, boron trioxide or diboron trioxide, magnesium diboride, boron nitride, boron nitrite, boron carbide, aluminum dodecaboride, boron oxide, calcium borate, magnesium borate, aluminum borate, magnesium diborate, calcium aluminum triborate, boric acid or orthoboric acid or boric acid or boric acid. boricum), borax or sodium borate or sodium tetraborate, sodium perborate, sodium borosilicate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, disodium tetraborate, disodium tetraborate octahydrate, potassium tetraborate, boron trioxide, boron triiodide or triiodoborane, diboron trioxide, boric anhydride, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate or sodium boron oxide or sodium octaborate, borax pentahydrate, boron suboxide, boron monoxide, boron hydroxide, sodium calcium borate, boron oxide, disodium octaborate, sodium tetrahydroborate or sodium tetrahydridoborate, calcium borogluconate, sodium cyanoborohydride 1. A composition comprising one or more of the following: ammonium tetraborate, sodium pentaborate, ammonium pentaborate, sodium tetrahydridoborate or sodium tetrahydroborate, sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium triacetoxyborohydride or sodium triacetoxyhydroborate, sodium triethylborohydride, magnesium diborate, sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, aristalainite, barberite, borax, boracite, ulexite, suanite, colemanite, chambersite, hilgardite, admontite, calcibolite, sassolite, kalibolite, johantidrite, preobrazhenskite, and ameginite.

25. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the selenium salt or derivative is selected from the group consisting of elemental selenium, selenium carbonate, vanadium selenide, magnesium selenide, manganese selenide, selenium sulfide, copper selenide, iron selenide, molybdenum selenide, cobalt selenide, bismuth selenide, zinc selenide, copper selenite, calcium selenite, magnesium selenite, manganese selenite, cobalt selenite, selenium dioxide, selenourea, sodium selenide, potassium selenide, 1. A composition comprising a selenium-containing compound selected from one or more of copper selenide, ammonium selenide, sodium selenite, potassium selenite, ammonium selenite, iron selenite, zinc selenite, sodium selenate, magnesium selenate, potassium selenate, calcium selenate, copper selenate, ammonium selenate, iron selenate, downyite, atchabarite, potassium selenate, selenium sulfide, selenious acid, selenium oxychloride, selenic acid, and selenium yeast.

26. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the vanadium salt or derivative is selected from one or more of vanadium (II) oxide, vanadium (IV) oxide, vanadium (III) oxide, vanadium selenide, vanadium pentoxide, vanadyl oxalate, bismuth vanadium oxide, copper vanadate, vanadyl sulfate, sodium vanadate, sodium metavanadate, potassium metavanadate, bismuth vanadate, ammonium metavanadate, vanadyl acetylacetonate, sodium metavanadate, and ammonium metavanadate.

27. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the excipient is selected from one or more of surfactants, emulsifiers, wetting agents, dispersing agents, fillers, carriers, diluents, spreading agents, colorants, anti-caking agents, binders, buffers, pH adjusters, neutralizing agents, pigments, stabilizers, anti-foaming agents, defoamers, penetrating agents, structuring agents, humectants, adhesives, anti-freeze agents, freezing point depressants, chelating agents, complexing or sequestering agents, preservatives or bactericides, anti-fungals or biocides, antimicrobials, and antioxidants.

28. 28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the excipient is selected from one or more of an emulsifying agent, a wetting agent, and a dispersing agent.

29. 28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the dispersing agent is a nonionic dispersing agent selected from one or more of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers, ethoxylated fatty acids, fatty alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl ethoxylates, EO-PO block copolymers, graft copolymers, addition products of ethylene oxide and fatty acid esters, Kraft lignin polymers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, ethoxylated alkylphenols, and polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ethers.

30. 28. The composition of claim 27, wherein the dispersant is an anionic dispersant selected from one or more of sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate esters, lignin sulfonates, phenyl naphthalene sulfonates, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, lignin derivatives, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, a mixture of the sodium salt of a naphthalene sulfonate urea formaldehyde condensate and the sodium salt of a phenolsulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate, polycarboxylates, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates, sodium salts of sulfonated naphthalenes, sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensates, condensation products of aryl sulfonic acids and formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic sulfonates, and sodium alkylaryl sulfonates.

31. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the liquid suspension composition further comprises a structuring agent selected from one or more of a thickening agent, a suspending agent or suspending aid, a viscosity or rheology modifier, a tackifier, and an anti-settling agent.

32. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the water-dispersible granular composition has a dispersibility of at least 50%.

33. 13. The composition of claim 7 or 12, wherein the water-dispersible granular composition or the liquid suspension composition has a suspendability of at least 50%.

34. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the liquid suspension composition has a pourability of less than 5% rinse residue.

35. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the liquid suspension composition has a viscosity of 150 cps to 2000 cps at 25°C.

36. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition optionally further comprises one or more phosphorus fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and wherein the content of elemental phosphorus in the composition is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition.

