Agricultural Composition with Benzoic Acid for Nutrient Uptake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plants face challenges in absorbing secondary nutrients and micronutrients due to low availability, especially under suboptimal abiotic conditions, and existing chemical chelating agents are environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
Agricultural compositions comprising secondary nutrients or micronutrients, benzoic acid or its derivatives, and water-soluble salts of specific compounds, which enhance nutrient uptake by forming complexes with chelating agents like lignans and humic acids, improving absorption during stress conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical chelating agents such as EDTA are applied to enhance nutrient availability, then nutrient uptake is improved, but environmental damage occurs due to non-degradation and scavenging of undesirable elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of chelating agents by using naturally occurring organic acids (humic acids, fulvic acids, citric acid) instead of synthetic EDTA. These natural chelators have different degradation properties and environmental behavior, resolving the contradiction between effective chelation and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs naturally derived chelating agents that are biodegradable and short-lived in the environment compared to persistent synthetic chelators like EDTA. These natural chelators perform their function and then degrade, avoiding long-term environmental accumulation and harm.
2Quantity of substance
If secondary nutrients and micronutrients are applied to soil, then nutrient availability should increase, but uptake remains difficult under suboptimal abiotic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces organic chelating agents as intermediary substances that bind to secondary and micronutrients, forming stable complexes that are more readily absorbed by plants. These chelators act as mediators between the soil nutrients and plant uptake mechanisms, especially under stress conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite nutrient formulations combining secondary/micronutrients with organic chelating agents (humic acids, fulvic acids, amino acids). These composite materials enhance solubility, stability, and bioavailability of nutrients, making them easier for plants to uptake under various environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compositions improve nutrient uptake and stress resistance in plants, reducing disease susceptibility and enhancing growth quality by providing a continuous nutrient supply and stimulating systemic acquired resistance.
Implementation Method 1
Their availability to the plant may be low. The problem is exacerbated where a plant is subjected to suboptimal abiotic conditions. One method, which has been used hitherto to enhance the availability of these nutrients to the plant is to apply them in conjunction with chemical chelating agents such as EDTA.
Implementation Method 2
The salt of the secondary nutrient or micronutrient is, therefore, preferably a water-soluble salt. For use in the present invention suitable water-soluble salts of secondary nutrients and micronutrients include nitrates, sulphates, oxides and chlorides
Implementation Method 3
The compositions improve nutrient uptake and stress resistance in plants, reducing disease susceptibility and enhancing growth quality by providing a continuous nutrient supply and stimulating systemic acquired resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
Agricultural compositions which comprise: (i) a secondary nutrient or micronutrient; (ii) benzoic acid or a biologically acceptable derivative thereof; and (iii) a water soluble salt of Formula (I) wherein R1 is a C1-10alkenyl group, or a C2-10alkenyl group and M is a cation of valency n for administering a secondary nutrient or micronutrient to plants. Also formulations containing the compositions and methods of their use are included.