37. 37. The composition of claim 36, wherein the phosphorus fertilizer or derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of elemental phosphorus, potassium phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, rock phosphate, ammonium sulfate phosphate ((NH4)2SO4 + NH4H2PO4), potassium sulfate ammonium phosphate ((NH4)2SO4 + NH4H2PO4 + K2SO4), ball fertilizer (ammonium sulfate + calcium superphosphate + potassium salt + peat, the form of phosphate is Ca(H2PO4)2), compound fertilizer (Ca(H2 PO4)2, CaHPO4, Ca3(HPO4)2), calcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, bone meal, calcium superphosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2 + CaSO4), concentrated superphosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2), serpentine-superphosphate (calcium superphosphate + serpentine), fused phosphate fertilizer (CaO-MgO-P2O5-SiO2 glass), calcined phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2-CaNaPO4 solid solution), phosphate mixture (calcium superphosphate (concentrated superphosphate) + soluble precipitated phosphates (CaHPO4), magnesium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium phosphate, ammonium phosphate, monoammonium dihydrogen phosphate, diammonium hydrogen phosphate and mixed salts, e.g. dipotassium ammonium phosphate, potassium ammonium hydrogen phosphate, phosphorite, fluorapatite, francolite, feldspar or microcline, variscite, strengite, vivantite, struvite, turquoise, lazulite, triphilite, archelite, alojadite, alojada 1. A composition comprising one or more of the following: quartzite, bicapite, francoanelite, gengenbachite, hykerlachite, hesenite, kosnalite, leucophosphite, manganoalojadite, mantienneite, mantienneite, meta-anchorite, millicite, minulite, phosphofibrite, phosphouranite, sphenicidite, struvite (K), taranakite, tinsleyite, and apatite, bone meal, bone ash, or mixtures thereof.

38. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition optionally further comprises an active ingredient selected from one or more of a micronutrient, a biostimulant, and an insecticidal active ingredient or mixtures thereof, wherein the additional active ingredient is present in a concentration range of 0.001% w / w to 30% w / w of the total composition.

39. 39. The composition of claim 38, wherein the biostimulant comprises organic carbon.

40. 39. The composition of claim 38, wherein the micronutrient is selected from one or more of copper salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and manganese salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the content of elemental copper in the composition is in the range of 0.01% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition and manganese salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, and the content of elemental manganese in the composition is in the range of 0.01% w / w to 15% w / w of the total composition.

41. 7. A process for the preparation of a crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-dispersible granules according to claim 5 or 6, comprising: i. a. elemental sulfur, b. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; c. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; d. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; e. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; f. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; g. at least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof; h. one or more excipients; milling the admixture to obtain a slurry or wet mix; ii. drying the slurry or wet mix to obtain the water-dispersible granules; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, and the total content of the water-soluble salts, derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

42. 42. A process for the preparation of a crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-dispersible granules according to claim 41, comprising: i. a. elemental sulfur, wherein the elemental sulfur content is within the range of 5% to 90% by weight of the total composition; b. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is in the range of 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; c. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 40% by weight of the total composition; d. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; e. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental zinc content is in the range of 0.1% to 45% by weight of the total composition; f. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental boron content ranging from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition; g. At least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, wherein the elemental selenium content is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the elemental vanadium content is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and h. one or more excipients, in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; milling the admixture to obtain a slurry or wet mix; ii. drying the slurry or wet mix to obtain the water-dispersible granules; wherein the composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, and the total content of the water-soluble salts, derivatives or mixtures in the composition does not exceed 80% by weight of the total composition.

43. 13. A process for the preparation of a crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of a liquid suspension according to claim 12, comprising: i. a. elemental sulfur in the range of 5% to 55% by weight of the total composition; b. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental magnesium content is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; c. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental potassium content ranging from 0.1% to 25% by weight of the total composition; d. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental iron content is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; e. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, wherein the elemental zinc content is in the range of 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition; f. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof, having an elemental boron content ranging from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition; g. At least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, wherein the elemental selenium content is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and the elemental vanadium content is within the range of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the total composition, and h. one or more excipients, in the range of 0.1% to 60% by weight of the total composition; wherein said composition is comprised of particles in the size range of 0.1 to 30 microns, and the total content of said water-soluble salts, derivatives or mixtures in said composition does not exceed 50% by weight of the total composition.

44. 7. A process for the preparation of a crop nutrition and enrichment composition in the form of water-disintegrable granules according to claim 5 or 6, comprising: i. a. elemental sulfur, b. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble magnesium salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; c. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble potassium fertilizers or salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; d. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble iron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; e. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble zinc salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; f. one or more water-insoluble or water-soluble boron salts or derivatives or mixtures thereof; g. at least one trace element selected from a water-insoluble or water-soluble vanadium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof, and a water-insoluble or water-soluble selenium salt or a derivative or mixture thereof; h. at least one pesticidally acceptable excipient; milling the admixture to obtain a slurry or wet mix; ii. Drying the obtained wet mix in a spray dryer, fluidized bed dryer or any suitable granulation equipment, followed by sieving to remove undersized and oversized granules to obtain a dry mix; iii. Blending the dry mix to obtain a dough or paste, which is then extruded through an extruder to obtain the water-disintegrable granules; A process comprising:

45. 44. The process according to claim 43, wherein the wet mix of step (ii) or the dry mix of step (iii) is agglomerated in an agglomerator to obtain spheronized granules or a water-disintegrable granular composition.

46. 41. The crop nutrition and enhancement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 40, wherein the composition is at least one of a fertilizer composition, a nutritional composition, a crop supplement composition, a soil conditioner composition, and a yield enhancer composition.

47. 41. A method for improving plant health or yield, comprising treating at least one of a plant, plant propagation material, a location or plant part thereof, a seed, a seedling, or the surrounding soil with the crop nutrition and enrichment composition of any one of claims 1 to 40.

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